Plumbing in Hummelstown

Hummelstown at a glance

Hummelstown is a borough of 4,535 people (2020) in Dauphin County, centrally located between Harrisburg and Hershey. Swatara Creek has a long history of rising after storms, and riverside parks and low streets near it see the effects first. Brick and stone houses along Main and Hanover streets were built long before modern plumbing and have been retrofitted several times since.

What that means for your plumbing

Many homes here are older, some very old, with stone foundations and basements that take on water. Sump pumps and repiping are common jobs; see sump pumps. Main Street's shops are designed to catch the tourist traffic passing between Harrisburg and Hershey.

Along Swatara Creek

The Union Canal once ran along Swatara Creek, which borders the north and west of town, and low ground near the creek stays wet. Older homes often have basements with stone walls that let moisture through.

Fredrickstown

Frederick and Rosina Hummel founded the town in 1762 as Fredrickstown, buying the land for 200 pounds sterling and selling building lots to German settlers. It's now a Tree City. Homes from the 18th and 19th centuries need plumbers who respect old walls; see fixtures and remodels. The town sits on the old Berks-Dauphin Turnpike route.