Middlesex County · Waltham, MA
Plumbers in Waltham, MA
Waltham is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. About 65,000 people live in the 5 ZIP codes we cover here, in roughly 27,000 homes, 37% of them single-family detached houses. The biggest share of the housing was built before 1940 (27%), 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 Waltham
02451, 02452, 02453, 02454, 02455
Waltham homes and their plumbing
Here is how Waltham's homes break down by year built, based on Census estimates for the covered ZIP codes: before 1940 27%, 1940–1959 21%, 1960–1979 22%, 1980–1999 16%, 2000 or later 14%. 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.
| Year built | Share of homes |
|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 27% |
| 1940–1959 | 21% |
| 1960–1979 | 22% |
| 1980–1999 | 16% |
| 2000 or later | 14% |
Share of housing units in the covered ZIP codes. Census ACS 2023 5-year estimates.
- Residents in covered ZIPs
- 64,640
- Housing units
- 26,853
- Single-family detached
- 37%
- Owner-occupied
- 49%
- Heated with utility gas
- 54%
- Heated with electricity
- 23%
- Heated with fuel oil
- 20%
What goes wrong in Waltham homes
Pre-1960 homes: galvanized pipe and cast iron
48% of homes in Waltham's covered ZIP codes were built before 1960, 27% 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
20% 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.
Long, hard winters
70% 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.
Natural gas in most homes
54% 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 Waltham
- Whole-House Repiping
- Water Heater Replacement
- Frozen & Burst Pipe Repair
- Gas Line Repair
- Drain Cleaning
- Main Water Line Repair
- Sewer Line Repair in Waltham, MA
Also available in Waltham: emergency plumbing and every plumbing service.
Waltham at a glance
- County
- Middlesex County
- ZIP codes
- 02451, 02452, 02453, 02454, 02455
Waltham plumbing FAQ
How old are the homes in Waltham?
In the ZIP codes we cover around Waltham, Census estimates put 48% of homes as built before 1960, 22% from 1960 to 1979, 16% from 1980 to 1999 and 14% in 2000 or later. The largest group is before 1940 (27%).
Who licenses plumbers in Waltham, 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 Waltham usually gas or electric?
Census data for the area show 54% of homes heating with utility gas, 23% with electricity, 20% 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.
I rent in Waltham. Who pays for plumbing repairs?
About 51% 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 Waltham homeowners
Nearby areas
Also covered nearby: North Waltham (0 mi), Newton (4 mi), New Town (4 mi), Newton Center (4 mi), Newtonville (4 mi), Newton Highlands (4 mi), Newton Lower Falls (4 mi), Newton Upper Falls (4 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 Waltham, so they may include neighboring communities that share those ZIP codes.
Need a plumber in Waltham?
Same-day service when a plumber is available. One call connects you with a licensed plumber who serves your ZIP.