Cook County · Service area
Plumbers in Chicago, IL
Chicago's bungalows, two-flats and greystones were mostly built between the 1890s and the 1950s, and much of their original plumbing is still in the ground. The city required lead for water service lines until 1986, so it has more of them than any other city in the country.
Serving Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Logan Square, Pilsen, Hyde Park, Beverly, Portage Park and nearby neighborhoods.
- Emergency plumbing help
- Licensed local plumbers
- Price confirmed before work
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- Licensed local plumbing companies
- Price confirmed before work starts
Homes and plumbing in Chicago
Nearly every Chicago house has a basement with a floor drain tied to a clay sewer running to the street. Many older homes also have a catch basin in the yard that collects kitchen grease and needs periodic cleaning. Winters are cold enough to freeze pipes in unheated back porches and along exterior walls.
Basement sewer backups
Chicago has a combined sewer system. In heavy rain the mains fill and can push sewage back through basement floor drains. Backwater valves and overhead sewer conversions are the usual protections.
Lead service lines
Roughly 400,000 homes are connected by lead service lines. The city runs replacement programs, and any plumbing work that disturbs the line can temporarily raise lead levels.
Clay sewers and tree roots
Original clay tile sewers crack and separate at the joints, and parkway trees find them. Repeated rodding is a sign the line needs a camera inspection.
Common plumbing calls in Chicago
Sewer Backup Repair
Sewage in a tub, floor drain or toilet means the main line is blocked.
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 moreSewer Camera Inspection
A sewer camera inspection shows roots, cracks, sags and blockages before you pay for a repair or buy a house.
Learn moreFrozen Pipe Repair
No water from a faucet in freezing weather usually means a frozen pipe.
Learn moreSump Pump Repair
Sump pump not turning on, running nonstop or failing in storms? See how plumbers repair and replace sump pumps and add battery backup..
Learn more
Also available in Chicago: emergency plumbing and all plumbing services.
Chicago at a glance
- Area
- Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
- Neighborhoods
- Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Logan Square, Pilsen, Hyde Park, Beverly, Portage Park
- Local issues
- Basement sewer backups; Lead service lines; Clay sewers and tree roots
- Plumber licensing
- Plumbers are licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health; the City of Chicago licenses its own plumbers.
- Office
- Service-area page. Work is done by independent local plumbing companies.
Chicago plumbing questions
Who licenses plumbers in Chicago?
The City of Chicago licenses its own plumbers through the Department of Buildings, separately from the Illinois Department of Public Health license used in the rest of the state. Ask for the license number and confirm it with the city.
How can I stop sewage backing up into my Chicago basement?
A plumber can install a backwater valve on the sewer line or convert the house to an overhead sewer, which is the more complete fix. Both require a city permit. Keeping the catch basin and sewer rodded also helps.
Guides for Chicago homeowners
Sewer 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 guideHow to prevent frozen pipes
Keep vulnerable pipes above freezing and keep water moving.
Read the guide
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Need a plumber in Chicago?
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