New Hampshire · 4 covered places · 9 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Strafford County, NH
We cover 4 cities and towns in Strafford County, New Hampshire, across 9 ZIP codes, including Dover, Rochester, Somersworth. About 78,000 people live in those ZIP codes. 36% of the homes were built before 1960, so galvanized pipe and old cast iron drains are common.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 23% |
| 1940–1959 | 13% |
| 1960–1979 | 20% |
| 1980–1999 | 25% |
| 2000 or later | 19% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
| Place | Residents in covered ZIPs | Built before 1960 |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | 33,150 | 37% |
| Rochester | 32,866 | 32% |
| Somersworth | 12,145 | 42% |
| Milton Mills | 245 | 21% |
What goes wrong in Strafford County homes
Oil-heated homes
40% 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.
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
36% of homes in Strafford County's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 23% 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.
Long, hard winters
55% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long New Hampshire winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Propane service
12% of homes here use bottled or tank propane for heat, typical of areas beyond the gas mains. Propane water heaters, ranges and generators need correctly sized lines and fittings rated for LP. See gas appliance hookups.
Common plumbing work in Strafford County
Other covered towns in Strafford County
- Dover (3 ZIPs)
- Milton Mills (1 ZIP)
- Rochester (4 ZIPs)
- Somersworth (1 ZIP)
Strafford County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Strafford County do you cover?
4 places: Dover, Milton Mills, Rochester, Somersworth. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Strafford County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 36% of homes as built before 1960, 20% from 1960 to 1979, 25% from 1980 to 1999 and 19% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Strafford County, NH?
The New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board, under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, licenses plumbers.
Housing and heating figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Strafford County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Strafford County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.