Lancaster County · Lancaster, PA
Plumbers in Lancaster, PA
Lancaster is in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. About 175,000 people live in the 12 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 71,000 homes, 42% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1980 and 1999 (23%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 12 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Lancaster
17573, 17601, 17602, 17603, 17604, 17605, 17606, 17607, 17608, 17611, 17622, 17699
Lancaster homes and their plumbing
Here is how Lancaster's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 23%, 1940–1959 17%, 1960–1979 22%, 1980–1999 23%, 2000 or later 16%. 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 | 23% |
| 1940–1959 | 17% |
| 1960–1979 | 22% |
| 1980–1999 | 23% |
| 2000 or later | 16% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 174,938
- Housing units
- 70,961
- Single-family detached
- 42%
- Owner-occupied
- 64%
- Heated with utility gas
- 50%
- Heated with electricity
- 33%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 10%
- Heated with propane
- 3%
What goes wrong in Lancaster homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
40% of homes in Lancaster's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 23% 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
10% 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
62% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
50% 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.
Common calls in Lancaster
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Gas Line Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Lancaster: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Lancaster at a glance
- County
- Lancaster County
- ZIP codes
- 17573, 17601, 17602, 17603, 17604, 17605, 17606, 17607, 17608, 17611, 17622, 17699
Lancaster plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Lancaster?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Lancaster, Census estimates put 40% of homes as built before 1960, 22% from 1960 to 1979, 23% from 1980 to 1999 and 16% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1980–1999 (23%).
Who licenses plumbers in Lancaster, 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 Lancaster usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 50% of homes heating with utility gas, 33% with electricity, 10% with fuel oil and 3% with propane. 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 Lancaster homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Millersville (4 mi), East Petersburg (5 mi), Lampeter (5 mi), Smoketown (5 mi), Willow Street (5 mi), Witmer (5 mi), Bird In Hand (6 mi), Landisville (6 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 Lancaster, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Lancaster?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.