5 services · Chicago
Leaks, pipes & freezing in Chicago, IL
Pipe problems range from a burst line that needs the water shut off right now to slow pinhole leaks that show up as a high water bill. A licensed plumber finds where the water is escaping, repairs or replaces that section, and tells you whether the rest of the piping is likely to follow.
- Licensed local plumbers
- The problem explained before work starts
- Price agreed before the job begins
Leaks, pipes & freezing services in Chicago
Burst pipe repair
UrgentTurn off the main water shutoff first, then open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain the lines. A plumber cuts out the split section, replaces it, and checks the rest of that pipe run, because one freeze rarely damages only one spot.
Frozen pipe thawing in Chicago
UrgentIf a faucet gives no water or only a trickle after a hard freeze, a pipe is frozen. Leave that faucet open, warm the area gently, and call a plumber if you can't find the frozen section or if it's inside a wall, because a split pipe will leak as soon as it thaws.
Leak detection
Turn off every fixture and watch the water meter's leak indicator. If it moves, water is leaking somewhere. A plumber uses pressure tests, acoustic listening and thermal imaging to find the leak so only a small section of wall or floor has to be opened.
Repiping
Repiping replaces a home's water supply lines, usually because old galvanized steel has corroded or polybutylene is at risk of failing. Most repipes today use PEX, take two to five days, and are done through small wall openings rather than gutting the house.
Water line repair in Chicago
UrgentThe water service line runs from the curb stop near the street to your house, buried below the frost line. A leak shows up as a soggy patch in the yard, low pressure throughout the house, or a meter that never stops. Repair means finding the leak, then fixing that spot or replacing the line.
Local conditions
Leaks, pipes & freezing in Chicago: what's different
Sub-zero Chicago cold freezes pipes along exterior walls and in unheated porches and garages, especially in older bungalows and two-flats. Many older homes are also served by lead service lines, and the city has a replacement program for them.
Plumbing permits come from the Chicago Department of Buildings, and plumbing work in Chicago must be done by licensed plumbers registered with the city. Water and sewer mains are maintained by the Department of Water Management.
- Water and sewer in Chicago
- The Chicago Department of Water Management supplies water and maintains sewers inside the city.
- Permits in Chicago
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Chicago Department of Buildings, and plumbing work in Chicago must be done by licensed plumbers registered with the city.
Chicago housing and plumbing
Bungalows, two-flats and greystones from the early 1900s fill neighborhoods like Logan Square and Pilsen, many with basements, cast-iron drains and clay sewer lines.
Other Chicago conditions that affect plumbing
- Basement flooding: Combined sewers can back up during heavy storms; overhead sewers, backwater valves and sump pumps are common upgrades.
- Frozen pipes: Sub-zero cold freezes pipes along exterior walls and in unheated porches and garages.
- Lead service lines: Many older Chicago homes are served by lead service lines, and the city has a replacement program.
- Deep Tunnel: Chicago's Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (Deep Tunnel) stores stormwater to reduce flooding, but intense storms can still overwhelm local sewers and push water into basements, which is why overhead sewers and backwater valves are popular upgrades.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Chicago and Cook County, including Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Lakeview, Beverly, Pilsen, Rogers Park. ZIP codes: 60290 · 60499 · 60601 · 60602 · 60603 · 60604.
When to call a plumber in Chicago
- Water spraying, dripping from a ceiling or pooling on the floor: shut off the main and call right away
- No water from some faucets on a very cold morning
- A water bill that jumped without a change in use
- The water meter moving when every fixture is off
- Warm spots on a slab floor, or the sound of running water in a wall
- Low pressure throughout the house or rusty water from older pipes
How these problems start and how to choose between repair options is covered in the leaks, pipes & freezing guide.
Leaks, pipes & freezing questions in Chicago
How do I know if my Chicago home has a lead service line?
Should I turn off the water if a pipe bursts?
More plumbing in Chicago
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