Middlesex County · Malden, MA
Plumbers in Malden, MA
Malden is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. About 66,000 people live in the ZIP code we cover here, in roughly 28,000 homes, 25% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (49%), 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 Malden
02148
Malden homes and their plumbing
Here is how Malden's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 49%, 1940–1959 11%, 1960–1979 15%, 1980–1999 12%, 2000 or later 13%. 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 Everett, Revere, Medford are covered too.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 49% |
| 1940–1959 | 11% |
| 1960–1979 | 15% |
| 1980–1999 | 12% |
| 2000 or later | 13% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 65,509
- Housing units
- 28,043
- Single-family detached
- 25%
- Owner-occupied
- 42%
- Heated with utility gas
- 61%
- Heated with electricity
- 23%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 11%
- Heated with propane
- 3%
What goes wrong in Malden homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
59% of homes in Malden's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 49% 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
11% 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.
Apartments, condos and attached homes
Only 25% of homes here are single-family detached houses. In attached buildings a leak or clog often involves a shared stack or a neighbor's unit, so it's worth knowing which lines are yours and which belong to the building or HOA, and where your unit's own shutoff is.
Natural gas in most homes
61% 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.
Common calls in Malden
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Drain Cleaning
- Gas Line Repair
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair in Malden, MA
Also available in Malden: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Malden at a glance
- County
- Middlesex County
- Nearest city pages
- Everett, Revere, Medford, Somerville, Cambridge, Woburn
- ZIP codes
- 02148
Malden plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Malden?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Malden, Census estimates put 59% of homes as built before 1960, 15% from 1960 to 1979, 12% from 1980 to 1999 and 13% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (49%).
Who licenses plumbers in Malden, 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 Malden usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 61% of homes heating with utility gas, 23% with electricity, 11% with fuel oil and 3% 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.
I rent in Malden. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 58% of homes here are renter-occupied. In most cases the landlord is responsible for the building's plumbing, and tenants should report leaks right away and in writing. Damage a tenant causes, like a clog from something flushed, may be billed back. Your lease and Massachusetts landlord-tenant law set the details.
Guides for Malden homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: Melrose (2 mi), Chelsea (3 mi), West Medford (3 mi), Watertown (5 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 Malden, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Malden?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.