4 services · Pittsburgh
Drains & sewer in Pittsburgh, PA
A single slow sink is usually a local clog a plumber can clear in one visit. Several drains backing up at once, gurgling toilets or water at a basement floor drain point to the main sewer line, which may need cleaning, a camera inspection and sometimes repair.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Drains & sewer services in Pittsburgh
Drain cleaning
UrgentIf one fixture is slow, the clog is usually in that fixture's branch line. If several drains back up at once, or the basement floor drain fills when you run the washer, the main sewer line is blocked and needs a larger cable or a jetter.
Hydro jetting
Hydro jetting cleans the full width of a drain pipe with high-pressure water, washing out grease, scale and fine roots that a cable only punches a hole through. It works best on sound pipe and is usually done after a camera inspection confirms the pipe can take it.
Sewer camera inspection in Pittsburgh
A sewer camera inspection runs a waterproof camera through the line from your house to the city main and records what it finds: roots, cracks, sags, offset joints or collapsed pipe. It's the best way to decide between cleaning, spot repair and replacement.
Sewer line repair in Pittsburgh
UrgentA damaged sewer line can be fixed with a spot repair, a trenchless liner, pipe bursting or an open-trench replacement. Which one fits depends on what the camera shows, how deep the pipe is, and what's on top of it, such as a driveway, trees or landscaping.
Local conditions
Drains & sewer in Pittsburgh: what's different
Pittsburgh's steep lots and old clay laterals lead to cracked, root-filled lines. Runoff during heavy rain can overwhelm older combined sewers.
In Allegheny County, plumbing permits and inspections come from the Allegheny County Health Department's plumbing program.
Laterals on hillside lots can be long and steep, which makes repairs costly, so a camera inspection first shows exactly where the damage is. Trenchless lining is often used to avoid digging on slopes. Pittsburgh Water maintains the public sewer, and the lateral belongs to the owner.
- Water and sewer in Pittsburgh
- Pittsburgh Water (formerly the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority) provides water and sewer service to most of the city.
- Permits in Pittsburgh
- In Allegheny County, plumbing permits and inspections are handled by the Allegheny County Health Department's plumbing program.
Pittsburgh housing and plumbing
Hillside homes from the early 1900s typically have basements, cast-iron drains, clay laterals and some galvanized supply.
Other Pittsburgh conditions that affect plumbing
- Hillside sewer laterals: Steep lots and old clay laterals lead to cracked, root-filled lines.
- Freeze and thaw: Repeated winter freeze-thaw cycles split exterior-wall pipes and outdoor faucets.
- Lead service lines: Many older homes have had or still have lead service lines, which the utility has been replacing.
- Three rivers and steep valleys: Pittsburgh's rivers and steep valleys mean many homes sit on slopes, and runoff during heavy rain can overwhelm older combined sewers.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, including Squirrel Hill, Lawrenceville, Shadyside, Bloomfield, Brookline, Mount Washington. ZIP codes: 15201 · 15202 · 15203 · 15204 · 15205 · 15206.
When to call a plumber in Pittsburgh
- Water backing up in the tub or shower when a toilet flushes
- Several fixtures draining slowly at the same time
- Water or sewage at a basement floor drain
- Gurgling from drains or toilets
- Sewer smell inside or a soggy patch in the yard
- The same clog returning within weeks of being cleared
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the drains & sewer guide.
Drains & sewer questions in Pittsburgh
Who issues plumbing permits in Pittsburgh?
Are chemical drain cleaners safe to use?
More plumbing in Pittsburgh
Need help with drains & sewer in Pittsburgh?
Tell us what's going on and your ZIP code. You'll be connected with a licensed plumber who serves your area.
Call now to check plumber availability