Middlesex County · Framingham, MA
Plumbers in Framingham, MA
Framingham is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. About 72,000 people live in the 5 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 28,000 homes, 52% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built between 1960 and 1979 (34%), and that age decides most of what goes wrong with the plumbing.
- Same-day service when a plumber is available
- 5 ZIP codes covered
ZIP codes we cover in Framingham
01701, 01702, 01703, 01704, 01705
Framingham homes and their plumbing
Here is how Framingham's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 17%, 1940–1959 25%, 1960–1979 34%, 1980–1999 16%, 2000 or later 8%. 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 Marlborough, Waltham are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 17% |
| 1940–1959 | 25% |
| 1960–1979 | 34% |
| 1980–1999 | 16% |
| 2000 or later | 8% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 72,031
- Housing units
- 28,434
- Single-family detached
- 52%
- Owner-occupied
- 55%
- Heated with utility gas
- 44%
- Heated with electricity
- 29%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 22%
What goes wrong in Framingham homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
42% of homes in Framingham's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 17% 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.
Oil-heated homes
22% 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.
1960s and 70s homes reaching end of life
34% of the housing here dates from 1960 to 1979. Original copper supply lines in those homes are now 45 to 65 years old, and cast iron drains of that age scale up inside and crack. Seized shutoff valves, pinhole leaks and recurring main-line clogs are common calls. A camera inspection shows the condition of the sewer line before anyone digs.
Long, hard winters
76% of homes here were built before 1980, when pipes were more often run through exterior walls and uninsulated crawl spaces. In a long Massachusetts winter those are the lines that freeze and split. See frozen and burst pipe repair.
Common calls in Framingham
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Sewer Camera Inspection
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair in Framingham, MA
Also available in Framingham: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Framingham at a glance
- County
- Middlesex County
- Nearest city pages
- Marlborough, Waltham
- ZIP codes
- 01701, 01702, 01703, 01704, 01705
Framingham plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Framingham?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Framingham, Census estimates put 42% of homes as built before 1960, 34% from 1960 to 1979, 16% from 1980 to 1999 and 8% in 2000 or later. The largest group is 1960–1979 (34%).
Who licenses plumbers in Framingham, MA?
The Massachusetts Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters licenses plumbers and gas fitters; local inspectors issue permits.
Are water heaters in Framingham usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 44% of homes heating with utility gas, 29% with electricity, 22% 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.
Guides for Framingham homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Wayland (4 mi), Southborough (5 mi), Concord (10 mi), Millis (11 mi), North Waltham (11 mi), Newton (12 mi), New Town (12 mi), Newton Center (12 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 Framingham, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Framingham?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.