Emergencies
A burst pipe or a flooding basement. The first five minutes decide how bad it gets.
Plumbing tips for Englewood, NJ homes
Englewood's big houses on the East Hill, its 1920s streets in the center and its post-war blocks to the west each carry the plumbing of their era. Here is what to expect, and how to find a licensed plumber.
Englewood is a city with a small downtown and three distinct kinds of neighborhood around it. The East Hill has large houses from the 1890s through the 1920s, some very large. The streets around downtown are 1910s and 1920s colonials, foursquares and two-families, with apartment buildings on the avenues. West of the tracks, toward the Overpeck, are post-war capes and ranches on lower ground. Each has its own plumbing to manage.
The old houses
- Galvanized supply, cast iron and lead. A house of this age has had its plumbing worked on many times, and what remains of the original is the weak point. Pressure that fades upstairs points to galvanized pipe; a dull gray service pipe at the foundation wall points to lead.
- Steam heat, often with the original radiators and a boiler two or three generations on. Steam needs a plumber who understands it, and there are fewer each year.
- Multiple bathrooms added over a century, in whatever space was available, on drains that were never intended for them. Venting problems are common.
- Basements with stone or early block walls that let water through in a storm, and the mechanical equipment sitting at the lowest point.
The post-war blocks
Copper supply and cast iron drains, now at the age where the drains give out. The lower ground near the Overpeck has a high water table, and basements there rely on sump pumps that should have a backup.
Apartments
Downtown apartment buildings from the 1920s to the 1960s have central heat and hot water. Report a problem to the landlord in writing; New Jersey requires heat and hot water to be kept in service, and the city's building department enforces it.
Water and sewer
Public water from the regional utility, moderately hard, and public sewer to the county authority. Laterals under the old streets are clay, and street trees on the East Hill are large and thirsty. A recurring sewer backup deserves a camera inspection.
When you need a professional
Plumbers in Englewood work under a New Jersey master plumber license, which is verifiable online. The Find a plumber page opens a search near Englewood and explains the check. For an East Hill house, ask about steam and galvanized replacement before you hire.
Plumbing topics for Englewood
Clogs and drains
Kitchen sinks, tubs, toilets and the old sewer lines under many Bergen County streets.
Hot water
Looking after a water heater, and knowing when it has reached the end.
Steam and hot water heat
Older Bergen County houses often have radiators. They are simple systems once you understand them.
Kitchen and bath fixes
The small repairs that save a service call, with honest notes on how hard each one is.
Upkeep and hiring
Seasonal checks, and how to hire a plumber in New Jersey without regretting it.
Common questions
The steam radiators in my old Englewood house bang every morning. Is that dangerous?
Usually not, but it means water is trapped where steam is arriving. The radiator should tilt slightly toward its valve so condensate drains back, the valve should be fully open, and the vent should not be plugged. If the banging is in the pipes rather than the radiators, the boiler's water level or a sagging return line is the likelier cause, and a plumber who knows steam should look.
My house was built before 1930. Could the water service be lead?
It could. Lead service lines were used in New Jersey into the 1950s. The utility is required to keep an inventory and replace known lead lines, so ask whether your address is listed. You can also check the pipe where it enters the house: lead is dull gray, soft enough to scratch with a key, and does not ring when tapped.
Need a professional?
When it is more than a quick fix, search for plumbers near your town and verify the New Jersey license in a minute.