Berks County · Reading, PA
Plumbers in Reading, PA
Reading is in Berks County, Pennsylvania. About 227,000 people live in the 12 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 90,000 homes, 41% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (33%), 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 Reading
19601, 19602, 19603, 19604, 19605, 19606, 19607, 19608, 19609, 19610, 19611, 19612
Reading homes and their plumbing
Here is how Reading's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 33%, 1940–1959 18%, 1960–1979 21%, 1980–1999 17%, 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.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 33% |
| 1940–1959 | 18% |
| 1960–1979 | 21% |
| 1980–1999 | 17% |
| 2000 or later | 11% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 226,637
- Housing units
- 90,232
- Single-family detached
- 41%
- Owner-occupied
- 62%
- Heated with utility gas
- 58%
- Heated with electricity
- 22%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 15%
- Heated with propane
- 3%
What goes wrong in Reading homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
51% of homes in Reading's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 33% 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
15% 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
72% 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
58% 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 Reading
- 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 Reading: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Reading at a glance
- County
- Berks County
- ZIP codes
- 19601, 19602, 19603, 19604, 19605, 19606, 19607, 19608, 19609, 19610, 19611, 19612
Reading plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Reading?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Reading, Census estimates put 51% of homes as built before 1960, 21% from 1960 to 1979, 17% from 1980 to 1999 and 11% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (33%).
Who licenses plumbers in Reading, 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 Reading usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 58% of homes heating with utility gas, 22% with electricity, 15% 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 Reading homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Hyde Park (2 mi), Mohnton (5 mi), Temple (5 mi), Birdsboro (8 mi), Blandon (8 mi), Leesport (8 mi), Wernersville (8 mi), Adamstown (10 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 Reading, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Reading?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.