New Castle County · New Castle, DE
Plumbers in New Castle, DE
New Castle is in New Castle County, Delaware. About 61,000 people live in the 3 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 24,000 homes, 59% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1960 and 1979 (30%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 3 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in New Castle
19720, 19721, 19726
New Castle homes and their plumbing
Here is how New Castle's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 7%, 1940–1959 27%, 1960–1979 30%, 1980–1999 24%, 2000 or later 12%. With that many older homes, original galvanized supply pipe and cast iron or clay drains are still common, so leaks, rust and root intrusion come up often. Neighboring areas such as Wilmington, Bear, Newark are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 7% |
| 1940–1959 | 27% |
| 1960–1979 | 30% |
| 1980–1999 | 24% |
| 2000 or later | 12% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 60,593
- Housing units
- 24,262
- Single-family detached
- 59%
- Owner-occupied
- 67%
- Heated with utility gas
- 56%
- Heated with electricity
- 32%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 10%
What goes wrong in New Castle homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
34% of homes in New Castle's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960. Houses that old often still have galvanized steel supply lines that rust closed from the inside, and cast iron or clay sewer pipe that cracks and lets roots in. Weak pressure at upstairs fixtures, brown water after a shutoff and slow drains are the usual clues. Typical fixes are whole-house repiping and a sewer camera inspection.
1960s and 70s homes reaching end of life
30% of the housing here dates from 1960 to 1979. Original copper supply lines in those homes are now 45 to 65 years old, and cast iron drains of that age scale up inside and crack. Seized shutoff valves, pinhole leaks and recurring main-line clogs are common calls. A camera inspection shows the condition of the sewer line before anyone digs.
Oil-heated homes
10% of occupied homes here heat with fuel oil, far above the national norm. Many of them make hot water with a tankless coil inside the boiler, which runs the boiler all summer. Plumbers often replace the coil with an indirect tank or a standalone water heater when the boiler is serviced or replaced.
Natural gas in most homes
56% of occupied homes here heat with utility gas, so gas water heaters, ranges and dryers are common. That means gas line extensions for new appliances, flexible connector replacements and venting checks when a water heater is swapped. If you smell gas, leave first and call the gas utility from outside. See gas line repair.
Common calls in New Castle
- Whole-House Repiping
- Sewer Camera Inspection
- Water Heater Replacement
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair in New Castle, DE
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in New Castle: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
New Castle at a glance
- County
- New Castle County
- Nearest city pages
- Wilmington, Bear, Newark, Middletown
- ZIP codes
- 19720, 19721, 19726
New Castle plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in New Castle?
In the ZIP codes we cover around New Castle, Census estimates put 34% of homes as built before 1960, 30% from 1960 to 1979, 24% from 1980 to 1999 and 12% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1960–1979 (30%).
Who licenses plumbers in New Castle, DE?
Delaware's Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners licenses plumbers.
Are water heaters in New Castle usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 56% of homes heating with utility gas, 32% with electricity, 10% with fuel oil. Water heaters often use the same fuel as the home's heat, so utility gas is the most common here, but check the label on your tank before you shop for a replacement.
Guides for New Castle homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Delaware City (7 mi), Brookside (8 mi), Saint Georges (9 mi), Hockessin (10 mi), Port Penn (10 mi), Yorklyn (10 mi), Claymont (11 mi), Odessa (15 mi).
Housing, heating and population figures are US Census Bureau American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in New Castle, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in New Castle?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.