City of St. Louis · St. Louis metro
Plumbing help in St. Louis, MO
Older PipesFrozen Pipes
St. Louis has one of the oldest housing stocks in America: the median home dates to the 1930s. Brick homes with original pipe, old sewer laterals and basements that take on water in storms make up most of the city's plumbing work.
- Median home built
- 1938
- Built before 1980
- 87%
- Owner-occupied
- 46%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Regular hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
Common repairs in St. Louis homes
- Sewer Line Repair
About 87% of homes predate 1980, many with original clay or cast iron laterals.
- Sewer Backup
Heavy storms push water back through basement floor drains in older neighborhoods.
- Repiping
Galvanized supply lines in century-old brick homes corrode and restrict flow.
What's behind the walls of St. Louis's older homes
The median home in St. Louis was built in 1938, and 87% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with galvanized steel supply lines, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals, often partly replaced over the years.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Emergency plumbing in St. Louis
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for St. Louis homes, based on local conditions.
Frozen pipe risk in St. Louis
Regular hard freezes · 87% of St. Louis homes were built before 1980
Where St. Louis's water comes from
The City of St. Louis Water Division treats water from two rivers: the Chain of Rocks plant on the Mississippi and the Howard Bend plant on the Missouri. Treatment includes softening. [1]
Plumbing services for St. Louis homes
St. Louis plumbing questions
Where does St. Louis get its water?
From the Mississippi River (Chain of Rocks plant) and the Missouri River (Howard Bend plant), treated and softened by the city's Water Division.
Who licenses plumbers in St. Louis?
Missouri has no statewide plumbing license, so licensing is local. Confirm the plumber's City of St. Louis (or St. Louis County) license before hiring.
Why does my St. Louis basement back up in storms?
Older sewers and laterals can surcharge in heavy rain and push water up through floor drains. A backwater valve and a camera inspection of the lateral are the usual fixes.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of St. Louis Water Division, Water Treatment · checked 2026-10-01