Iowa · 3 covered places · 4 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Story County, IA
We cover 3 cities and towns in Story County, Iowa, across 4 ZIP codes, including Ames, Collins, Zearing. About 67,000 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 | 10% |
| 1960–1979 | 21% |
| 1980–1999 | 23% |
| 2000 or later | 35% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
| Place | Residents in covered ZIPs | Built before 1960 |
|---|---|---|
| Ames | 64,857 | 20% |
| Collins | 1,157 | 50% |
| Zearing | 819 | 50% |
What goes wrong in Story County homes
Natural gas in most homes
62% 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
42% 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 62% 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.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 44% of homes here are single-family detached houses. In attached buildings a leak or clog often involves a shared stack or a neighbor's unit, so it's worth knowing which lines are yours and which belong to the building or HOA, and where your unit's own shutoff is.
Common plumbing work in Story County
Story County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Story County do you cover?
3 places: Ames, Collins, Zearing. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Story County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 21% of homes as built before 1960, 21% from 1960 to 1979, 23% from 1980 to 1999 and 35% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Story 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 Story County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Story County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.