Chicago plumbing services: Hiring and Leak Repairs

Check the business and define the visit

Chicago publishes an active Plumbing Contractors directory with business-name, license-number, license-expiration and bond-expiration fields. Compare the company offering the quote with its directory entry. Ask the company to explain any difference between the name on its estimate and the listed business. [1]

Tell the plumber where you see water, which fixtures have problems and what happened before the problem began. Send accessible photos without opening walls or moving equipment. Ask whether the appointment covers diagnosis, repair or both, and what you owe if you decline further work.

In a shared building, agree with your property manager or association on who can authorize work. Ask the plumber about shared shutoffs, access through common areas and any need to enter another unit. Arrange those permissions before booking the visit.

Compare the complete repair scope

Request a written breakdown of diagnosis, labor, materials and optional replacement work. Ask each bidder to price the same outcome. For an uncertain underground problem, specify what the initial price covers and who must approve more excavation or a different repair.

Ask the contractor to identify any permit or inspection steps for your proposed work and name who will arrange them. Include cleanup, disposal and restoration in the agreement. For excavation, identify each affected surface, such as lawn, paving or basement flooring, and assign responsibility for restoring it.

Agree on payment stages and written approval for changes before work starts. Ask what repair records and warranty terms you will receive. If you want to retain an existing fixture, say so before the plumber orders a replacement.

Route a service-line leak through 311

Chicago directs residents to call 311 for a suspected water service-line leak or break. City crews determine whether the leak lies on the public or private side and identify the line material. The City repairs public-side leaks; homeowners arrange private-side repairs with a plumber. [2]

Through the Breaks and Leaks Replacement Program, the City offers free full lead service-line replacement following a leak or break on a lead service line. If crews identify lead, they collect contact information to schedule replacement. Ask for separate arrangements for the immediate private-side repair and the City replacement. [2]

The City or its contractor schedules a pre-construction meeting for the replacement. Public-side and private-side replacement may happen on different days. Ask about water interruptions, entry access and surface restoration at that meeting. Follow the City’s flushing instructions after construction; its guidance recommends filters certified under NSF-53 to remove lead for the first three months. [2]

Check bill-relief eligibility after the repair

Chicago’s Leak Relief Program concerns utility-bill credits for qualifying leaks. The pilot runs from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, and allows relief once per utility billing account. Eligible leaks must have undergone repair on or after January 1, 2023, with the Department of Water Management confirming their location. [3]

The program page gives conflicting ownership guidance. Its eligibility summary says the applicant must own the property, while its application instructions mention a current or previous owner/account holder. If you formerly owned the property or held the account, ask Utility Billing at 312-744-4426 to clarify eligibility before ruling yourself out. [3]

Keep your repair invoice, completion date, leak-location photos and utility bills together. Ask the plumber to describe the repaired section in writing. Use those records when discussing the leak with City staff, and ask what additional documentation they need.

Residential building sizes listed for Chicago Leak Relief

Choose the next step for your leak

Your hiring checklist

1. Record the affected fixtures, visible leak location and when you noticed the problem.
2. Photograph accessible pipes and damaged surfaces.
3. Compare the quoted business name with its City directory entry.
4. Confirm the diagnostic charge and the amount due if you decline repairs.
5. Arrange access, shutoff coordination and shared-building authorization.
6. Put excavation, cleanup and restoration responsibilities in writing.
7. Keep the repair description, invoice and completion photos.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check a plumbing contractor?

Compare the business name and license number with Chicago’s active Plumbing Contractors directory. Review the license and bond expiration fields, and ask the business to explain discrepancies before authorizing work. [1]

Does free lead-line replacement cover the immediate private-side repair?

The City’s instructions say homeowners hire a plumber for private-side leak repairs. If crews identify a lead service line, they collect contact details to schedule free full replacement. Confirm arrangements for each stage. [2]

Can a former owner apply for Leak Relief?

The program page’s eligibility summary requires ownership, but its application instructions mention current or previous owners/account holders. Contact Utility Billing at 312-744-4426 to clarify how those provisions apply to your account and leak dates. [3]

What should I request when the plumber finishes?

Request an itemized invoice, a repair description and warranty terms. Ask the plumber to demonstrate the repaired fixture and explain follow-up checks. For underground work, request photos of the repair location before the contractor closes the excavation.