A dripping faucet or a toilet that won’t stop running seems small, until you see the water bill or notice the stain spreading under the sink. Our handyman plumbing service in Philadelphia takes care of those everyday problems quickly and properly, so a minor annoyance never turns into water damage.
Home Exchange has been fixing and renovating homes since 1986, first in New York City, then across New Jersey, and in Philadelphia since around 2005. We show up with the tools and parts the job needs, work around your schedule, and stand behind our Done Right Promise: the repair is done right the first time.
What our handyman plumbing service covers
Most household plumbing problems come down to a handful of parts that wear out over time: washers, cartridges, flappers, fill valves, supply lines and seals. We diagnose which one has failed and replace it, or replace the whole fixture when that makes more sense.
Repairs
- Faucets that drip, spray sideways or are hard to turn
- Toilets that run, rock, leak at the base or flush weakly
- Drains in sinks, tubs and showers that have slowed down
- Shutoff valves and supply lines that are corroded, stuck or weeping
Installations and upgrades
- New kitchen and bathroom faucets, sinks and toilets
- Low-flow and dual-flush toilets that use far less water per flush
- Garbage disposals
- Pipe insulation in basements, crawl spaces and exterior walls
Plumbing work often goes hand in hand with other updates. If you are refreshing a room, our bathroom and kitchen services can take care of the vanity, backsplash and trim at the same visit.
Signs it’s time to call a pro
Some fixes are easy DIY jobs. Others look simple but involve old, brittle connections that can snap the moment you put a wrench on them. That is common in Philadelphia rowhomes and older South Jersey houses, where original galvanized lines and decades-old valves are still in service. Call us when:
- A leak keeps coming back after you’ve tightened or replaced a part
- The shutoff valve under the sink or behind the toilet won’t close fully
- You notice soft flooring, staining or a musty smell near a fixture
- A drain clogs again within days of clearing it
How we approach a plumbing repair
- Listen and look. We ask what you’ve noticed and when it started, then inspect the fixture, valves and visible pipes.
- Explain the fix. You’ll know what failed, what we recommend and whether a repair or a replacement is the better value.
- Protect your home. We shut off the water, lay down protection and keep the work area tidy.
- Repair and test. After the work, we run the water, check every connection for drips and make sure everything drains and flushes as it should.
What affects the cost of plumbing repairs
Every job is quoted individually, but a few factors make the biggest difference:
- Repair versus replacement. Swapping a flapper costs far less than replacing an entire toilet.
- Access. Fixtures behind tight cabinets, in finished walls or in cramped basements take longer to reach.
- Age of the plumbing. Corroded valves and old supply lines often need replacing along with the part that failed.
- Fixtures and parts. The faucet or toilet you choose sets much of the material cost.
The quickest way to get a real number is to request a quote with a short description and a photo or two.
Simple habits that prevent plumbing problems
A little routine care goes a long way between service calls:
- Keep grease and coffee grounds out of the drain. Pour cooled grease into an old can and toss it in the trash.
- Run hot water after heavy sink use to keep oily residue moving through the pipes.
- Freshen drains with baking soda and vinegar followed by hot water instead of harsh chemicals. Pour boiling water straight into the drain, never onto a porcelain basin.
- Flush your water heater by draining a few gallons from the bottom valve about twice a year to clear sediment.
- Insulate the tank and exposed pipes. If the outside of your water heater feels warm, an insulating jacket can cut wasted energy.
- Know where your main shutoff is so you can stop the water fast if something lets go.
For a broader checklist of seasonal tasks, see our home maintenance service.
Why homeowners in Philadelphia and South Jersey choose us
We’re a family-run company with decades of experience managing everything from full building renovations to single-fixture repairs. That background means careful planning, clear communication and crews that arrive prepared. We’re screened and approved on Angi with Top Rated and Elite Service recognition, and we treat every home, from Port Richmond to Haddonfield, like it belongs to a neighbor.
If you have more than one item on your list, we can tackle several small jobs in a single visit through our general home repair service.