New Castle County · Bear, DE
Plumbers in Bear, DE
Bear is in New Castle County, Delaware. About 45,000 people live in the ZIP code we cover here, in roughly 17,000 homes, 50% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1980 and 1999 (54%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 1 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Bear
19701
Bear homes and their plumbing
Here is how Bear's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 1%, 1940–1959 3%, 1960–1979 10%, 1980–1999 54%, 2000 or later 33%. Most homes are old enough that original pipe, valves and water heaters are wearing out, but young enough that full repipes are a case-by-case call. Neighboring areas such as Newark, New Castle, Wilmington are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 1% |
| 1940–1959 | 3% |
| 1960–1979 | 10% |
| 1980–1999 | 54% |
| 2000 or later | 33% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 44,801
- Housing units
- 17,368
- Single-family detached
- 50%
- Owner-occupied
- 80%
- Heated with utility gas
- 51%
- Heated with electricity
- 33%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 8%
- Heated with propane
- 6%
What goes wrong in Bear homes
1980s and 90s construction and polybutylene
54% 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.
Oil-heated homes
8% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
51% 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.
Winter freezes
13% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a cold Delaware winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Bear
- Polybutylene Pipe Replacement
- Water Heater Replacement in Bear, DE
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair
Also available in Bear: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Bear at a glance
- County
- New Castle County
- Nearest city pages
- Newark, New Castle, Wilmington, Middletown
- ZIP codes
- 19701
Bear plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Bear?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Bear, Census estimates put 3% of homes as built before 1960, 10% from 1960 to 1979, 54% from 1980 to 1999 and 33% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1980–1999 (54%).
Who licenses plumbers in Bear, DE?
Delaware's Board of Plumbing, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Examiners licenses plumbers.
Are water heaters in Bear usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 51% of homes heating with utility gas, 33% with electricity, 8% with fuel oil and 6% 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.
Guides for Bear homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Brookside (4 mi), Saint Georges (4 mi), Delaware City (6 mi), Port Penn (9 mi), Hockessin (11 mi), Odessa (11 mi), Yorklyn (11 mi), Townsend (15 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 Bear, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Bear?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.