Water Line Repair and Replacement in Chicago, IL

If your home or two-flat was built before the late 1980s and the service has never been replaced, assume it may be lead until you have checked. The pipe near the meter is the place to look, and the city keeps a record of known service line materials and offers free water testing.

A leak or break on a lead service is usually the moment to replace it entirely instead of repairing a section, since cutting into lead pipe can release particles. The city's programs have eligibility rules that change over time, including ones tied to leaks and breaks, so ask what applies to your address before signing a contract. Chicago winters also mean the line is buried deep, which makes the excavation or boring a larger part of the job than in warm climates.

Chicago adopts and enforces its own plumbing code, which has historically been stricter about pipe materials than the codes used in most suburbs, and plumbers working in the city must hold a City of Chicago plumbing license. Permits come from the Department of Buildings. Ask for the license number, and ask whether the materials quoted are approved for use in the city.

Keystream Plumbing is a referral service. We do not perform plumbing work or hold a contractor license. The independent plumber you are connected with is responsible for licensing, permits and the work itself.