Drain Cleaning & Rodding
Kitchen, bath, floor drains and main stacks cleared fast.
- Powered cabling & rodding
- Recurring backups diagnosed at the source
- South Philly basement-drain backups
Licensed in the City of Philadelphia
Plumber in Philadelphia, PA — Licensed Master Plumber for Rowhomes & High-Rises
Looking for a plumber in Philadelphia who actually holds a City of Philadelphia master plumber license — not a call-center dispatcher? Penn Plumbing, Heating And Cooling Inc. has spent 50 years inside Philly's toughest plumbing: 1890s rowhouse cast-iron stacks, collapsed clay sewer laterals, and 26-story Center City high-rises. We pull the permit, do the work, and stand at the PWD inspection ourselves.
50Years on Philly plumbing
26Stories — tallest building serviced
PWDPermits & inspections handled in-house
1Master license — City of Philadelphia
Why the License Matters in Philadelphia
Philadelphia Water Department Compliance, Permits & Inspections — Handled In-House
Philadelphia runs its own plumbing code and its own permitting through L&I and the Philadelphia Water Department. Unlicensed work gets red-tagged, fails at sign-off, and can stall a home sale. As a registered City of Philadelphia master plumber, we file the permit, perform the work to the Philadelphia Plumbing Code, and meet the inspector on site — the same master plumber who pulls the permit is the one turning the wrench. No subcontracting your home or building out to whoever's free that day.
PWD lateral & curb-to-house responsibilityL&I plumbing permitsBackwater valve complianceSmoke testing for sewer pipesFinal inspection sign-off
Philadelphia's #1 Plumbing Headache
Best Drain Cleaning in Philadelphia — for Aging Cast-Iron Drains
Most of Philly's rowhome housing stock still drains through original cast-iron stacks and clay-tile laterals laid before WWII. After 80–100 years that pipe scales over, cracks at the hub joints, and pulls in tree roots from the street trees the city planted out front. We don't just snake it and leave — we camera the line, find the actual failure point, and tell you straight whether it's a cleaning, a spot repair, or a replacement.
Camera Inspection & Line Locating
See the problem before you pay to dig.
- In-pipe video of cast iron & clay laterals
- Root intrusion & collapse located
- Pre-purchase sewer scopes for buyers
Cast-Iron & Clay Sewer Replacement
When the old line is done, we replace it to PWD spec.
- Cast iron, PVC & ductile transitions
- Lateral replacement to the curb
- Backwater valve installation
What We Do in Philadelphia
Plumbing Services for Philadelphia Rowhomes, Homes & Buildings
Historic Rowhouse Repiping
Trinities, porch-fronts and three-story rows — inside and out.
- Galvanized & lead supply line replacement
- Cast iron stack repair & replacement
- Shared party-wall & shared-drain situations
- Tight-access basement work
Water Heaters & Boilers
Hot water and heat for homes and multi-unit buildings.
- Tank & tankless water heater installation
- Boiler service & replacement
- Radiant & steam heat systems
Gas Piping & PGW Coordination
Safe, code-compliant gas work in the city.
- Gas piping installation & re-runs
- Range, dryer & fireplace piping
- Leak-safe pressure testing & inspection
Sump Pumps & Basement Water
For flood-prone blocks and below-grade basements.
- Sump pump install & replacement
- Battery backup systems
- Backwater valves against street backups
High-Rise & Multi-Unit Plumbing
Trusted on some of Center City's biggest buildings.
- 26-story Rittenhouse Claridge, 18th & Walnut
- Apartment communities up to 400 units
- Riser, branch & fixture work occupied-building safe
Commercial & Industrial
From corner restaurants to regional infrastructure.
- Grease traps & flushometers
- Storm & sanitary systems
- Industrial pipework: SEPTA, PATCO, Baxter Water Plant
Running a building, restaurant or storefront? See our commercial plumbing in Philadelphia services, performed under a master plumber license.
Across the City
From Center City to the Northeast: Serving Every Philadelphia Neighborhood
Based just over the city line in Havertown, we're minutes from West Philly and cover the whole city — from Center City condos to South Philly rows to Far Northeast singles.
Center CityRittenhouseSouth PhiladelphiaBella VistaQueen VillageFishtownNorthern LibertiesFairmountUniversity CityWest PhiladelphiaManayunk & RoxboroughChestnut HillMount AiryGermantownNortheast PhiladelphiaOverbrook
Good to Know
Philadelphia Plumbing — Frequently Asked Questions
Are you licensed to work in the City of Philadelphia?
Yes. Penn Plumbing, Heating And Cooling Inc. is operated by a master plumber registered with the City of Philadelphia, so L&I permits, Philadelphia Water Department requirements and final inspections are handled in-house. All work is performed to the Philadelphia Plumbing Code.
How much does drain cleaning cost in Philadelphia?
It depends on the line and the cause — a single fixture clog is very different from a root-bound main lateral. We give you a clear price before we start, and if a recurring backup turns out to be a cracked cast-iron or clay line, we'll camera it and show you exactly what's happening instead of selling you repeat snakings. Call (610) 721-2207 for a free estimate.
Why does my Philadelphia rowhome keep getting sewer backups?
In most older rows it's the original cast-iron stack or the clay lateral running out to the street. After decades the pipe scales, cracks at the joints and pulls in tree roots, so water backs up into the basement — especially during heavy rain on combined sewer blocks. A camera inspection finds the exact failure point so you fix the real problem, not the symptom. A backwater valve often prevents street backups for good.
Do you work on Philadelphia rowhomes with old cast iron and galvanized pipes?
Every week. Philadelphia's rowhome stock runs on original cast-iron stacks, galvanized supply and sometimes lead. We work with cast iron, copper, PEX and ductile iron, and we transition old systems to modern materials cleanly, in tight basements and crawlspaces, and to code.
Can you handle Center City high-rises and commercial buildings?
Yes — high-rises, apartment buildings, hotels, restaurants and industrial sites. We've serviced the 26-story Rittenhouse Claridge at 18th & Walnut and done industrial pipework for SEPTA, PATCO and the Baxter Water Plant. See our commercial plumbing services and project history.
Local Service. Lasting Comfort.