Plumbing Services in Cambridge, MA

Most requested plumbing services in Cambridge

Start with the service that matches your problem. Services marked “Common in Cambridge” are the calls local housing and conditions produce most in Cambridge.

• Frozen Pipe RepairCommon in CambridgeThawing frozen lines safely and fixing freeze damage.
• RepipingCommon in CambridgeReplacing old galvanized, polybutylene or failing copper lines.
• Sewer Line RepairCommon in CambridgeRecurring backups, sewer odors, slow fixtures or a damaged sewer line.
• Sewer Camera InspectionOlder homesVideo inspection to find the cause of drain and sewer problems.
• Emergency PlumberBurst pipes, major leaks, sewage backups and no-water situations.
• Drain CleaningSlow drains, recurring clogs and backed-up sinks, tubs and showers.
• Leak DetectionHidden leaks behind walls, ceilings or floors, or a bill that suddenly jumps.
• Water Heater RepairNo hot water, leaking tank, strange noises or uneven temperature.
• Water Heater ReplacementReplacing a failing or leaking tank heater.
• Burst Pipe RepairStopping and repairing burst or split pipes.
• Pipe RepairLeaks, corrosion, cracked lines and low pressure from damaged pipes.
• Toilet RepairRunning, clogged, leaking or weak-flushing toilets.

When to call, and what to do first

For the problems Cambridge homeowners call about most, and why they come up here:

• Frozen Pipe Repair

  Why it comes up in Cambridge: Old triple-deckers have pipes in poorly insulated exterior walls.

  Signs:

  No water at a faucet in freezing weather; frost on a pipe

  Urgent when:

  A pipe has split or water is spraying

  Before help arrives:

  Open the faucet, warm the pipe gently; never use an open flame

  Repair or replace:

  Thawed and intact: no repair. Cracked: replace that section

• Repiping

  Why it comes up in Cambridge: 19th-century homes still carry galvanized and old copper lines.

  Signs:

  Rusty water, falling pressure, repeated pinhole leaks

  Urgent when:

  Leaks keep recurring in different places

  Before help arrives:

  Note where leaks and rust appear; check the pipe at the water heater

  Repair or replace:

  One leak: repair. Failing pipe throughout: repipe

• Sewer Line Repair

  Why it comes up in Cambridge: Century-old laterals crack and back up into basements.

  Signs:

  Several drains slow at once, gurgling, sewage smell

  Urgent when:

  Sewage backing up into a tub, shower or floor drain

  Before help arrives:

  Stop running water; don't use chemical drain cleaners

  Repair or replace:

  One break: spot repair or lining. Collapsed line: replace

Why Cambridge homes need these repairs

Cambridge, home to Harvard and MIT, is dense and mostly renter-occupied, with triple-deckers and 19th-century houses. Unlike most nearby cities, it runs its own reservoirs feeding Fresh Pond, and very old housing, cold winters and aging lines drive the calls.

Local conditions behind Cambridge plumbing problems

Median home built

1958

Built before 1980

64%

Owner-occupied

30%

Water hardness

See below

Winter

Regular hard freezes

Plumbing code

Local