Iowa · 8 covered places · 15 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Polk County, IA
We cover 8 cities and towns in Polk County, Iowa, across 15 ZIP codes, including Des Moines, Ankeny, West Des Moines. About 351,000 people live in those ZIP codes. Most homes date from 1980 to 1999, old enough that original water heaters, valves and drains are wearing out.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 10% |
| 1940–1959 | 13% |
| 1960–1979 | 22% |
| 1980–1999 | 23% |
| 2000 or later | 32% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
| Place | Residents in covered ZIPs | Built before 1960 |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 120,339 | 45% |
| Ankeny | 75,004 | 5% |
| West Des Moines | 69,831 | 12% |
| Urbandale | 31,694 | 16% |
| Altoona | 21,992 | 7% |
| Clive | 18,776 | 6% |
| Bondurant | 9,668 | 9% |
| Mitchellville | 3,532 | 33% |
What goes wrong in Polk County homes
Natural gas in most homes
63% 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.
Long, hard winters
45% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Iowa winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Hard water
Iowa water is generally hard. With 63% of homes here on gas, scale settles as sediment in gas water heater tanks, which then rumble and wear out early. See water softener installation.
Common plumbing work in Polk County
City pages in Polk County
Other covered towns in Polk County
- Altoona (1 ZIP)
- Ankeny (2 ZIPs)
- Bondurant (1 ZIP)
- Clive (1 ZIP)
- Mitchellville (1 ZIP)
- Urbandale (1 ZIP)
- West Des Moines (2 ZIPs)
Polk County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Polk County do you cover?
8 places: Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Clive, Des Moines, Mitchellville, Urbandale, West Des Moines. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Polk County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 23% of homes as built before 1960, 22% from 1960 to 1979, 23% from 1980 to 1999 and 32% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Polk County, IA?
Iowa's Plumbing and Mechanical Systems Board licenses plumbers statewide.
Housing and heating figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Polk County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Polk County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.