Allentown, PA · plumbing service
Repiping in Allentown, PA
Older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines. Call to be connected with an independent, licensed plumber who handles repiping in Allentown; they diagnose the problem and quote the work before starting.
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- Free call and referral
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Common signs
- Rusty water
- falling pressure
- repeated pinhole leaks
Repiping services in Allentown
- RepipingReplacing old galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper lines.
- Pipe RepairLeaks, corrosion, cracked lines and low pressure from damaged pipes.
- Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
- Water Line RepairLeaks and breaks in the main line from the meter.
- Water Pressure ProblemsDiagnosing low or high water pressure.
Problems repiping fixes
- Rusty or discolored water
- Pinhole leaks in different places
- Falling water pressure
- Galvanized or polybutylene supply pipe
Why repiping comes up in Allentown
Older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.
With 82% of Allentown's housing built before 1980, a large share of homes still has original galvanized steel or early copper supply lines. Galvanized pipe rusts from the inside, which is why repiping questions here usually start with brown water or falling pressure.
- Typical home built
- 1954
- Homes before 1980
- 82%
- Water hardness
- 15 gpg
- very hard
- Winter freezes
- Regular hard freezes
How the work is done
- 1Survey the systemIdentify the pipe material, its condition and the fixture count.
- 2Plan the routeChoose PEX or copper and plan wall openings to keep them small.
- 3Permit and installRepiping usually requires a permit; fixtures are reconnected in stages.
- 4Pressure test and patchTest before inspection; openings are patched afterward.
What affects the price
The plumbing company sets the price after seeing the job; ask for it in writing before work starts.
- Size of the home and number of fixtures
- PEX or copper
- Access through walls, attic or crawlspace
- Drywall repair
- Permit and inspection
Plumbing work we connect Allentown homeowners with
Repiping in Allentown: questions
How do I know whether my Allentown service line is lead or galvanized before repiping?
Check Lehigh County Authority's searchable inventory map for your address. If the material is listed as unknown, LCA offers a free inspection. You own the pipe from the curb box into the house.
Does Allentown's water get tested for lead from old household pipes?
Yes. LCA tests 50 representative taps of vulnerable Allentown homes every three years under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Homes with lead or galvanized lines should follow LCA's tips until the pipes are replaced.
Why is repiping a common call in Allentown?
Older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.
How old are most homes in Allentown?
The median home in Allentown was built in 1954, and 82% of homes were built before 1980 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey).
How hard is Allentown's water?
About 15 grains per gallon (very hard), per Lehigh County Authority, Your Drinking Water.
Does repiping in Allentown need a permit?
Usually, when piping changes; the plumber normally pulls it.
Should old pipes in a Allentown home be repaired or replaced?
One leak in otherwise sound pipe is usually repaired; when galvanized or failing pipe leaks in several places, repiping costs less over time. In Allentown: older rowhouses have galvanized supply lines.
Who supplies water in Allentown?
Lehigh County Authority. Past the meter, plumbing is the owner's.
Repiping near Allentown
More plumbing services in Allentown
- Water Heater Repair in Allentown, PAWater Heater Repair in Allentown, PA: hard water builds sediment and scale quickly.
- Water Softener Installation in Allentown, PAWater Softener Installation in Allentown, PA: at 12 to 18 grains per gallon, softening protects heaters and fixtures.
- Emergency Plumbing in Allentown, PAPlumbing emergency in Allentown, PA? Who to call (Lehigh County Authority or a plumber), what to shut off first, and the emergencies most likely in Allentown homes.
- All plumbing services in AllentownEvery plumbing service available to Allentown homes.
Local rules and details for Allentown
Allentown facts behind this page
For repiping that changes or replaces piping, Allentown's plumbing code and permit rules apply (see the source below). Ask the plumber whether your job needs a permit and who pulls it; a licensed plumber normally does.
- The median home in Allentown was built in 1954. [1]
- About 82% of Allentown's housing units were built before 1980, the era of galvanized steel supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. [1]
- 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. [2]
- Pennsylvania's Uniform Construction Code applies statewide, adopting ICC codes, with its latest update effective January 1, 2026. [3]
- Lehigh County Authority explains that each water service line has two parts separated by a curb box or valve near the curb or sidewalk. The property owner owns the private side from the curb into the home, and LCA owns the public side from the main to the curb. LCA offers a searchable inventory map of service line materials and free inspections where the material is unknown. [4]
- Lehigh County Authority tests tap water for lead every three years at 50 representative taps of vulnerable homes in the City of Allentown, under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule, and at more than 150 homes across its service areas. LCA says results show its non-corrosive water is keeping lead levels to a minimum, and recommends exposure-reduction tips for homes with lead or galvanized lines. [4]
Allentown rules and programs for repiping
- Lehigh County Authority explains that each water service line has two parts separated by a curb box or valve near the curb or sidewalk. The property owner owns the private side from the curb into the home, and LCA owns the public side from the main to the curb. LCA offers a searchable inventory map of service line materials and free inspections where the material is unknown. [4]
- Lehigh County Authority tests tap water for lead every three years at 50 representative taps of vulnerable homes in the City of Allentown, under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule, and at more than 150 homes across its service areas. LCA says results show its non-corrosive water is keeping lead levels to a minimum, and recommends exposure-reduction tips for homes with lead or galvanized lines. [4]
Other common plumbing calls 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.
Sources (4)
- 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
- Lehigh County Authority, Lead Service Line Replacement Program · checked 2026-10-20