New York · 9 covered places · 21 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Erie County, NY
We cover 9 cities and towns in Erie County, New York, across 21 ZIP codes, including Buffalo, Hamburg, Tonawanda. About 462,000 people live in those ZIP codes. 58% of the homes were built before 1960, so galvanized pipe and old cast iron drains are common.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 27% |
| 1940–1959 | 31% |
| 1960–1979 | 21% |
| 1980–1999 | 12% |
| 2000 or later | 9% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
| Place | Residents in covered ZIPs | Built before 1960 |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | 280,008 | 66% |
| Hamburg | 44,588 | 38% |
| Tonawanda | 41,585 | 70% |
| Lancaster | 35,659 | 31% |
| Depew | 24,799 | 36% |
| East Aurora | 17,501 | 54% |
| Akron | 9,122 | 36% |
| Lake View | 8,439 | 29% |
| Farnham | 101 | 67% |
What goes wrong in Erie County homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
58% of homes in Erie County's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 27% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
88% 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
79% 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 plumbing work in Erie County
City pages in Erie County
Other covered towns in Erie County
- Akron (1 ZIP)
- Depew (1 ZIP)
- East Aurora (1 ZIP)
- Farnham (1 ZIP)
- Hamburg (1 ZIP)
- Lake View (1 ZIP)
- Lancaster (1 ZIP)
- Tonawanda (1 ZIP)
Erie County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Erie County do you cover?
9 places: Akron, Buffalo, Depew, East Aurora, Farnham, Hamburg, Lake View, Lancaster, Tonawanda. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Erie County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 58% of homes as built before 1960, 21% from 1960 to 1979, 12% from 1980 to 1999 and 9% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Erie County, NY?
New York has no statewide plumbing license; New York City and other municipalities license plumbers locally.
Housing and heating figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Erie County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Erie County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.