Emergencies
A burst pipe or a flooding basement. The first five minutes decide how bad it gets.
Plumbing tips for Rutherford, NJ homes
Rutherford's Victorians, foursquares and 1920s colonials are among the county's oldest housing, on ground that slopes to the Passaic River. Here is what that means for pipe, drains and basements, and how to find a licensed plumber.
Rutherford was laid out in the 1870s and largely built by 1930: Victorians and foursquares on the streets off Park Avenue, 1920s colonials and Tudors on the later blocks, and two-families and small apartment buildings near the station. The plumbing in these houses has been a century in the making, and the ground slopes west toward the Passaic, which adds flooding to the list.
What the houses have
- Galvanized steel supply, the original pipe in nearly every pre-1930 house, replaced in some, partly replaced in most. Fading pressure and rusty morning water are the signs of what remains.
- Lead service lines in a meaningful share of the oldest houses. See the FAQ above.
- Cast iron stacks and clay laterals. The stacks often outlast everything; the horizontal runs and the lateral are where the failures are.
- Steam heat in most of the older houses, some converted to hot water. Old radiators are worth keeping and are easy to repair; the boiler is the part that gets replaced.
- Plaster, lath and hardwood that make every pipe job slower and every leak better hidden. A stain on a first-floor ceiling can come from a tub two rooms away.
- Bathrooms added to houses that were built with one. The added ones tend to be the ones with vent problems.
Basements and the river
The blocks nearest the river have a high water table and are within reach of flooding when the Passaic rises. Sump pumps there run often and need a backup; a backwater valve protects against the sewer; and the boiler and water heater are safer raised on a platform. Higher up the slope the basements are drier but the stone and early block foundations still let water through in a storm.
Water and sewer
Public water, moderately hard, and public sewer to the county authority. The laterals under the older streets are clay, and the borough's big street trees are the usual cause of a recurring backup.
When you need a professional
Plumbers in Rutherford work under a New Jersey master plumber license, which is verifiable online. The Find a plumber page opens a search near Rutherford and explains the check. For a house of this age, ask about galvanized replacement, steam, and lead service line work before you hire.
Plumbing topics for Rutherford
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
Should I worry about lead pipe in a Rutherford house built in 1905?
Yes, enough to check. Lead service lines were common in houses of that era, and New Jersey utilities are now required to inventory and replace them. Ask the utility about your address, look at the pipe where it enters the house, and use a filter certified for lead until you know. Inside the house, old solder joints can also contribute, so run the cold tap before drinking after the water has sat.
The lower streets near the river flood. Does that affect my plumbing?
It affects the sewer. When the river is high, the storm sewers cannot drain and the sanitary system can surcharge, which backs up into low basements through floor drains and fixtures. A backwater valve on the house drain is the defense, and it needs to be checked once a year to be sure the flap moves freely.
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.