Need a plumber in Boston? Boston's water is soft. The trouble is age and cold. Triple-deckers and brownstones built around 1947 freeze at the back porch and exterior walls, and old cast iron and lead lines are common. Call Same Day Plumber to reach a Massachusetts-licensed plumber.
Need a Plumber in Boston Today?
When you call, say which floor you're on and whether the building is a triple-decker, since stacks and shutoffs are often shared. You'll be connected to an independent plumbing company covering Boston, including Back Bay, South End, East Boston and Allston-Brighton. Ask for the arrival window and any service fee before they come out.
Emergency Plumbing Services in Boston
3 situations account for many urgent calls in Boston. Each has a first step to take while you wait.
- Frozen or burst pipe: close the main valve and open a faucet. Back porches and exterior walls freeze first. See frozen pipes.
- Leak through a ceiling in a multi-family: shut your unit's valve and tell the landlord or other units, since stacks are shared.
- Sewage backing up: stop using water. See sewer backup.
For any of these, an emergency plumber can often come out to Boston the same day, including nights and weekends. If you smell gas, leave the building first and call the gas utility or 911 from outside.
24/7 Plumbing Services in Boston
- Emergency PlumbingBurst pipes, flooding, sewage backups and loss of water, any hour.
- Drain CleaningClogged sinks, tubs, toilets and main sewer lines.
- Water Heater Repair & ReplacementNo hot water, leaking tanks, tank and tankless repair or replacement.
- Leak Detection & RepairHidden, slab and pipe leaks found and fixed before they cause damage.
- Sewer Line RepairCamera inspection, sewer repair and trenchless replacement.
- Pipe Repair & RepipingBurst, frozen and corroded pipes repaired or replaced.
- Toilet RepairRunning, clogged, leaking and broken toilets repaired or replaced.
- Faucet & Fixture RepairFaucets, garbage disposals and shower valves.
- Sump Pump RepairSump pump repair, replacement and battery backups.
- Gas Line RepairGas leak repair and appliance hookups by licensed plumbers.
- Water Softeners & FiltrationWater softeners, whole-house filtration and well pumps.
- Commercial Plumbing & BackflowCommercial plumbing service and backflow testing.
Common Plumbing Problems in Boston Homes
Boston has some of the oldest housing of any large U.S. city. The median home was built in 1947, and triple-deckers, brownstones and rowhouses often have original cast iron drains, galvanized supply pipes and, in some cases, lead service lines.
The water itself is soft. MWRA, which supplies Boston through the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, reports hardness of about 1 grain per gallon, which is soft. Cold winters make frozen and burst pipes a regular call.
Triple-Decker Plumbing in Winter
Boston's triple-deckers often run supply lines along exterior walls and through enclosed back porches, the coldest parts of the house. Those are the first places to freeze during a cold snap. Insulate them, keep porch doors closed, let exterior-wall faucets drip on the coldest nights, and know where the main shutoff is for the building.
Old Cast Iron and Galvanized Pipe
With a median home built in 1947, corroded drain stacks and narrowed supply lines cause leaks, slow drains and low pressure.
Lead Service Lines
Some older homes still have lead service lines, which the Boston Water and Sewer Commission has a program to help replace.
What Affects Plumbing Costs in Boston
No plumber can quote a firm price before seeing the problem. These are the things that move the cost of plumbing work in Boston.
- Old pipe. Cast iron and galvanized lines in 1940s and older homes often need more than the failed section replaced.
- Licensed work and permits. Massachusetts plumbing work is generally done by a licensed plumber under a permit.
- Finding the problem. Leak locating and camera inspections are separate steps, but they keep the repair itself small.
- Time of day. Many companies charge an after-hours, weekend or holiday fee.
- Permits. When a job needs one, it comes from Boston Inspectional Services Department, and the plumber usually pulls it.
- Ask for the arrival fee before the plumber heads out, and for the repair price in writing before work starts.
How to Find a Licensed Plumber in Boston
These checks take a few minutes and prevent most bad experiences, whichever Boston plumber you end up hiring.
Check the Massachusetts License
Plumbers in Massachusetts are licensed by the state. Before any work starts at your Boston home, ask for the license number and look it up with the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters.
Who Can Do Plumbing Work in Boston
In Massachusetts, plumbing work is generally done by a plumber licensed by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters, under a permit from the Boston Inspectional Services Department. Ask for the license number and check it online before work starts.
What to Ask on the Phone
- What is the arrival window?
- Is there a service, trip or after-hours fee?
- For an emergency, will you stop the damage first and quote the permanent repair before starting it?
- What is your license number?
Plumbers in Cities Near Boston
FAQs About Plumbers in Boston
How quickly can I get a plumber in Boston?
Often the same day, including nights and weekends, but it depends on demand and where in Boston you are. The plumber gives you an arrival window when you call. During a citywide event such as a hard freeze or major storm, waits are longer, so shut off the water and limit the damage while you wait.
Find a Same-Day Plumber in Boston, MA
If you have frozen and burst pipes, old cast iron and galvanized pipe or another plumbing problem in Boston, call now. You'll be connected to a licensed plumber who works in your area, and you'll know the arrival window and any fee before they head out.