Maine · 6 covered places · 6 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Cumberland County, ME
We cover 6 cities and towns in Cumberland County, Maine, across 6 ZIP codes, including South Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth. About 63,000 people live in those ZIP codes. 35% of the homes were built before 1960, so galvanized pipe and old cast iron drains are common.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 19% |
| 1940–1959 | 15% |
| 1960–1979 | 18% |
| 1980–1999 | 26% |
| 2000 or later | 23% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
| Place | Residents in covered ZIPs | Built before 1960 |
|---|---|---|
| South Portland | 26,966 | 48% |
| Scarborough | 22,527 | 16% |
| Falmouth | 12,557 | 31% |
| Peaks Island | 788 | 78% |
| Cliff Island | 54 | 63% |
| South Windham | – | – |
What goes wrong in Cumberland County homes
Oil-heated homes
44% 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.
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
35% of homes in Cumberland County's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 19% 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.
Long, hard winters
52% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Maine winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Propane service
13% of homes here use bottled or tank propane for heat, typical of areas beyond the gas mains. Propane water heaters, ranges and generators need correctly sized lines and fittings rated for LP. See gas appliance hookups.
Common plumbing work in Cumberland County
Other covered towns in Cumberland County
- Cliff Island (1 ZIP)
- Falmouth (1 ZIP)
- Peaks Island (1 ZIP)
- Scarborough (1 ZIP)
- South Portland (1 ZIP)
- South Windham (1 ZIP)
Cumberland County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Cumberland County do you cover?
6 places: Cliff Island, Falmouth, Peaks Island, Scarborough, South Portland, South Windham. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Cumberland County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 35% of homes as built before 1960, 18% from 1960 to 1979, 26% from 1980 to 1999 and 23% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Cumberland County, ME?
Maine's Plumbers' Examining Board licenses plumbers; local plumbing inspectors issue permits in each municipality.
Housing and heating figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Cumberland County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Cumberland County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.