King County
Plumber in Seattle, WA
Seattle's median home was built in 1976 (Census ACS 2024 five-year estimates): 38 percent of its 393,918 housing units were built before 1960 and 53 percent before 1980, while 33 percent date from 2000 or later.
Key facts
- Serving
- Seattle, WA
- ZIP codes
- 98103, 98105, 98107, 98115, 98117, 98125
- From our shop
- About 32 driving miles from Monroe
- Water
- Seattle Public Utilities. Soft: about 1.5 grains per gallon (roughly 26 mg/L) in SPU's May 2026 distribution samples
- Estimates
- Free, upfront flat-rate pricing
- Emergencies
- 24/7 at (425) 845-3535
Plumbing in Seattle
Seattle Public Utilities supplies 1.6 million people in the region from two protected mountain watersheds. In 2025, 62 percent came from the Cedar River and 38 percent from the South Fork Tolt; neighborhoods south of Green Lake usually get Cedar water and those north of it usually get Tolt. Both are soft: May 2026 distribution samples measured about 1.5 grains per gallon, roughly 26 mg/L.
If you own a Seattle home, you own its side sewer all the way to the public main under the street, including the part beyond your property line, and neighbors who share a line split its upkeep from the point where their pipes join. Since October 1, 2025, Seattle Public Utilities has issued side sewer permits, while plumbing and gas piping permits come from Public Health Seattle & King County.
Neighborhoods we serve
Lake City Northgate Wedgwood Maple Leaf Ravenna Greenwood Ballard Wallingford Capitol Hill Queen Anne
Near Green Lake, Volunteer Park, Maple Leaf Reservoir, and everywhere in between.
Local know-how
What's hard on plumbing in Seattle.
Galvanized pipe in pre-1960 homes
Thirty-eight percent of Seattle homes were built before 1960, an era when galvanized steel supply pipe was often used. Older galvanized plumbing can restrict flow as it corrodes, so weak flow at every faucet is a warning sign. We repipe with PEX or copper.
Roots in clay and concrete sewers
SPU calls roots a common side sewer problem, especially in older concrete and clay lines built without watertight joints. It also recommends a camera inspection before you buy a house. We scope lines, cut roots and hydro-jet.
Call PSE before clearing a clog
SPU advises calling Puget Sound Energy at 1 (888) 225-5773 before clearing a side sewer blockage, to avoid damaging a gas line. Skip the rental auger; we offer camera inspection with drain cleaning, so we can see what's in the pipe.
Water running right now?
Shut off the main water valve, turn off the water heater, and call us. Our emergency line answers 24/7.
Services
Our services in Seattle.
- 01Plumbing
Drain cleaning in Seattle
Slow sinks, backed-up showers and main-line clogs cleared with professional cable machines and hydro-jetting, with a camera inspection when we need to see what's causing it.
- — Kitchen, bathroom, laundry and floor drains cleared
- — Main sewer line cleaning from the cleanout
- — Hydro-jetting to scour grease, scale and roots off the pipe walls
Typical price: $250–$550 for a standard drain cleaning
Learn more - 02Plumbing
Water heaters in Seattle
Tank and tankless, gas and electric: same-day repairs, code-compliant replacements and upgrades, with the unit sized to your household.
- — Diagnosis and repair of thermostats, elements, gas valves, igniters and leaks
- — Tank water heater replacement, same day when possible
- — Tankless water heater installation and upgrades
Typical price: $2,200–$4,000 for a replacement, depending on the unit
Learn more - 03Plumbing
Leak repair in Seattle
Leaks found with electronic detection instead of guesswork, then fixed for good: pipes, fittings, valves, fixtures, slabs and burst lines.
- — Leak detection behind walls, under floors and in slabs
- — Pipe, fitting and valve repairs (copper, PEX, galvanized, CPVC)
- — Burst and frozen pipe repair
Typical price: $500–$1,100 for most leak repairs
Learn more - 04Plumbing
Repiping in Seattle
Aging galvanized or polybutylene supply lines replaced with PEX or copper, with small access openings, a pressure test and a written warranty.
- — Whole-home PEX or copper repipe
- — Galvanized steel and polybutylene replacement
- — New shutoff valves at fixtures
- 05Plumbing
Sewer lines in Seattle
Main sewer lines camera-inspected, cleaned of roots and grease, and repaired or replaced when the pipe itself has failed.
- — Sewer camera inspection with the footage explained
- — Main line cleaning and root cutting
- — Hydro-jetting for grease and root buildup
- 06Heating & cooling
HVAC in Seattle
Furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners and ductless mini-splits repaired, maintained and installed, plus duct cleaning and repair.
- — Furnace repair, maintenance and replacement
- — Heat pump repair and installation
- — Air conditioner service and installation
Also available in Seattle: faucet, toilet and fixture installation, 24/7 emergency plumbing, and the Dam Good Defenders Club membership.
- Upfront, written flat-rate price before any work begins
- Dam Good Guarantee: if something we fixed isn't right, we come back and make it right, no charge.
- WA contractor license BEAVEPI741J3
Good questions
Seattle plumbing FAQ.
Don't see your question? Call or text (425) 845-3535. A real person answers, 24/7.
Is there lead in Seattle's tap water?
Not from the source. SPU says its water sources contain no lead and there are no known lead service lines in its system, though a small number of homes may have lead connections. Lead can leach from old lead solder and brass fixtures, so run a tap for 2 minutes after water sits more than 6 hours, and choose low-lead fixtures; federal law cut the lead allowed in fixtures to 0.25 percent in 2014.
Is there help paying for a side sewer repair in Seattle?
Yes, for some owners. SPU says interest-free loans for side sewer repair are available to low- or fixed-income customers, and it recommends getting at least three contractor bids before repair work starts. A free Beaver's estimate with a written flat-rate price can be one of those bids.
Nearby areas we serve
Sources for local facts on this page
- https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SPU/AboutUs/Reports/Water%20Quality/SPU-Drinking-Water-Quality-Report_2025.pdf
- https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SPU/Services/Water/Analyses/SPU_Quarterly-Surface-Water-Analysis_05-20-2026.pdf
- https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/water/water-quality/quality-concerns/lead
- https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/sewer-and-drainage/side-sewers
- https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/sewer-and-drainage/side-sewers/defects-and-issues
- https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/sewer-and-drainage/side-sewers/maintenance
- https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/your-services/sewer-and-drainage/side-sewers/backups
- https://buildingconnections.seattle.gov/2025/10/01/side-sewer-work-transfers-to-seattle-public-utilities/
- https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/environmental-health/plumbing-gas-piping/applications-and-permits
- https://portland.gov/water/report-water-quality-issues/water-pressure-and-flow
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_neighborhoods_in_Seattle
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle
- https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US5363000/
- https://www.usgs.gov/special-topics/water-science-school/science/hardness-water
Plumbing problem in Seattle? Let's fix it right.
Free estimates, upfront flat-rate pricing, and a 24/7 emergency line at (425) 845-3535.