Worcester County · Worcester, MA
Plumbers in Worcester, MA
Worcester is in Worcester County, Massachusetts. About 206,000 people live in the 15 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 85,000 homes, 32% 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
- 15 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Worcester
01601, 01602, 01603, 01604, 01605, 01606, 01607, 01608, 01609, 01610, 01613, 01614, 01615, 01653, 01655
Worcester homes and their plumbing
Here is how Worcester's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 40%, 1940–1959 19%, 1960–1979 17%, 1980–1999 15%, 2000 or later 8%. 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 | 19% |
| 1960–1979 | 17% |
| 1980–1999 | 15% |
| 2000 or later | 8% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 205,777
- Housing units
- 85,463
- Single-family detached
- 32%
- Owner-occupied
- 42%
- Heated with utility gas
- 51%
- Heated with electricity
- 28%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 15%
- Heated with propane
- 3%
What goes wrong in Worcester homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
60% of homes in Worcester'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.
Oil-heated homes
15% 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
77% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
51% 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.
Common calls in Worcester
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Gas Line Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Worcester: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Worcester at a glance
- County
- Worcester County
- ZIP codes
- 01601, 01602, 01603, 01604, 01605, 01606, 01607, 01608, 01609, 01610, 01613, 01614, 01615, 01653, 01655
Worcester plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Worcester?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Worcester, Census estimates put 60% of homes as built before 1960, 17% from 1960 to 1979, 15% from 1980 to 1999 and 8% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (40%).
Who licenses plumbers in Worcester, 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 Worcester usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 51% of homes heating with utility gas, 28% with electricity, 15% with fuel oil and 3% with propane. 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 Worcester. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 58% 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 Worcester homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Lancaster (13 mi), South Lancaster (13 mi), Whitinsville (13 mi), Douglas (14 mi), Marlborough (14 mi), Southborough (15 mi), Leominster (17 mi), Fiskdale (18 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 Worcester, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Worcester?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.