Plumbing Services in Nashville, TN

Plumbing in Nashville at a glanceNashville sits on limestone bedrock with clay soils, and much of its older housing — bungalows and cottages in East Nashville, Sylvan Park and 12 South — is built over crawl spaces, with supply lines and drains exposed underneath. Clay sewer laterals under mature trees are a common source of root blockages. Rapid infill has replaced many older homes with tall-and-skinny new construction on the same lots, which often means new plumbing tied into old laterals.

Metro Water Services operates the city’s water and sewer systems, and parts of the urban core are served by combined sewers that carry stormwater and wastewater together. Nashville’s 2010 flood and later flash floods showed how quickly storms can back water into basements and crawl spaces. Winters bring hard freezes that split crawl space pipes, and the region’s water is moderately hard.

Bathroom with blue vanity, tub and tiled shower

Housing & construction

Early-1900s bungalows in East Nashville and Germantown, mid-century ranches, and a wave of new infill homes and townhomes across the urban core.

Plumbing services in Nashville

Utility crew excavating a street to reach a broken water line

Sewer Line Repair in Nashville

Root intrusion

Nashville sewer line repair →

Wrench tightening a fitting on metal piping

Pipe Repair in Nashville

Crawl space freezes

Nashville pipe repair →

Frozen Pipe Repair

Also common in Nashville: drain cleaning, water heater repair.

Common plumbing problems in Nashville

Sewer Backup in NashvilleRoot-filled clay laterals

What makes Nashville plumbing different

Crawl space plumbing

Exposed pipes under older homes freeze in cold snaps and leak unnoticed.

Combined sewers in the core

Older central neighborhoods can see storm-driven backups.

Infill on old laterals

New homes connected to decades-old clay laterals inherit their problems.

Flood and storm history

Flash floods and severe storms affect drains, water heaters and crawl spaces.

Seasonal plumbing calendar for Nashville

WinterInsulate crawl space pipes and close foundation vents during freezes.
Spring storm seasonClear yard drains and know your shutoffs before severe weather.

Plumbing emergency in Nashville?

Close the main water shutoff, or the fixture valve if the problem is in one place.
Stay away from water near outlets or the electrical panel.
For sewage backups, stop using all drains.
If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.

Call (866) 417-0220

Nashville plumbing questions

Who provides water and sewer service in Nashville?

Metro Water Services, part of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County.

Why do Nashville crawl space pipes freeze?

Vented crawl spaces expose pipes to outdoor air during hard freezes; insulation and closing vents in winter help.

Does new infill construction in Nashville reuse old sewer laterals?

Sometimes. If a new home ties into an existing lateral, a camera inspection is worth doing to check its condition.

Is Nashville water hard?

It’s moderately hard; check Metro Water Services’ water quality report for current figures.

Nearby service areas

We also serve communities around Nashville, including Brentwood, Franklin, Hendersonville, Antioch, Hermitage, Madison.

Louisville Atlanta Tennessee