Blair County · Altoona, PA
Plumbers in Altoona, PA
Altoona is in Blair County, Pennsylvania. About 60,000 people live in the 3 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 28,000 homes, 72% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (37%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 3 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Altoona
16601, 16602, 16603
Altoona homes and their plumbing
Here is how Altoona's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 37%, 1940–1959 26%, 1960–1979 22%, 1980–1999 10%, 2000 or later 5%. 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.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 37% |
| 1940–1959 | 26% |
| 1960–1979 | 22% |
| 1980–1999 | 10% |
| 2000 or later | 5% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 60,440
- Housing units
- 28,163
- Single-family detached
- 72%
- Owner-occupied
- 69%
- Heated with utility gas
- 74%
- Heated with electricity
- 14%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 8%
What goes wrong in Altoona homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
63% of homes in Altoona's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 37% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
74% of occupied homes here heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters, ranges and dryers are common. That means gas line extensions for new appliances, flexible connector replacements and venting checks when a water heater is swapped. If you smell gas, leave first and call the gas utility from outside. See gas line repair.
Long, hard winters
85% 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.
Oil-heated homes
8% 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.
Common calls in Altoona
- Whole-House Repiping
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Water Heater Replacement
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair in Altoona, PA
Also available in Altoona: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Altoona at a glance
- County
- Blair County
- ZIP codes
- 16601, 16602, 16603
Altoona plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Altoona?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Altoona, Census estimates put 63% of homes as built before 1960, 22% from 1960 to 1979, 10% from 1980 to 1999 and 5% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (37%).
Who licenses plumbers in Altoona, 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 Altoona usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 74% of homes heating with utility gas, 14% with electricity, 8% with fuel oil. Water heaters often use the same fuel as the home's heat, so utility gas is the most common here, but check the label on your tank before you shop for a replacement.
Guides for Altoona homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Mill Run (2 mi), Dysart (5 mi), Hollidaysburg (5 mi), Duncansville (6 mi), Bellwood (7 mi), Ashville (8 mi), Gallitzin (8 mi), Newry (8 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 Altoona, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Altoona?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.