Plumbers in Decatur, GA

Some of the oldest houses on this site

Decatur's median home was built in 1975, 54% of units predate 1980 and about 23% were built in 1939 or earlier. Close-in neighborhoods such as Oakhurst are full of houses that have outlived several generations of plumbing. Galvanized supply pipe that has narrowed with rust, cast iron drains that have cracked or scaled, older sewer laterals and odd past repairs are routine here, and many calls about low pressure or slow drains end in a conversation about replacing a section of pipe rather than patching it.

A permit for every trade job

The City of Decatur Design, Environment & Construction Division requires a separate trade permit for drainage, sewer, gas, mechanical, electrical or plumbing work, no matter how small the job's value. All applications go through the Community Core online portal; access is arranged through [email protected], and the office is in the Leveritt Public Works Building on Talley Street (404-377-6198). Plenty of addresses with a Decatur mailing address, in ZIPs 30032 through 30035, are actually in unincorporated DeKalb County, and those are permitted by the county, not the city.

DeKalb County water

The city does not run a water utility. DeKalb County Department of Watershed Management supplies Chattahoochee River water treated at the Scott Candler plant, and DeKalb Utility Customer Operations handles accounts (404-378-4475). DeKalb owns the line from the main through the meter; the owner is responsible from the meter to the house. DeKalb's "Check your line" service line inventory shows whether a line is lead or galvanized, which is worth looking up in a house this old. DeKalb Watershed has also replaced sanitary sewer lines in the city. For a sewer problem at the street, contact the City of Decatur or DeKalb Watershed, whose 24-hour emergency repair line is 770-270-6243.

Backflow

DeKalb's Backflow Prevention Section requires commercial and multi-family customers to install assemblies on the customer side of the meter and test them annually with a certified tester; its number is (404) 687-4075.

The county seat next door to Atlanta

Incorporated on December 10, 1823, Decatur is the DeKalb County seat, about 6 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, with 24,928 residents in 2020. Decatur Square and the historic courthouse, Agnes Scott College and three MARTA rail stations sit within its limits, along Ponce de Leon Avenue, Scott Boulevard and College Avenue.

Gas, and calling for help

Atlanta Gas Light runs distribution lines through Decatur; marketers sell the gas. A gas smell means leaving first, then calling 911 and Atlanta Gas Light at 877.427.4321. Call the number on this page, mention when the house was built, and you'll be connected with an independent plumber who works in Decatur.