Middlesex County · Cambridge, MA
Plumbers in Cambridge, MA
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. About 118,000 people live in the 7 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 55,000 homes, 10% 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
- 7 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Cambridge
02138, 02139, 02140, 02141, 02142, 02238, 02477
Cambridge homes and their plumbing
Here is how Cambridge's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 47%, 1940–1959 7%, 1960–1979 15%, 1980–1999 12%, 2000 or later 19%. 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. Neighboring areas such as Boston are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 47% |
| 1940–1959 | 7% |
| 1960–1979 | 15% |
| 1980–1999 | 12% |
| 2000 or later | 19% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 118,073
- Housing units
- 54,752
- Single-family detached
- 10%
- Owner-occupied
- 34%
- Heated with utility gas
- 63%
- Heated with electricity
- 28%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 4%
What goes wrong in Cambridge homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
54% of homes in Cambridge'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 10% 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.
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 Cambridge
- 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 Cambridge: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Cambridge at a glance
- County
- Middlesex County
- Nearest city pages
- Boston
- ZIP codes
- 02138, 02139, 02140, 02141, 02142, 02238, 02477
Cambridge plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Cambridge?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Cambridge, Census estimates put 54% of homes as built before 1960, 15% from 1960 to 1979, 12% from 1980 to 1999 and 19% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (47%).
Who licenses plumbers in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 63% of homes heating with utility gas, 28% 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 Cambridge. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 66% 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 Cambridge homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Watertown (0 mi), Somerville (1 mi), Medford (3 mi), West Medford (3 mi), Roxbury (4 mi), Roxbury Crossing (4 mi), Dorchester (4 mi), Dorchester Center (4 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 Cambridge, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Cambridge?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.