Essex County · Salem, MA
Plumbers in Salem, MA
Salem is in Essex County, Massachusetts. About 44,000 people live in the 2 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 21,000 homes, 25% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (51%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 2 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Salem
01970, 01971
Salem homes and their plumbing
Here is how Salem's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 51%, 1940–1959 10%, 1960–1979 14%, 1980–1999 14%, 2000 or later 11%. 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 Lynn, Beverly, Peabody are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 51% |
| 1940–1959 | 10% |
| 1960–1979 | 14% |
| 1980–1999 | 14% |
| 2000 or later | 11% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 44,115
- Housing units
- 20,920
- Single-family detached
- 25%
- Owner-occupied
- 51%
- Heated with utility gas
- 56%
- Heated with electricity
- 23%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 18%
What goes wrong in Salem homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
61% of homes in Salem's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 51% 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.
Oil-heated homes
18% 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.
Long, hard winters
75% 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.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 25% 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 calls in Salem
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Gas Line Repair
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair in Salem, MA
Also available in Salem: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Salem at a glance
- County
- Essex County
- Nearest city pages
- Lynn, Beverly, Peabody, Revere, Malden, Everett
- ZIP codes
- 01970, 01971
Salem plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Salem?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Salem, Census estimates put 61% of homes as built before 1960, 14% from 1960 to 1979, 14% from 1980 to 1999 and 11% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (51%).
Who licenses plumbers in Salem, 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 Salem usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 56% of homes heating with utility gas, 23% with electricity, 18% 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.
Guides for Salem homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Prides Crossing (4 mi), Melrose (9 mi), Chelsea (10 mi), West Medford (12 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 Salem, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Salem?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.