Allegheny County · Pittsburgh metro
Plumbing help in Pittsburgh, PA
Older PipesLead Lines
Pittsburgh has some of the oldest housing in the country: the median home dates to the 1940s. Old pipe on steep lots, lead service lines the utility is replacing, and freeze-thaw winters make up most of the city's plumbing work.
- Median home built
- 1944
- Built before 1980
- 83%
- Owner-occupied
- 48%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Regular hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
What Pittsburgh homeowners call plumbers about
- Water Line Repair
Many older homes still have lead or aging service lines; the utility's program covers some replacements.
- Sewer Line Repair
Old clay and cast iron laterals on hillside lots crack and shift.
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Freeze-thaw winters catch pipes in exterior walls and unheated basements.
What's behind the walls of Pittsburgh's older homes
The median home in Pittsburgh was built in 1944, and 83% 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 Pittsburgh
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 Pittsburgh homes, based on local conditions.
Frozen pipe risk in Pittsburgh
Regular hard freezes · 83% of Pittsburgh homes were built before 1980
Where Pittsburgh's water comes from
Pittsburgh Water treats Allegheny River water. It has replaced an average of about 1,500 lead service lines a year since 2016 and offers income-based help for replacing the private side. [1]
Pittsburgh Water describes its water as moderately hard. [2]
Plumbing services for Pittsburgh homes
Pittsburgh plumbing questions
Does my Pittsburgh home have a lead service line?
Older homes may. Check where the line enters the basement (lead is dull gray and scratches to shiny silver), or look up your address with Pittsburgh Water, which has been replacing about 1,500 lead lines a year.
Can I get help paying to replace a lead line in Pittsburgh?
Depending on income, customers may qualify to have the private side replaced at no cost through Pittsburgh Water's program. Check with the utility before hiring a plumber for this job.
Is Pittsburgh water hard?
Pittsburgh Water describes it as moderately hard, so some scale on fixtures and in water heaters is normal.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Pittsburgh Water, Lead Information · checked 2026-10-01
- Pittsburgh Water, Water Quality FAQ · checked 2026-10-01