Northampton County · Bethlehem, PA
Plumbers in Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem is in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. About 128,000 people live in the 6 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 52,000 homes, 51% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1960 and 1979 (24%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 6 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Bethlehem
18015, 18016, 18017, 18018, 18020, 18025
Bethlehem homes and their plumbing
Here is how Bethlehem's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 24%, 1940–1959 20%, 1960–1979 24%, 1980–1999 20%, 2000 or later 12%. 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 Allentown are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 24% |
| 1940–1959 | 20% |
| 1960–1979 | 24% |
| 1980–1999 | 20% |
| 2000 or later | 12% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 128,119
- Housing units
- 52,249
- Single-family detached
- 51%
- Owner-occupied
- 62%
- Heated with utility gas
- 42%
- Heated with electricity
- 38%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 16%
What goes wrong in Bethlehem homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
44% of homes in Bethlehem's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 24% 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
68% 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.
Common calls in Bethlehem
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Bethlehem: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Bethlehem at a glance
- County
- Northampton County
- Nearest city pages
- Allentown
- ZIP codes
- 18015, 18016, 18017, 18018, 18020, 18025
Bethlehem plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Bethlehem?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Bethlehem, Census estimates put 44% of homes as built before 1960, 24% from 1960 to 1979, 20% from 1980 to 1999 and 12% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1960–1979 (24%).
Who licenses plumbers in Bethlehem, 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 Bethlehem usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 42% of homes heating with utility gas, 38% with electricity, 16% 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 Bethlehem homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Hellertown (4 mi), Lehigh Valley (6 mi), Center Valley (6 mi), Whitehall (6 mi), Bath (7 mi), Coopersburg (8 mi), Nazareth (8 mi), Northampton (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 Bethlehem, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Bethlehem?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.