Plumber serving Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City Plumbing Problem? Which Office to Call and What a Plumber Should Explain
Salt Lake City is a big city with its own utility and its own permit office, and neither works like Bountiful's. This page is a short guide to which number to call for a sewer, water or permit question and what to ask a plumber.
Sewage backup or odor: the city has its own emergency number
Salt Lake City Public Utilities provides water, sewer and stormwater service. For a sewage backup or odor complaint, its Utilities and Services page gives an emergency number: (801) 483-6700. Customer service is (801) 483-6900.
Call the utility first when sewage is coming up in the house. If the problem is only in your own line, a plumber handles it, and the camera finding tells you which it is.
- Several drains backing up at once: call the utility line and a plumber, in either order.
- A single slow fixture: it is almost always a drain problem inside the house.
- A sewage smell in the yard or street: call the utility line.
Pages that cover the plumber's side of it: sewer line inspection and repair and clearing a clogged drain.
Plumbing permits in Salt Lake City
The city's Building Services page says that installing or altering plumbing systems requires a permit. It does not list water heaters by name, so ask. Building Services is at City Hall, 451 South State Street, phone 801-535-6000.
Who may pull the permit depends on the property. For an owner-occupied primary residence the owner may obtain the permit, with an Owner/Builder Certification. Rental and commercial properties require a contractor to obtain permits. If you hire a contractor, the city says it is the contractor's responsibility under state law to obtain the permit and see to the inspections.
- Owner-occupied home: ask whether you or the plumber will pull the permit.
- Rental: the contractor pulls it, so confirm that is in the quote.
- Always ask for the inspection sign-off at the end.
Larger jobs that need a permit include replacing the pipes and replacing a water heater.
Repairs that touch the city's water or sewer connection
Public Utilities lists a development services office for Water and Sewer Repair Permits at (801) 483-6727. If a repair reaches the city's connection in the street, ask the plumber whether a utility permit is needed in addition to a building permit.
Digging also needs a Blue Stakes request through 811, with at least 3 business days of notice. Utilities mark the lines they own, and private lines on your side are typically not marked. Ask how the plumber will locate yours.
Landlords and tenants: who calls the plumber
In a rental, the tenant reports the problem and the owner arranges the repair, and the city requires a contractor to pull permits for rental properties. If you are a tenant, tell the owner or manager in writing, with photos and the date.
If you are an owner, do not let a tenant's repair wait. A slow leak under a sink becomes water damage quickly. Say it is a rental when you call.
Hidden leaks, bills and the meter test
A water bill that rises with no change in use is a reason to test. Turn off every fixture and appliance, read the meter, wait, and read it again.
If the meter moves, there is a leak. Find the section with the main shutoff, since a moving meter with the main closed means the leak is in the line to the house. Customer Service at (801) 483-6900 can answer questions about your account and bill.
The equipment used to locate a hidden leak is on the leak detection page. For a pipe under a floor, see slab leak options.
Old pipes and water heaters: what to look for
A house with older plumbing can have galvanized or other aging supply pipe. Repeated leaks, rusty water and low pressure at several fixtures are the signs.
A water heater that leaks from the tank or is past its useful years is a replacement, not a repair. The symptom table is on the water heater repair page. Ask the plumber what the pipe is made of and what the rest of the line looks like before agreeing to a repair.
Leaks between attached units and who controls shared lines
In an attached home, a leak can start in one unit and show up in another, and the association or building owner may control the shared lines. Ask whether the shutoff for your unit is inside it and who owns the pipe in the wall.
If a neighbor's water is coming through your ceiling, shut off your own supply if you can, take photos, and tell the owner, the manager or the association in writing. Then call a plumber to find the source. See stopping a burst pipe for the first steps.
Salt Lake City contacts for sewage backups, accounts and permits
| Situation | Who to call first |
|---|---|
| Sewage backup or odor | Public Utilities emergency line, (801) 483-6700 |
| Water or sewer account question | Public Utilities customer service, (801) 483-6900 |
| Plumbing permit question | Building Services, 801-535-6000 |
| Utility repair permit | Water and Sewer Repair Permits, (801) 483-6727 |
| Gas smell | Leave and call your gas utility or 911 from outside |
| A plumber | Call (833) 840-2034 |
Say your neighborhood and what is happening.
Call (833) 840-2034What to ask a plumber before you agree
The same few questions apply across the city.
- What is the cause, and what evidence supports it.
- Who is pulling the permit, and is the inspection included.
- If the repair reaches the city's connection, is a utility permit needed.
- What is covered by the warranty, and for how long.
License details are available on request before work begins, and Utah plumbers can be checked on the state license page. Ranges are on the price ranges page. A firm price comes after the plumber sees the problem.
Salt Lake City and the county line
Salt Lake City is in Salt Lake County, about nine miles south of Bountiful, which is in Davis County. The person who answers confirms whether your address is in range when you call, so give the street address and neighborhood.
Ready to talk it through?
Call (833) 840-2034 and give your street and say what the problem is. A plumber serving your area takes the call from there.