Ohio · 9 covered places · 9 ZIP codes
Plumbers in Athens County, OH
We cover 9 cities and towns in Athens County, Ohio, across 9 ZIP codes, including Athens, Nelsonville, Albany. About 59,000 people live in those ZIP codes. 30% of the homes were built before 1960, so galvanized pipe and old cast iron drains are common.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 19% |
| 1940–1959 | 11% |
| 1960–1979 | 22% |
| 1980–1999 | 29% |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Athens | 33,501 | 29% |
| Nelsonville | 7,548 | 39% |
| Albany | 5,361 | 21% |
| Glouster | 4,287 | 45% |
| Coolville | 3,663 | 24% |
| The Plains | 2,653 | 23% |
| New Marshfield | 1,535 | 9% |
| Trimble | 442 | 57% |
| Buchtel | 410 | 48% |
What goes wrong in Athens County homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
30% of homes in Athens County's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 19% 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
52% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Ohio winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
1980s and 90s construction and polybutylene
29% of homes were built between 1980 and 1999. Polybutylene supply pipe was installed widely in US homes from about 1978 to 1995, so houses from these years are worth checking for gray plastic pipe stamped PB2110, usually visible at the water heater or under sinks. Insurers and buyers often ask about it. See polybutylene replacement.
Hard water
Ohio water is generally hard. With 48% of homes here on electric heat, scale on electric water heater elements is a frequent failure. See water softener installation.
Common plumbing work in Athens County
Other covered towns in Athens County
- Albany (1 ZIP)
- Athens (1 ZIP)
- Buchtel (1 ZIP)
- Coolville (1 ZIP)
- Glouster (1 ZIP)
- Nelsonville (1 ZIP)
- New Marshfield (1 ZIP)
- The Plains (1 ZIP)
- Trimble (1 ZIP)
Athens County plumbing FAQ
Which towns in Athens County do you cover?
9 places: Albany, Athens, Buchtel, Coolville, Glouster, Nelsonville, New Marshfield, The Plains, Trimble. Enter your ZIP code to confirm coverage for your street.
How old are homes in Athens County?
Across the covered ZIP codes, Census estimates put 30% of homes as built before 1960, 22% from 1960 to 1979, 29% from 1980 to 1999 and 19% in 2000 or later.
Who licenses plumbers in Athens County, OH?
The Ohio Construction Industry Licensing Board (OCILB) licenses plumbing contractors; many cities also register them.
Housing and heating figures are US Census Bureau ACS 2023 5-year estimates for the ZIP code areas we cover in Athens County, combined across places and weighted by housing units. Some ZIP codes extend into neighboring counties.
Need a plumber in Athens County?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.