Plumbers in College Park, GA

Seven in ten homes are older than 1980

College Park's median home was built in 1972, and roughly 71% of homes predate 1980. The College Park Historic District, listed on the National Register, holds many houses far older than that. In homes of this age, the plumbing has often been patched by several generations of owners. Galvanized supply lines that have narrowed inside, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals that crack or let roots in, and old shutoff valves that seize are the usual findings. A plumber may recommend a camera look at the sewer line before treating a repeat backup as a simple clog.

A small city at the airport's edge

The city was incorporated in 1891 as Manchester and renamed College Park in 1896. It lies about 10 miles south of downtown Atlanta, straddles the Fulton-Clayton line, and partly contains Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Main Street runs through the old downtown, and the Georgia International Convention Center, Gateway Center Arena and Woodward Academy are all here. The 2020 count was 13,930 residents.

City water bought from neighbors

The Public Works Water & Sewer Division owns the city's pipes, meters, hydrants and taps, but most of the water itself is purchased: the bulk from the City of East Point, whose supply is Sweetwater Creek, and the rest from the Clayton County Water Authority. The city has groundwater wells of its own as well. Both purchased supplies are disinfected with free chlorine, and the city's annual water quality report has the details. Private wells are not part of the picture here; the wells are utility wells.

The division also runs the wastewater collection system and a sewer lift station. Weekdays from 8 to 5, call Water & Sewer at 404-669-3757. After hours, weekends and holidays, Public Works takes calls at 404-669-3778, and its emergency dispatch is 404-863-7348.

Permits from the city, not the county

Even though College Park is in two counties, plumbing permits come from the city's Department of Building & Inspections at City Hall, 3667 Main Street (404-767-1537), which also handles building, electrical and HVAC permits.

Gas

The city runs an electric utility, College Park Power, but has no gas department. Atlanta Gas Light is the pipe utility for the area. If you smell gas, go outside first, then call 911 and AGL at 877.427.4321.

When you call

Mention the age of the house if you know it, and whether the trouble is a single fixture or the whole house. You will be connected with an independent plumber who works in College Park, and the two of you agree on cost and timing.