Baltimore County · Baltimore, MD
Plumbers in Baltimore, MD
Baltimore is in Baltimore County, Maryland. About 593,000 people live in the 36 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 296,000 homes, 16% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (40%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 36 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Baltimore
21201, 21202, 21203, 21205, 21206, 21209, 21210, 21211, 21212, 21213, 21214, 21215, 21216, 21217, 21218, 21223, 21224, 21229, 21230, 21231, 21233, 21235, 21239, 21240, 21241, 21250, 21251, 21263, 21264, 21273, 21275, 21279, 21281, 21289, 21290, 21297
Baltimore homes and their plumbing
Here is how Baltimore's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 40%, 1940–1959 27%, 1960–1979 15%, 1980–1999 9%, 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.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 40% |
| 1940–1959 | 27% |
| 1960–1979 | 15% |
| 1980–1999 | 9% |
| 2000 or later | 9% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 593,132
- Housing units
- 296,049
- Single-family detached
- 16%
- Owner-occupied
- 50%
- Heated with utility gas
- 63%
- Heated with electricity
- 31%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 4%
What goes wrong in Baltimore homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
67% of homes in Baltimore's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 40% 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.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 16% 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.
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.
Winter freezes
82% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a cold Maryland winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Baltimore
- Whole-House Repiping
- Drain Cleaning
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Water Heater Replacement
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Baltimore: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Baltimore at a glance
- County
- Baltimore County
- ZIP codes
- 21201, 21202, 21203, 21205, 21206, 21209, 21210, 21211, 21212, 21213, 21214, 21215, 21216, 21217, 21218, 21223, 21224, 21229, 21230, 21231, 21233, 21235, 21239, 21240, 21241, 21250, 21251, 21263, 21264, 21273, 21275, 21279, 21281, 21289, 21290, 21297
Baltimore plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Baltimore?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Baltimore, Census estimates put 67% of homes as built before 1960, 15% from 1960 to 1979, 9% from 1980 to 1999 and 9% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (40%).
Who licenses plumbers in Baltimore, MD?
The Maryland State Board of Plumbing licenses plumbers and gas fitters; check a license through the Maryland Department of Labor.
Are water heaters in Baltimore usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 63% of homes heating with utility gas, 31% with electricity, 4% 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.
I rent in Baltimore. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 51% of homes here are renter-occupied. In most cases the landlord is responsible for the building's plumbing, and tenants should report leaks right away and in writing. Damage a tenant causes, like a clog from something flushed, may be billed back. Your lease and Maryland landlord-tenant law set the details.
Guides for Baltimore homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Gwynn Oak (0 mi), Brooklyn (0 mi), Curtis Bay (0 mi), Riderwood (6 mi), Towson (6 mi), Halethorpe (6 mi), Parkville (6 mi), Rosedale (6 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 Baltimore, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Baltimore?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.