Lehigh County · Allentown, PA
Plumbers in Allentown, PA
Allentown is in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. About 177,000 people live in the 7 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 70,000 homes, 38% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (30%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 7 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Allentown
18001, 18101, 18102, 18103, 18104, 18106, 18109
Allentown homes and their plumbing
Here is how Allentown's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 30%, 1940–1959 22%, 1960–1979 23%, 1980–1999 14%, 2000 or later 11%. With that many older homes, original galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay drains are still common, so leaks, rust and root intrusion come up often. Neighboring areas such as Bethlehem are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 30% |
| 1940–1959 | 22% |
| 1960–1979 | 23% |
| 1980–1999 | 14% |
| 2000 or later | 11% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 176,993
- Housing units
- 70,061
- Single-family detached
- 38%
- Owner-occupied
- 54%
- Heated with utility gas
- 39%
- Heated with electricity
- 41%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 16%
What goes wrong in Allentown homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
52% of homes in Allentown's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 30% of them before 1940. Houses that old often still have galvanized steel supply lines that rust closed from the inside, and cast iron or clay sewer pipe that cracks and lets roots in. Weak pressure at upstairs fixtures, brown water after a shutoff and slow drains are the usual clues. Typical fixes are whole-house repiping and a sewer camera inspection.
Oil-heated homes
16% of occupied homes here heat with fuel oil, far above the national norm. Many of them make hot water with a tankless coil inside the boiler, which runs the boiler all summer. Plumbers often replace the coil with an indirect tank or a standalone water heater when the boiler is serviced or replaced.
Long, hard winters
75% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Pennsylvania winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 38% of homes here are single-family detached houses. In attached buildings a leak or clog often involves a shared stack or a neighbor's unit, so it's worth knowing which lines are yours and which belong to the building or HOA, and where your unit's own shutoff is.
Common calls in Allentown
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Allentown: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Allentown at a glance
- County
- Lehigh County
- Nearest city pages
- Bethlehem
- ZIP codes
- 18001, 18101, 18102, 18103, 18104, 18106, 18109
Allentown plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Allentown?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Allentown, Census estimates put 52% of homes as built before 1960, 23% from 1960 to 1979, 14% from 1980 to 1999 and 11% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (30%).
Who licenses plumbers in Allentown, PA?
Pennsylvania has no statewide plumbing license; Philadelphia, Allegheny County and other municipalities license plumbers, and home improvement contractors register with the Attorney General.
Are water heaters in Allentown usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 39% of homes heating with utility gas, 41% with electricity, 16% with fuel oil. Water heaters often use the same fuel as the home's heat, so electricity is the most common here, but check the label on your tank before you shop for a replacement.
Guides for Allentown homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Lehigh Valley (0 mi), Whitehall (2 mi), Emmaus (4 mi), Center Valley (6 mi), Northampton (6 mi), Coopersburg (7 mi), Hellertown (7 mi), Macungie (7 mi).
Housing, heating and population figures are US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Allentown, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Allentown?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.