Plumbing Services in Portland, ME

Most requested plumbing services in Portland

Start with the service that matches your problem. Services marked “Common in Portland” are the calls local housing and conditions produce most in Portland, ME.

• Frozen Pipe RepairCommon in PortlandThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
• Burst Pipe RepairCommon in PortlandStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
• Water Line RepairCommon in PortlandLeaks and breaks in the main line from the meter.
• Emergency PlumberBurst pipes, major leaks, sewage backups and no-water situations.
• Drain CleaningSlow drains, recurring clogs and backed-up sinks, tubs and showers.
• Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
• Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
• Water Heater ReplacementReplacing a failing or leaking tank heater.
• Sewer Line RepairRecurring backups, sewer odors, slow fixtures or a damaged sewer line.
• Pipe RepairLeaks, corrosion, cracked lines and low pressure from damaged pipes.
• Toilet RepairRunning, clogged, leaking or weak-flushing toilets.
• Faucet Repair and ReplacementDripping, leaking or low-flow faucets.

When to call, and what to do first

For the problems Portland, ME homeowners call about most, and why they come up here:

• Frozen Pipe Repair

  Why it comes up in Portland: Hard winter freezes catch pipes in exterior walls, unheated porches and crawlspaces of older homes.

  Signs:

  No water at a faucet in freezing weather; frost on a pipe

  Urgent when:

  A pipe has split or water is spraying

  Before help arrives:

  Open the faucet, warm the pipe gently; never use an open flame

  Repair or replace:

  Thawed and intact: no repair. Cracked: replace that section

• Water Line Repair

  Why it comes up in Portland: The service line past the curb stop is the owner's, so yard leaks are the owner's to repair.

  Signs:

  Soggy yard, low pressure, meter moving with taps off

  Urgent when:

  Water surfacing or a sudden loss of pressure

  Before help arrives:

  Close the shutoff at the meter or where the line enters

  Repair or replace:

  One break: repair. Old galvanized or lead line: replace

Why Portland homes need these repairs

Portland's water comes from Sebago Lake, one of the few surface supplies in the country clean enough to be exempt from federal filtration rules. Most homes are older, a little under half are owner-occupied, and Maine winters make frozen and burst pipes the season's most urgent plumbing calls.

Local conditions behind Portland plumbing problems

Water hardness

See below

Winter

Long, hard freezes

Plumbing code

Local