Hillsborough · Manchester, NH
Plumbers in Manchester, NH
Manchester is in Hillsborough, New Hampshire. About 120,000 people live in the 8 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 54,000 homes, 37% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (29%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 8 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Manchester
03101, 03102, 03103, 03104, 03105, 03108, 03109, 03111
Manchester homes and their plumbing
Here is how Manchester's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 29%, 1940–1959 18%, 1960–1979 20%, 1980–1999 23%, 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 Nashua are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 29% |
| 1940–1959 | 18% |
| 1960–1979 | 20% |
| 1980–1999 | 23% |
| 2000 or later | 11% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 119,954
- Housing units
- 53,642
- Single-family detached
- 37%
- Owner-occupied
- 50%
- Heated with utility gas
- 49%
- Heated with electricity
- 16%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 27%
- Heated with propane
- 5%
What goes wrong in Manchester homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
47% of homes in Manchester's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 29% 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
27% 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
66% 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.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 37% 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 Manchester
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Manchester: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Manchester at a glance
- County
- Hillsborough
- Nearest city pages
- Nashua
- ZIP codes
- 03101, 03102, 03103, 03104, 03105, 03108, 03109, 03111
Manchester plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Manchester?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Manchester, Census estimates put 47% of homes as built before 1960, 20% from 1960 to 1979, 23% from 1980 to 1999 and 11% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (29%).
Who licenses plumbers in Manchester, NH?
The New Hampshire Mechanical Licensing Board, under the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, licenses plumbers.
Are water heaters in Manchester usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 49% of homes heating with utility gas, 16% with electricity, 27% with fuel oil and 5% 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 Manchester. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 50% 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 New Hampshire landlord-tenant law set the details.
Guides for Manchester homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Hooksett (3 mi), Goffstown (4 mi), Merrimack (8 mi), Suncook (11 mi), New Boston (13 mi), Concord (18 mi), Francestown (19 mi), Contoocook (21 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 Manchester, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Manchester?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.