Who We Are
Our Mission
DeClue Plumbing is a St. Louis family business that shows up and does the job right, every time. We work to carry on the legacy of Larry DeClue, a St. Louis-born, hardworking union plumber who built something real from the ground up and passed it on to his son Tyler with hardworking hands and a full heart.
Every pipe we replace, heater we install, and customer we serve is a testament to the standard Larry has set and the work ethic he never compromised on.
Our Values
Our greatest values are simple, and we wear them on our sleeve:
We Show Up
We Tell the Truth
We Do It Right the First Rime
We Treat Your Home Like Our Own
We Stand Behind Our Work
We Carry a Legacy
Our History
Founded in 2009 as Advanced Piping by Larry DeClue, we spent over fifteen years building a reputation across Greater St. Louis for honest work, fair prices, and the kind of reliability that only comes from someone who really cares.
Larry was born and raised in St. Louis, the city he loved unconditionally. A Blues and Cardinals fan, he knew the town like the back of his hand and wouldn’t have traded it for anything. When he wasn’t on the job, you could always catch him at a game, concert, or just hangin’ with his beloved family. He grew his business, earned the loyalty of commercial and residential clients, and mentored the next generation of plumbers, including his son Tyler.
Larry passed away in 2025 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He left behind a business, a legacy, and a son who learned everything from watching him work. Tyler DeClue now carries the torch with the same honesty and integrity as his best man.
Meet Our Team
Tyler DeClue
/ Co-Owner
Janell DeClue
Norman Nesser
Get It Straight From Our Clients
See for yourself how DeClue Plumbing has built connections across the Greater St. Louis area over the years. Browse some of our case studies and learn more.
Answering Plumbing FAQs
How do I know if I have a plumbing emergency that needs same-day service?
Not every plumbing issue needs an emergency call, but some absolutely do. Here’s how to tell the difference:
Call immediately (don’t wait):
- Water is actively leaking and you can’t shut it off at the source
- A pipe has burst
- Your sewer is backing up into your home (health hazard)
- You smell gas near your water heater or any plumbing fixture
- Your basement is flooding
Call same-day (urgent, but not a flood situation):
- You’ve completely lost hot water
- Your water bill spiked suddenly with no explanation (likely a hidden leak)
- A toilet is overflowing and won’t stop
- You hear banging or gurgling in your pipes
Schedule within a few days (not an emergency):
- A slow-draining sink or shower
- A faucet that drips when fully off
- Low water pressure in one fixture
- A toilet that runs occasionally
When in doubt, call us and describe what’s happening. We’ll be honest with you about whether it requires urgent attention or can wait.
How do I know if my St. Louis home has old or failing pipes that need to be replaced?
This is an especially important question in St. Louis, where a significant portion of the housing stock is older and may still have original plumbing that’s well past its useful life. Here’s what to look for:
Know what your pipes are made of: The material matters more than the age. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Lead pipes: Found in homes built before 1986. These are a serious health hazard and should be replaced immediately. St. Louis City has a known history of aging lead service lines.
- Galvanized steel pipes: Common in homes built before the 1960s. These corrode from the inside out over time, restricting water flow and eventually leaking. If your water has a brown or rust tint, this is likely why.
- Polybutylene (gray plastic) pipes: Installed from the late 1970s through the mid-1990s. These are prone to cracking and were the subject of major class action lawsuits. If your home was built during this era, it’s worth having them inspected.
- Copper pipes: Generally reliable, but they do corrode over time, especially in homes with hard water or acidic soil. St. Louis has notoriously hard water, which accelerates wear.
- PVC and PEX: Modern materials that are durable and don’t corrode. If your home has been repiped recently, it likely has one of these.
Warning signs your pipes may be failing
- Discolored or rust-colored water from your taps
- Low water pressure throughout the house (not just one fixture)
- Frequent leaks in different locations
- Visible corrosion, flaking, or discoloration on exposed pipes in your basement or utility room
- Unusually high water bills with no change in your usage habits
- Wet spots on walls, ceilings, or floors with no obvious source
Does homeowner's insurance cover plumbing repairs in St. Louis?
The short answer is: sometimes, and the details matter a lot.
What’s typically covered: Homeowner’s insurance generally covers sudden and accidental water damage. If a pipe bursts unexpectedly and soaks your floors and drywall, your policy will likely cover the resulting damage to your home’s structure and belongings. The same goes for damage caused by an appliance that suddenly fails, like a washing machine or water heater that ruptures without warning.
What’s typically not covered: Insurance almost never covers the plumbing repair itself, just the damage it causes. On top of that, these situations are routinely denied:
- Leaks that developed slowly over time (insurers call this “gradual damage” or “neglect”)
- Sewer or drain backups, unless you’ve added a separate sewer backup rider to your policy
- Damage from pipes that weren’t properly maintained
- Flooding from outside your home, which requires a separate flood insurance policy
What to do if you’re not sure: Call your insurance agent before you assume you’re covered or that you’re not. Describe the situation specifically and ask whether it qualifies as sudden and accidental damage. Also ask whether you have sewer backup coverage, since many St. Louis homeowners don’t realize it’s not included in a standard policy until it’s too late.
When in doubt, document everything with photos before any cleanup or repairs begin.