Burst Pipe Repair in Hershey, PA 17033

Hershey was built as a company town between 1903 and 1905, and the original homes had electricity, indoor plumbing and central heating. That was ahead of its time. Today Hershey is a census-designated place in Derry Township, Dauphin County, with a median build year of 1970, so most houses are well past the era when indoor plumbing was a novelty.

Only about 10% of homes predate 1940 and 30% predate 1960. Plumbing from that period can fail at fittings or develop pinholes with age. A wet spot on a drywall ceiling, a drip inside a wall cavity or water showing at a baseboard are common signs. For a pipe that froze and split, read about frozen pipe repair.

Shut the main off first. In a Hershey ranch or split-level it is often in a utility room or near the water heater. In older homes it is on the basement front wall, near the meter. If the puddle is at the tank, see water heater repair.

Water service is Pennsylvania American Water's Hershey system, drawn from Swatara and Manada Creeks. Its hardness is about 5 grains per gallon, noticeably softer than the Mechanicsburg-area system. On the water company's side, ownership ends at the curb stop; every foot of pipe from there into the house is the homeowner's.

Sewer service comes from the Derry Township Municipal Authority, with plants at Clearwater Road and Southwest. The lateral from the house is the owner's responsibility. Derry Township, not a borough, provides these services.

Hersheypark, the Hotel Hershey and the medical center bring traffic through town, but a burst pipe in a house on a quiet street is still the same problem. Whether the job turns out to be a patch or a full pipe replacement, it goes to an independent local plumber, introduced through our phone line at (717) 853-4052.