Plumbing Services in Albany, NY

Most requested plumbing services in Albany

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

• Frozen Pipe RepairCommon in AlbanyThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
• Water Line RepairCommon in AlbanyLeaks and breaks in the main line from the meter.
• Sewer Line RepairCommon in AlbanyRecurring backups, sewer odors, slow fixtures or a damaged sewer line.
• RepipingOlder homesReplacing old galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper lines.
• Sewer Camera InspectionOlder homesVideo inspection to find the cause of drain and sewer problems.
• Sump Pump Repair and InstallationStormsSump pumps that fail, run constantly or need replacing.
• 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.
• Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.

When to call, and what to do first

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

• Frozen Pipe Repair

  Why it comes up in Albany: Upstate winters freeze pipes in old rowhouses.

  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 Albany: Old service lines, some lead, are being replaced.

  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

• Sewer Line Repair

  Why it comes up in Albany: Century-old laterals crack and back up.

  Signs:

  Several drains slow at once, gurgling, sewage smell

  Urgent when:

  Sewage backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain

  Before help arrives:

  Stop running water; don't use chemical drain cleaners

  Repair or replace:

  One break: spot repair or lining. Collapsed line: replace

Why Albany homes need these repairs

Albany, New York's capital, has dense rowhouse neighborhoods from the 1800s, a large renter population and post-war homes toward the suburbs. Its water comes from reservoirs in the Helderberg Mountains, treated at the Feura Bush plant. Very old housing, long, cold Upstate winters, lead-era service lines and aging sewer laterals drive most of the frozen pipe, water line and sewer calls here.

Local conditions behind Albany plumbing problems

Median home built

1945

Built before 1980

81%

Owner-occupied

38%

Water hardness

See below

Winter

Regular hard freezes

Plumbing code

Local