Seventy-Year-Old Homes: What the Lakewood Build Era Means
Lakewood is a planned community. Sales began on March 24, 1950, and about 17,500 houses went up in under three years, with one day in which 110 were completed. A house finished in 1953 is 73 years old in 2026, and original materials from that era, including drain lines and roofing, are well past a typical service life.
That does not mean every Lakewood home has a problem. It means that when a leak does start, the age of the plumbing and the layers of paint and drywall in an older wall change how a repair is scoped. The first step is always moisture readings that show how far the water went.
When Water Is Spreading in Lakewood
A burst pipe or failed appliance line in a Lakewood tract home can move water into adjoining rooms fast. Shut off the nearest valve, then the main if you cannot find the source, and call. The line is answered 24 hours a day and after-hours calls are handled the same way as daytime calls.
Same-day response is offered when crews are available. We do not promise an arrival time. Describe the rooms that are wet and the source, if you know it.
Before We Arrive
Find the shut-off
Try the valve at the fixture first, then the main. Lakewood is served by Golden State Water and the city, so ask which one if you are unsure.
Switch off wet circuits
Do this only from a dry panel and never while standing in water.
Protect floors and valuables
Lift boxes and electronics, and put foil under furniture legs on wet carpet.
Document
Photos and video of the damage before anything moves.
Dispatch around the clock for Lakewood
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock in Lakewood, including the streets near Lakewood Boulevard, Bellflower Boulevard, Del Amo Boulevard and South Street. Calls from the Lakewood Center area and the neighborhoods along the San Gabriel River are handled the same way.
Two Water Utilities Serve Lakewood
The City of Lakewood says it is served by two water utilities, Golden State Water Company and the city's own Water Resources Department. Golden State Water serves residents east of the San Gabriel River. The city handles leak reports at (562) 866-9771, extension 2700, and after-hours emergencies through the same number, which pages on-call staff.
Golden State Water customers can call 1-800-999-4033. A leak between the meter and the house is yours to fix, and a leak on the street side belongs to the utility.
Services in Lakewood, in the Order People Need Them
Age and tract construction make ceilings, walls and floors the most common repair. Water damage repair is usually the largest part of a Lakewood job, with water mitigation first so the framing is dry before drywall goes up. Emergency water removal and water damage cleanup cover the first hours and the debris.
| Place | Why it helps a dispatcher |
|---|---|
| Lakewood Center | A large retail center, so tenants usually coordinate through management. |
| Rynerson Park and the San Gabriel River Bike Trail | A landmark near the river that helps a dispatcher place the street. |
| Lakewood Boulevard (SR 19) and Del Amo Boulevard | Major corridors used to give directions to a residential block. |
| George Nye Jr. Library and Angelo M. Iacoboni Library | County library branches that serve as neighborhood reference points. |
ZIP Codes and Nearby Coverage
ZIP codes 90712, 90713 and 90715 cover Lakewood. The line also serves neighboring Hawaiian Gardens (ZIP 90716). See Cerritos to the northeast and Downey to the north of Bellflower.
Drying plans on this site follow the ANSI/IICRC S500 standard for professional water damage restoration, which sorts water into categories and sets how wet materials are handled. This describes the published industry standard and not a certification claim, and homeowners can ask any company which standard its crews work to.
Lakewood Water Damage FAQ
Yes. We cover 90712, 90713 and 90715, from the Lakewood Center area to the neighborhoods near the San Gabriel River.
Yes. Emergency calls are taken around the clock, and same-day response is offered when crews are available. No arrival time is promised.
The water utility does. In Lakewood that is Golden State Water east of the San Gabriel River or the city's Water Resources Department. The line from the meter to your house is yours.
They can be, because of original materials and hidden layers. The crew uses moisture readings to find the full extent before any repair is scoped.
Yes, as a secondary service. See mold remediation.