Plumber in La Mott, Cheltenham, PA
La Mott is a small village in Cheltenham Township with a large place in American history, and its houses sit close together on compact blocks. This guide covers the streets, the township and utility rules, and the plumbing questions that come with homes of that size.
Call (215) 714-6692 to enquire about plumbing service in La Mott.
A village with a documented past
La Mott is an unincorporated community in Cheltenham Township, Montgomery County, with the ZIP code 19027. It runs along Cheltenham Avenue, which marks the Philadelphia city line, and covers about 0.26 square miles. The 2010 census counted 3,554 residents, a density near 13,600 people per square mile, while the township as a whole was near 4,150 in 2020.
The community was first called Camptown. From 1863 to 1865 it hosted Camp William Penn, a training post for Black soldiers in the Civil War, and many of those soldiers bought homes nearby after the war. The name honors Lucretia Mott, the Quaker abolitionist who lived here, and it was chosen when the post office opened in 1885. A Pennsylvania historical marker for the village dates to June 1973.
For a homeowner, the practical point is closeness. Dense blocks leave less room around a house, so it pays to know where your main shutoff and sewer cleanout are before you need them.
The historic district and your plumbing
The Camptown Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 31, 1985. It covers about 26 acres with 35 contributing buildings and is roughly bounded by Penrose Avenue, Graham Lane, Dennis Street and Cheltenham Avenue. Its buildings include Italianate, Gothic Revival and Carpenter Gothic styles, and the wider village is described as mostly vernacular in character.
National Register listing recognizes a place. For private owners using their own money, it generally does not by itself stop interior repairs such as a new water heater or a replaced drain. Whether any local review applies to changes visible from the street is a township question, so call the Cheltenham Township building department at 215-887-1000 before you plan exterior work.
Not every La Mott house sits inside that district boundary, and the sources we found do not give construction dates for individual houses. We therefore do not assume the pipe materials in any particular home. A camera inspection and a look at the visible pipes tell you far more than the age of the neighborhood.
Plumbing question in La Mott?
Call (215) 714-6692 to enquire about plumbing service. Give your street and describe what is happening.
Five questions to answer before any repair
These questions suit any older, closely built house. The right-hand column shows who can answer each one.
| Question | Why it matters | Who can answer it |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the main water shutoff? | A leaking line can be stopped at the valve while you wait for help | You, with a quick walk through the basement or utility area |
| What is the sewer lateral made of? | It decides whether cleaning, lining or replacement is realistic | A plumber with a camera, see sewer camera inspection |
| Is one drain slow or all of them? | One fixture points to a local clog and several point to the main line | You, by running water at two fixtures at once |
| Do any pipes show green crust or pinhole spray? | Corroded supply lines may be near the end of their life | A plumber, with a pressure test and a visual check |
| Does the sump pit hold a working pump? | Wet basements often start with a stuck or missing pump | You, by lifting the float, then sump pump service if needed |
Sewer, sump and licensing rules in La Mott
Aqua Pennsylvania completed its purchase of the Cheltenham Township sanitary sewer system in December 2019, so questions about the public main in the street go to Aqua. The pipe between your house and that main is a private lateral. Chapter 238 of the township code lets the township inspect laterals with 15 days of written notice, and it requires owners to correct connections that let stormwater enter within 60 days of notice.
Chapter 211 covers sump pumps. The discharge must be a rigid pipe at least 1 inch across that runs through the outside foundation wall and sends water away from the foundation and off a neighbor's property. Sump and groundwater discharge may not go into the sanitary sewer.
Chapter 209 sets licensing rules for plumbing and drainage work in the township. Ask any plumber to show their credentials before work starts, and call 215-887-1000 if you are unsure what a job needs.
Common calls and where to read more
Slow sinks and tubs usually start with drain cleaning, and a tank that stops heating is covered under water heater repair. Stains with no visible source are the job of leak detection. If a line has already split, read about burst pipe repair.
La Mott shares ZIP 19027 with Elkins Park and Melrose Park, which sits just along Cheltenham Avenue. For the whole township, see plumbing across Cheltenham Township.
Plumbing question in La Mott?
Call (215) 714-6692 to enquire about plumbing service and describe what is happening.
Where this information comes from
Sources
- Wikipedia, La Mott, Pennsylvania
- Wikipedia, Camptown Historic District
- ACHP Preserve America, Cheltenham Township
- Wikipedia, Cheltenham Township
- Cheltenham Township Code, Chapter 211, Sump Pump and Groundwater Standards
- Cheltenham Township Code, Chapters 209 and 238 (ecode360.com)
- Montco Today, Aqua Pennsylvania completes purchase of the Cheltenham Township wastewater system
Frequently asked questions
No. La Mott is an unincorporated community inside Cheltenham Township, so the township building department at 215-887-1000 handles permit questions. Its ZIP code is 19027, the same as Elkins Park and Melrose Park.
Aqua Pennsylvania owns the public sewer system, so start there for a problem in the street. A blockage between your house and the main sits on your private lateral, and a camera inspection shows which side the problem is on.
National Register listing generally does not stop an owner from repairing or replacing interior plumbing with private funds. Local review rules are a separate matter, so ask the township before any exterior work.
Call (215) 714-6692, give your street and describe the problem. Availability and timing are confirmed on the call.
La Mott on the map
The map is centered on La Mott, along Cheltenham Avenue at the Philadelphia line.
Plumbing problem in La Mott?
Call (215) 714-6692 to enquire about plumbing service.