Lehigh County · Allentown–Bethlehem–Easton metro

Plumbing help in Allentown, PA

Very Hard WaterOlder Pipes

Allentown's water is half spring water and half creek water, and it's hard: 12 to 18 grains per gallon. With over 80% of homes built before 1980, scale and aging pipe in rowhouses and twins are the city's signature plumbing problems.

Call (833) 878-1592Plumbing help in Allentown and Lehigh County

Kitchen faucet beside a row of drinking glasses

Median home built: 1954
Built before 1980: 82%
Owner-occupied: 44%
Water hardness: Very hard; ≈ 15 grains/gal
Winter: Regular hard freezes
Plumbing code: State code

The plumbing calls that come up most in Allentown

Water Softener Installation
At 12 to 18 grains per gallon, softening protects heaters and fixtures.
Water Heater Repair
Hard water builds sediment and scale quickly.
Repiping
Older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.

Allentown's very hard water and your plumbing

About half of Allentown's water comes from Schantz Spring and Crystal Spring and the other half mostly from the Little Lehigh Creek; hardness ranges from about 12 to 18 grains per gallon. [1]

≈ 15 gpg

SoftModerately hardHardVery hard

Grains per gallon, from the utility's published figures. Scale per USGS hardness classes.

Hard-water upkeep:Water heater flushing Water softeners Hard water and plumbing Noisy water heater

What's behind the walls of Allentown's older homes

The median home in Allentown was built in 1954, and 82% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper or galvanized supply, cast iron drains, clay or cast iron sewer laterals.

Median home: 1954

1900195020002025

Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
Copper supply (1950–2000)
Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
PEX / CPVC (1995–today)

Typical supply-pipe materials by construction year. Many older homes have been partly repiped since.

Common projects in homes like these:Repiping Sewer camera inspection Water line repair Brown or rusty water

Emergency plumbing in Allentown

Call (833) 878-1592

Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Allentown homes, based on local conditions.

Frozen pipe risk in Allentown

Regular hard freezes · 82% of Allentown homes were built before 1980

Before winter:Winterizing checklist Outdoor faucets Find your shutoff

If a pipe freezes:Frozen pipe repair Burst pipe repair No water

Plumbing code and permits in Allentown

Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, adopting ICC codes, with its latest update effective January 1, 2026. [2]

Licensing:Check a plumber's license in Pennsylvania How to check a license

Plumbing services for Allentown homes

Or start from:Plumbing problems Emergencies

Allentown plumbing questions

How hard is Allentown water?

Hard: about 12 to 18 grains per gallon, depending on which supply is in use.

Where does Allentown's water come from?

About half from Schantz and Crystal springs and half mostly from the Little Lehigh Creek.

Should I get a water softener in Allentown?

Many homeowners do. Size it for up to about 18 grains per gallon.

How do I check an Allentown plumber?

Pennsylvania licenses plumbers locally. Confirm the plumber's City of Allentown license before work starts.

How often should I flush my water heater in Allentown?

At least yearly with water this hard.

Sources (3)

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
Lehigh County Authority, Your Drinking Water · checked 2026-10-01
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Uniform Construction Code · checked 2026-10-01