New Castle County · Wilmington, DE
Plumbers in Wilmington, DE
Wilmington is in New Castle County, Delaware. About 219,000 people live in the 25 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 99,000 homes, 45% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1940 and 1959 (30%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 25 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Wilmington
19801, 19802, 19803, 19804, 19805, 19806, 19807, 19808, 19809, 19810, 19850, 19880, 19884, 19885, 19886, 19890, 19891, 19892, 19893, 19894, 19895, 19896, 19897, 19898, 19899
Wilmington homes and their plumbing
Here is how Wilmington's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 21%, 1940–1959 30%, 1960–1979 28%, 1980–1999 13%, 2000 or later 9%. 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 Newark are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 21% |
| 1940–1959 | 30% |
| 1960–1979 | 28% |
| 1980–1999 | 13% |
| 2000 or later | 9% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 219,376
- Housing units
- 99,261
- Single-family detached
- 45%
- Owner-occupied
- 65%
- Heated with utility gas
- 57%
- Heated with electricity
- 30%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 10%
What goes wrong in Wilmington homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
50% of homes in Wilmington's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 21% of them before 1940. 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.
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
57% 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.
Winter freezes
78% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a cold Delaware winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Wilmington
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Wilmington: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Wilmington at a glance
- County
- New Castle County
- Nearest city pages
- Newark
- ZIP codes
- 19801, 19802, 19803, 19804, 19805, 19806, 19807, 19808, 19809, 19810, 19850, 19880, 19884, 19885, 19886, 19890, 19891, 19892, 19893, 19894, 19895, 19896, 19897, 19898, 19899
Wilmington plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Wilmington?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Wilmington, Census estimates put 50% of homes as built before 1960, 28% from 1960 to 1979, 13% from 1980 to 1999 and 9% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1940–1959 (30%).
Who licenses plumbers in Wilmington, DE?
Delaware's Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners licenses plumbers.
Are water heaters in Wilmington usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 57% of homes heating with utility gas, 30% 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 Wilmington homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: New Castle (5 mi), Claymont (6 mi), Hockessin (8 mi), Yorklyn (8 mi), Bear (11 mi), Brookside (11 mi), Delaware City (12 mi), Saint Georges (14 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 Wilmington, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Wilmington?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.