leak detection
Hidden leaks, a spinning meter and freeze damage, found before walls are opened.
See how it works →Bethlehem, PA · Northampton and Lehigh counties
Plumber in Bethlehem, PA: Leaks, Clogs and No Hot Water
A burst pipe, a backed-up sewer or a cold shower at 2 a.m. does not wait for business hours. Our dispatch line answers around the clock and routes your call to one of our plumbers serving Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton and the towns around them.
24/7
dispatch
dispatch
Licensed and
insured plumbers
insured plumbers
License details
on request
on request
Plumbing services
Start with the problem you can see
Each service page opens with what you can safely check yourself, what a plumber should look at and when waiting costs you. Pick the one that sounds like your problem.
drain cleaning
Slow sinks, backed-up tubs and mainline clogs, plus sump pump trouble in wet basements.
See how it works →
water heater repair
No hot water, a leaking tank or a unit near the end of its life.
See how it works →
sewer line repair
Backups, tree roots and camera inspection, and who owns which part of the line.
See how it works →repiping
Pinhole leaks, galvanized lines and what the City's service line letter means inside your house.
water damage restoration
Water extraction, drying and mold testing after a burst pipe, a flood or a sewage backup.
Home plumbing, from a single fixture to a whole-house repipe, residential plumbing repair for houses, rowhouses and apartments, and new construction plumbing for new builds and additions go through the same dispatch line. Also on this site:
Emergency plumber
Emergency plumber in Bethlehem: what to do while you wait
Call first when water will not stop, sewage is coming up through a drain or there is no water at all. A dispatcher answers, asks where you are and what is happening, and sends the call to a plumber serving your area. Arrival time depends on demand and distance, so nobody here promises one.
Common plumbing emergencies here are burst or frozen pipes, sewage backups, no water at all, a leaking water heater and any gas smell. If the problem is urgent, say so when you call so the dispatcher can sort it ahead of routine repairs.
While you wait, these steps limit the damage and are safe for most homeowners:
- Close the main water valve, usually where the line enters the basement near the meter.
- For a leaking water heater, close its cold water inlet and switch off its power or gas control if you can reach it on a dry floor.
- Stay out of standing water near outlets, appliances or a basement panel.
- Photograph the damage before cleanup. Your insurer will ask.
Smell gas? Leave the building first, then call 911 or UGI at 800-276-2722. UGI does not charge to investigate and answers around the clock. Do not call a plumber before you are outside.
Cold snaps do the most harm here. Allentown recorded 8 below zero in January 2025, and local plumbers reported frozen and burst pipes after the December 2022 storm. The City of Bethlehem's Cold Weather Preparation page lists a 24-hour call center at 610-865-7000.
Sewer backups and main breaks have their own paperwork problem. The City says it is generally not liable for them unless its own negligence caused the damage, and typical homeowners policies exclude them. Start cleanup quickly and ask your insurer what is covered.
Before you pay for a repair
Whose pipe is it? City, Township or your own line
Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township and the boroughs around them follow different rules, and a few blocks can change who pays. Here is what the public record says for the places this site serves most.
| Where the house is | Sewer lateral | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| City of Bethlehem | The owner maintains and repairs the building drain and the sanitary sewer lateral, including clearing roots. | City Water and Sewer Resources, or a plumber with a camera |
| Bethlehem Township (including ZIP 18020) | The owner keeps the building sewer. The Township's wastewater FAQ says it repairs or replaces a broken service lateral itself. | Township Community Development, 610-814-6400 |
| Allentown | The owner is responsible for the sewer lateral from the house to the main in the street. | City Engineering; Lehigh County Authority runs the system |
| Easton, Nazareth, Northampton, Whitehall Township, Catasauqua | Each borough or township sets its own rule. | The borough or township office; each area page lists what we found |
Letters about "lead status unknown" service lines. The City mailed notices to 30,957 water customers whose service line is lead, galvanized or unknown, and says most lines in the system are of unknown material. Look at the pipe where the water line enters your house, report what you find on the City's service line inventory map and ask the City about its replacement program before you pay for one.
Source: City of Bethlehem, Lead Service Lines mailer, 2025; Lead Service Line FAQ.
Drain, sump and downspout rules differ too. City code bars groundwater, roof runoff and foundation drains from the sanitary sewer, and Bethlehem Township does not allow sump pumps to connect to its sewer. If a plumber suggests tying either into the sewer, ask which municipality's rule they are following. The drain cleaning page covers sump and ejector pumps in more detail.
How a call works
From your call to a plumber at the door
1
You call
A dispatcher answers, asks for your address and what is happening, and whether you have shut off the water. Have the street, the symptom and the main shutoff location ready.
2
We route the call
The call goes to a plumber in our network serving your area. Plumbers are independent and responsible for their own work. For towns farther from Bethlehem, the dispatcher confirms immediate availability for your address before promising anything.
3
The plumber looks first
The plumber diagnoses the problem, explains what is wrong and what the repair involves, and gives you license details on request before work begins.
Property managers and restaurant owners use the same number. Calls about small commercial plumbing from small businesses, restaurants and apartment buildings go to the same dispatch line.
Service areas
Plumbing service areas in Northampton and Lehigh counties
Bethlehem sits in both counties, and so do the towns we serve around it. These area pages cover the water, sewer and permit details for each one.
Calls from South Bethlehem, the South Side blocks around Wyandotte, Columbia, Hayes and Morton Streets, go to the same dispatch line as the rest of the City. Hub ZIP codes served by this dispatch network: 18015, 18016, 18017, 18018, 18020 and 18025. Not sure your address is in range? Call and the dispatcher will confirm it for you.
Questions people ask first
Same-day and after-hours plumbing questions
Is there a same-day emergency plumber in Bethlehem?
Our dispatch line answers around the clock, every day, and sends your call to a plumber serving your area. Same-day service depends on demand, distance and the job, so the dispatcher tells you what to expect on the call instead of promising an arrival time.
What do I do if I have a leak and smell gas at the same time?
Handle the gas first. Leave the building and call 911 or UGI at 800-276-2722 before anything else; UGI does not charge to investigate and responds around the clock. Then close the main water valve for the leak, and tell the dispatcher about both problems so the right plumber is sent.
Can I get a plumber after hours, on a weekend or overnight?
Yes. The dispatch line runs every day of the year, including nights, weekends and holidays. Burst pipes, sewage backups, no water at all and gas-line problems are the calls to make right away. A slow drain or a dripping faucet can usually wait for the next day.
When is a plumbing problem a same-day call?
Water you cannot stop, sewage coming up through a drain, no water at all, a water heater leaking onto the floor and any gas smell are same-day problems. A running toilet or a slow drain is usually a same-week repair, unless it is backing up into the house.
What should I do if I have no water at all?
Check whether neighbors have water, then look at your main shutoff valve and meter. The City of Bethlehem lists a 24-hour call center at 610-865-7000 on its Cold Weather Preparation page. If the problem is only in your house, call the dispatch line.
Need a plumber in Bethlehem right now?
Call (610) 904-7596. A dispatcher answers, asks where you are and what is happening, and sends the call to a plumber serving your area.