Pierce County
Plumber in Tacoma, WA
Beaver's Plumbing is based in Monroe, about 61 miles north of Tacoma by way of I-405 and I-5, so Tacoma appointments are scheduled around drive time. Call to confirm an arrival window for your address; emergency response times vary with distance and traffic.
Tacoma's median home was built in 1967: 43% of homes predate 1960 and 64% predate 1980, while 18% were built in 2000 or later (ACS 2024 5-year estimates).
Key facts
- Serving
- Tacoma, WA
- ZIP codes
- 98402, 98403, 98404, 98405, 98406, 98407, 98408, 98409, 98418, 98421, 98422, 98465
- From our shop
- About 61 driving miles from Monroe
- Water
- Tacoma Water (Tacoma Public Utilities). Soft: 1 to 2 grains per gallon, about 17 to 34 mg/L (Tacoma Public Utilities)
- Estimates
- Free, upfront flat-rate pricing
- Emergencies
- 24/7 at (425) 845-3535
Plumbing in Tacoma
Tacoma Water draws most of the city's supply from the Green River and tops it up from 24 wells in and around Tacoma, which cover about 4% to 11% of demand in a typical year. Tacoma Public Utilities rates the water soft, 1 to 2 grains per gallon, and adds caustic soda so it is less corrosive to plumbing. Its 2024 service line inventory found no lead lines in the utility's system, after a project launched in 2016 removed the last 342 lead goosenecks.
Tacoma owners are responsible for more pipe than many expect. Tacoma Water owns the service line only from the main to the meter; the pipe from the meter to the house belongs to the owner and, the utility notes, is usually as old as the services it replaces. The side sewer from the house to the city main is the owner's too, and city guidance says buildings from before 1980 likely have clay or concrete side sewers that can crack, shift and admit roots.
Neighborhoods we serve
North Tacoma Stadium District Proctor District Old Tacoma Hilltop McKinley Hill Lincoln International District South Tacoma West Tacoma Northeast Tacoma
Near Point Defiance Park, Tacoma Dome, Wright Park, and everywhere in between.
Local know-how
What's hard on plumbing in Tacoma.
Rusty water points to galvanized
Tacoma Public Utilities says galvanized plumbing, typical of older homes, can shed rust when water is turned back on. With 43% of Tacoma homes built before 1960, many may still have it. Beaver's repipes with PEX or copper.
Camera-check old side sewers
The city recommends inspecting any side sewer older than 25 years or not made of PVC, and 64% of Tacoma homes predate 1980. A camera inspection finds cracks and roots; hydro-jetting and root removal clear the line.
Pre-1986 copper may have lead solder
Tacoma Water treats homes built before 1986 with copper pipe and lead solder as highest risk for lead, and mails customers a free test kit on request. Flush taps until the water runs cooler; Beaver's can repipe.
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 Tacoma.
- 01Plumbing
Drain cleaning in Tacoma
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 Tacoma
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 Tacoma
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 Tacoma
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 Tacoma
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 Tacoma
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 Tacoma: 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
Tacoma plumbing FAQ.
Don't see your question? Call or text (425) 845-3535. A real person answers, 24/7.
Is Tacoma's water hard?
No. Tacoma Public Utilities rates its water soft, about 1 to 2 grains per gallon, or roughly 17 to 34 mg/L, well inside the USGS soft range, so scale builds slowly in water heaters and fixtures. The utility flags a different nuisance: rust from older galvanized pipes and sand stirred up by water main work can collect in aerators. Beaver's can flush a water heater or replace worn fixtures.
Do I need a permit to fix my side sewer in Tacoma?
Yes, for repairs. The City of Tacoma requires a permit for side sewer repair work on private property and in the right-of-way so inspectors can check it, but not for root removal or unclogging. Work in the right-of-way must be done by a licensed, bonded contractor. If cost is the obstacle, ask the city about its low-interest Sewer Conservation Loan. Beaver's quotes the job in writing before any digging starts.
Nearby areas we serve
Sources for local facts on this page
- https://www.mytpu.org/about-tpu/services/water/about-tacoma-water/water-quality/2025-water-quality-report/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20260516152042/https://www.mytpu.org/about-tpu/services/water/about-tacoma-water/water-quality/discolored-dirty-water/
- https://www.mytpu.org/about-tpu/services/water/about-tacoma-water/water-quality/lead-and-copper/
- https://www.mytpu.org/about-tpu/services/water/about-tacoma-water/water-quality/water-service-line-inspections/
- https://www.tacomapermits.org/tip-sheet-index/side-sewers-101
- https://www.tacomapermits.org/tip-sheet-index/side-sewers-before-you-buy-or-sell
- https://www.tacomapermits.org/tip-sheet-index/fixing-your-side-sewer
- https://censusreporter.org/profiles/16000US5370000/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tacoma,_Washington
- https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/rel2020/zcta520/tab20_zcta520_place20_natl.txt
Plumbing problem in Tacoma? Let's fix it right.
Free estimates, upfront flat-rate pricing, and a 24/7 emergency line at (425) 845-3535.