Salt Lake County · Salt Lake City–Murray metro
Plumbing help in Salt Lake City, UT
Older PipesFrozen Pipes
Salt Lake City drinks mostly Wasatch canyon stream water, supplemented in summer by harder well water. With most homes built before 1980 and cold winters, older pipe and frozen lines are the city's common calls.
- Median home built
- 1972
- Built before 1980
- 58%
- Owner-occupied
- 44%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Regular hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- IPC
What Salt Lake City homeowners call plumbers about
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Cold winters freeze pipes in exterior walls, garages and crawl spaces.
- Repiping
About 58% of homes predate 1980, and galvanized supply lines in older homes cause pressure loss.
- Water Heater Repair
Summer well water is harder and adds sediment to tank heaters.
Emergency plumbing in Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City homes, based on local conditions.
Salt Lake City's 1970s housing and its pipes
The median home in Salt Lake City was built in 1972, and 58% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper supply, early plastic (ABS or PVC) drains, some cast iron.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Frozen pipe risk in Salt Lake City
Regular hard freezes · 58% of Salt Lake City homes were built before 1980
Permits and code in Salt Lake City
Plumbing in Salt Lake City follows Utah's State Plumbing Code, based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code, and plumbers are licensed by Utah DOPL. [2]
Where Salt Lake City's water comes from
More than 60% of Salt Lake City's water starts in mountain streams in the Wasatch canyons; in summer the city supplements it with deep wells, whose water is harder. [1]
Plumbing services for Salt Lake City homes
Salt Lake City plumbing questions
Why is Salt Lake City water harder in summer?
The city supplements canyon stream water with deep wells in summer, and well water has more minerals.
How do I check a Salt Lake City plumber?
Verify the license with Utah DOPL's online lookup.
How do I protect pipes in a Salt Lake winter?
Insulate exposed pipes, disconnect hoses, seal drafts and keep heat on when away. See frozen pipe repair.
Which plumbing code applies in Salt Lake City?
Utah's State Plumbing Code, based on the 2021 International Plumbing Code.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Water Quality · checked 2026-10-01
- International Code Council, 2021 Utah State Plumbing Code · checked 2026-10-01