Louisiana plumbing deals with water from every direction: hurricanes, heavy rainfall, a high water table and, in parts of New Orleans, land that sits below sea level. Soft, shifting soils move slab and pier-and-beam foundations, stressing pipes underneath.
Older New Orleans homes are often raised on piers with exposed piping under the house, and the 2021 freeze showed how vulnerable that piping can be when temperatures drop hard.
Plumbing services we provide in Louisiana
These are the services Louisiana homeowners call about most often, based on the conditions above.
Emergency Plumbing
Emergency plumbing is urgent repair work for a problem that is actively causing water damage, a sanitation hazard, a gas risk or a total loss of water or drainage in a home.
Emergency Plumbing details →
Sewer Line Repair
Sewer line repair fixes damage to the building sewer or lateral, the pipe that carries wastewater from a house to the public sewer main or septic system.
Sewer Line Repair details →
Drain Cleaning
Drain cleaning is the mechanical removal of buildup, debris or roots from drain and waste pipes so water flows freely to the sewer or septic system.
Drain Cleaning details →
Water Heater Repair
Water heater repair restores a tank or tankless water heater to safe, normal operation by fixing components such as thermostats, heating elements, burners, valves and controls.
Water Heater Repair details →
Pipe Repair
Pipe repair is fixing a damaged section of a home's water supply or drain piping, from a pinhole leak or failed fitting to a split caused by freezing.
Pipe Repair details →Local conditions that affect plumbing in Louisiana
Hurricane and flood prep
Know your shutoffs, consider elevating water heaters in flood zones, and have flooded equipment inspected before use.
Shifting soils
Soft and subsiding soils can crack drain lines under slabs and pull apart connections.
Exposed pier-and-beam piping
Pipes under raised homes need insulation for occasional hard freezes.
City plumbing guides in Louisiana
Plumbing in Baton Rouge
Soft, high-quality aquifer water, the 2016 flood, slab homes on expansive clay, humid subtropical heat, hurricanes and occasional hard freezes.
Baton Rouge guide →
Plumbing in New Orleans
Raised historic homes with exposed piping, subsiding soft soils, the Sewerage & Water Board’s aging system and boil-water advisories, and hurricanes.
New Orleans guide →Plumbing emergency in Louisiana?
- Shut off the main water valve if water is leaking or a pipe has burst.
- Keep away from water near outlets, cords or the electrical panel.
- If sewage is backing up, stop using every drain in the house.
- If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
Louisiana plumbing questions
Should I elevate my water heater in Louisiana?
In flood-prone areas, raising the water heater above expected flood levels can prevent costly damage. Local code and flood ordinances may have specific requirements.
Why do drain lines break under Louisiana homes?
Soft, moving soils let foundations and the ground beneath settle unevenly, which can crack or separate drain pipes.
Why do Louisiana homes have so many slab and pier issues?
Soft, shifting soils move foundations, stressing pipes under slabs and raised homes.
How do I protect raised-home plumbing in Louisiana during a freeze?
Insulate exposed pipes under the house, wrap them and drip faucets during hard freezes.
Are septic systems common in Louisiana?
Yes, in rural areas, and high water tables can limit system performance.
How do I prepare Louisiana plumbing for hurricane season?
Know shutoffs, elevate equipment where possible and check water heaters and sewer lines after flooding.
Why does my Louisiana water smell like sulfur?
Hydrogen sulfide in groundwater or a water heater anode reaction are common causes.
Do New Orleans homes need backwater valves?
Heavy rain and pumping limits can cause backups; backwater valves help protect lower fixtures.