Kings County · Brooklyn, NY
Plumbers in Brooklyn, NY
Brooklyn is in Kings County, New York. About 2.6 million people live in the 47 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 1.1 million homes, 5% 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
- 47 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Brooklyn
11201, 11202, 11203, 11204, 11205, 11206, 11207, 11208, 11209, 11210, 11211, 11212, 11213, 11214, 11215, 11216, 11217, 11218, 11219, 11220, 11221, 11222, 11223, 11224, 11225, 11226, 11228, 11229, 11230, 11231, 11232, 11233, 11234, 11235, 11236, 11237, 11238, 11239, 11241, 11242, 11243, 11245, 11247, 11249, 11251, 11252, 11256
Brooklyn homes and their plumbing
Here is how Brooklyn's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 47%, 1940–1959 19%, 1960–1979 15%, 1980–1999 6%, 2000 or later 13%. 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 New York, Astoria, Flushing are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 47% |
| 1940–1959 | 19% |
| 1960–1979 | 15% |
| 1980–1999 | 6% |
| 2000 or later | 13% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 2,646,164
- Housing units
- 1,090,146
- Single-family detached
- 5%
- Owner-occupied
- 30%
- Heated with utility gas
- 73%
- Heated with electricity
- 13%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 7%
What goes wrong in Brooklyn homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
66% of homes in Brooklyn'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 5% 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
73% 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
81% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long New York winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Brooklyn
- 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 Brooklyn: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Brooklyn at a glance
- County
- Kings County
- Nearest city pages
- New York, Astoria, Flushing
- ZIP codes
- 11201, 11202, 11203, 11204, 11205, 11206, 11207, 11208, 11209, 11210, 11211, 11212, 11213, 11214, 11215, 11216, 11217, 11218, 11219, 11220, 11221, 11222, 11223, 11224, 11225, 11226, 11228, 11229, 11230, 11231, 11232, 11233, 11234, 11235, 11236, 11237, 11238, 11239, 11241, 11242, 11243, 11245, 11247, 11249, 11251, 11252, 11256
Brooklyn plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Brooklyn?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Brooklyn, Census estimates put 66% of homes as built before 1960, 15% from 1960 to 1979, 6% from 1980 to 1999 and 13% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (47%).
Who licenses plumbers in Brooklyn, NY?
New York has no statewide plumbing license; New York City and other municipalities license plumbers locally.
Are water heaters in Brooklyn usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 73% of homes heating with utility gas, 13% with electricity, 7% 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 Brooklyn. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 70% 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 York landlord-tenant law set the details.
Guides for Brooklyn homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Glen Oaks (3 mi), Long Island City (3 mi), Sunnyside (3 mi), College Point (3 mi), Whitestone (3 mi), Bayside (3 mi), Little Neck (3 mi), Oakland Gardens (3 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 Brooklyn, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Brooklyn?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.