Franklin County · Chambersburg, PA
Plumbers in Chambersburg, PA
Chambersburg is in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. About 60,000 people live in the 2 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 26,000 homes, 60% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1980 and 1999 (25%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 2 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Chambersburg
17201, 17202
Chambersburg homes and their plumbing
Here is how Chambersburg's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 14%, 1940–1959 15%, 1960–1979 21%, 1980–1999 25%, 2000 or later 25%. 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 | 14% |
| 1940–1959 | 15% |
| 1960–1979 | 21% |
| 1980–1999 | 25% |
| 2000 or later | 25% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 60,347
- Housing units
- 25,674
- Single-family detached
- 60%
- Owner-occupied
- 65%
- Heated with utility gas
- 23%
- Heated with electricity
- 55%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 14%
- Heated with propane
- 4%
What goes wrong in Chambersburg homes
Oil-heated homes
14% 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
50% 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.
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
29% of homes in Chambersburg's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 14% 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.
Common calls in Chambersburg
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Whole-House Repiping in Chambersburg, PA
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Chambersburg: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Chambersburg at a glance
- County
- Franklin County
- ZIP codes
- 17201, 17202
Chambersburg plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Chambersburg?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Chambersburg, Census estimates put 29% of homes as built before 1960, 21% from 1960 to 1979, 25% from 1980 to 1999 and 25% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1980–1999 (25%).
Who licenses plumbers in Chambersburg, 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 Chambersburg usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 23% of homes heating with utility gas, 55% with electricity, 14% with fuel oil and 4% with propane. 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 Chambersburg homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Fayetteville (5 mi), Marion (5 mi), Scotland (5 mi), Mont Alto (8 mi), Orrstown (9 mi), Greencastle (10 mi), Shippensburg (11 mi), Fort Loudon (13 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 Chambersburg, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Chambersburg?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.