5 services · Los Angeles
Leaks, pipes & freezing in Los Angeles, CA
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 Los Angeles
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
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 in Los Angeles
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 in Los Angeles
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
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 Los Angeles: what's different
Many Los Angeles homes built before the 1960s still have galvanized supply pipe, and corroded galvanized is one of the most common reasons for repiping in neighborhoods like Highland Park, Silver Lake and Mid-City. Craftsman and Spanish revival homes often sit on raised foundations, so pipes run through an accessible crawl space.
Slab homes elsewhere in the city see slab leaks, and LADWP's watering limits during droughts make every leak show up on the bill. Permits for repiping come from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety.
- Water and sewer in Los Angeles
- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) supplies water; LA Sanitation handles sewer service.
- Permits in Los Angeles
- Plumbing permits are issued by the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS).
Los Angeles housing and plumbing
Craftsman bungalows and Spanish revival homes from the 1910s–1940s are common in neighborhoods like Highland Park and Mid-City, many on raised foundations with plumbing in a crawl space.
Other Los Angeles conditions that affect plumbing
- Galvanized and cast-iron pipe: Corroded galvanized supply and cracked cast-iron drains are the most common reasons for repiping and drain replacement.
- Earthquake readiness: California requires water heaters to be strapped against earthquakes, and flexible gas connectors reduce break risk.
- Hard water: Southern California water is hard, so scale builds up in heaters and fixtures.
- Water conservation rules: LADWP enforces watering-day limits during droughts, so leaking irrigation valves, running toilets and slab leaks show up quickly on bills. Many owners also switch to WaterSense fixtures, which California requires for new toilets and faucets sold.
Neighborhoods and ZIP codes
Plumbers on Thawline cover Los Angeles and Los Angeles County, including Silver Lake, Highland Park, Mid-City, Westchester, Studio City, Eagle Rock. ZIP codes: 90001 · 90002 · 90003 · 90004 · 90005 · 90006.
When to call a plumber in Los Angeles
- 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 Los Angeles
Is repiping easier in a raised-foundation LA home?
Should I turn off the water if a pipe bursts?
More plumbing in Los Angeles
Need help with leaks, pipes & freezing in Los Angeles?
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