Plumbing in Chicago, IL

A deeper look at how Chicago conditions shape the plumbing work owners actually need.

Plumbing in Chicago is a two license discipline. The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses plumbers statewide, but the City of Chicago separately requires a City plumber's license for work within its limits. That dual requirement exists because Chicago runs its own inspections and permit system through the Department of Buildings, independent of IDFPR. Bridgepoint plumbers carry both credentials and pull City of Chicago permits as part of the job.

The most common plumbing calls in Chicago follow a seasonal pattern. October through March is frozen and burst pipe season. Pipes in the exterior walls of Chicago bungalows are particularly vulnerable because the bungalow's characteristic unheated front vestibule shares exterior wall space with supply lines that feed the kitchen or bathroom on the other side of that wall. A sustained cold snap at negative ten degrees Fahrenheit or below, which occurs multiple times in most Chicago winters, is enough to freeze those lines. When the pipe bursts, it typically does so inside the wall, and the water damage often extends to finished ceilings and floors before the leak is discovered.

April through June is sump pump season. Chicago's partially combined sewer system means that during heavy rain events and spring snowmelt, groundwater rises quickly around building foundations in low lying neighborhoods like Pilsen, Bridgeport, and parts of the Far Northwest Side.

A sump pump that fails during a major rain event can allow two to four inches of water to flood a basement in hours. We recommend sump pump testing and replacement evaluation as part of every spring preventative visit.

Year round, drain and sewer issues are a constant in Chicago's older building stock. Cast iron drain stacks in pre 1960 buildings develop internal corrosion and root intrusion from street trees. We scope drains with a camera before recommending repair versus replacement so property owners are not committing to a major repair based on a guess. Sewer lining is an option in many cases that avoids the cost and disruption of full excavation.

Water heater replacement is another frequent Chicago call. Older bungalows and two flats often have tank style water heaters in unheated utility rooms that are near the end of their service life. Hard water from the Lake Michigan supply accelerates sediment buildup and corrosion inside older tanks. We carry standard 40 and 50 gallon replacement units on the truck for same day swap when the existing unit is salvageable in dimension and location.