Suffolk County · Boston, MA
Plumbers in Boston, MA
Boston is in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. About 232,000 people live in the 37 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 122,000 homes, 3% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (47%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 37 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Boston
02108, 02109, 02110, 02111, 02112, 02113, 02114, 02115, 02116, 02117, 02118, 02123, 02127, 02128, 02133, 02137, 02163, 02196, 02199, 02201, 02203, 02204, 02205, 02206, 02210, 02211, 02212, 02215, 02217, 02222, 02241, 02266, 02283, 02284, 02293, 02297, 02298
Boston homes and their plumbing
Here is how Boston's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 47%, 1940–1959 8%, 1960–1979 14%, 1980–1999 9%, 2000 or later 22%. 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 | 47% |
| 1940–1959 | 8% |
| 1960–1979 | 14% |
| 1980–1999 | 9% |
| 2000 or later | 22% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 232,258
- Housing units
- 121,736
- Single-family detached
- 3%
- Owner-occupied
- 29%
- Heated with utility gas
- 48%
- Heated with electricity
- 42%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 5%
What goes wrong in Boston homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
56% of homes in Boston's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 47% 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 3% 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.
Long, hard winters
69% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Massachusetts winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Boston
- Whole-House Repiping
- Drain Cleaning
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Water Heater Replacement
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Boston: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Boston at a glance
- County
- Suffolk County
- ZIP codes
- 02108, 02109, 02110, 02111, 02112, 02113, 02114, 02115, 02116, 02117, 02118, 02123, 02127, 02128, 02133, 02137, 02163, 02196, 02199, 02201, 02203, 02204, 02205, 02206, 02210, 02211, 02212, 02215, 02217, 02222, 02241, 02266, 02283, 02284, 02293, 02297, 02298
Boston plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Boston?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Boston, Census estimates put 56% of homes as built before 1960, 14% from 1960 to 1979, 9% from 1980 to 1999 and 22% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (47%).
Who licenses plumbers in Boston, MA?
The Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters licenses plumbers and gas fitters; local inspectors issue permits.
Are water heaters in Boston usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 48% of homes heating with utility gas, 42% with electricity, 5% 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 Boston. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 71% 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 Massachusetts landlord-tenant law set the details.
Guides for Boston homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Roxbury (0 mi), Roxbury Crossing (0 mi), Dorchester (0 mi), Dorchester Center (0 mi), Mattapan (0 mi), South Boston (0 mi), East Boston (0 mi), Charlestown (0 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 Boston, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Boston?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.