Los Angeles County · Service area
Plumbers in Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles grew in waves, and each wave left its own plumbing. Bungalows from the 1920s and 1930s have galvanized steel supply lines and clay sewer laterals. The postwar tract homes that fill the San Fernando Valley sit on concrete slabs with copper lines underneath.
Serving San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Westside, South LA, Northeast LA, San Pedro and nearby neighborhoods.
- Emergency plumbing help
- Licensed local plumbers
- Price confirmed before work
Talk to a local plumber
Need a plumber in Los Angeles?
(833) 555-0142 Tap to call now- Free to call
- Licensed local plumbing companies
- Price confirmed before work starts
Homes and plumbing in Los Angeles
Raised-foundation homes in older neighborhoods give plumbers a crawl space to work in, which keeps repipes and drain repairs simpler. Slab homes do not, so a leak under the floor means either opening concrete or rerouting the line through the attic. Hillside properties add long, steep sewer laterals that are costly to reach.
Slab leaks
Copper lines under 1950s and 1960s slabs wear thin from decades of hot water and soil movement. A warm spot on the floor or a rising bill is the usual first sign.
Tree roots in clay laterals
Ficus and other street trees send roots into the joints of old clay sewer pipe. Clearing the roots gives relief for a while, but they return until the pipe is lined or replaced.
Hard water and earthquake rules
Much of the city's supply is hard imported water that scales water heaters. California law also requires every water heater to be strapped to resist earthquakes.
Common plumbing calls in Los Angeles
Slab Leak Repair
A warm spot on the floor or a climbing water bill can mean a leak under the slab.
Learn moreRepiping
Galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper pipes? See when a whole-house repipe makes sense, what it involves and how to reach a local repiping plumber..
Learn moreSewer Line Repair
Cracked, root-filled or collapsed sewer line? Compare spot repair, pipe lining and replacement, and call to reach a local sewer line plumber..
Learn moreDrain Cleaning
Clogged sink, tub, shower or main drain? Learn how plumbers clear drains with cables and jetting, and call to reach a local drain cleaning plumber..
Learn moreWater Heater Replacement
Replacing a leaking or aging water heater? See how plumbers size, install and permit a new tank, and call to reach a local installer..
Learn more
Also available in Los Angeles: emergency plumbing and all plumbing services.
Los Angeles at a glance
- Area
- Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
- Neighborhoods
- San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Westside, South LA, Northeast LA, San Pedro
- Local issues
- Slab leaks; Tree roots in clay laterals; Hard water and earthquake rules
- Plumber licensing
- Plumbing contractors hold a C-36 license from the Contractors State License Board, and state law requires water heaters to be strapped against earthquakes.
- Office
- Service-area page. Work is done by independent local plumbing companies.
Los Angeles plumbing questions
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Los Angeles?
Yes. The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety requires a permit, and the inspection checks seismic strapping, venting and the relief valve drain. The installing contractor normally obtains it.
How do I check a plumber's license in California?
Search the contractor's name or license number on the Contractors State License Board website. Plumbing contractors hold a C-36 license, and the site shows whether it is active, bonded and free of complaints.
Guides for Los Angeles homeowners
How long does a water heater last?
A standard tank water heater lasts about 8 to 12 years.
Read the guideSewer line repair vs. replacement: how to decide
Repair the sewer line when a camera inspection shows one or two isolated defects in pipe that is otherwise in good shape.
Read the guideWhy does my drain keep clogging?
A drain that keeps clogging has a cause that the last clearing did not remove.
Read the guide
Other service areas
Need a plumber in Los Angeles?
Call and tell us what's going on. Calling is free, and the plumber confirms the price before any work starts.