Wayne County · Detroit–Warren–Dearborn metro
Plumbing help in Detroit, MI
Older PipesFrozen Pipes
Detroit has the oldest housing of any large US city: about nine in ten homes were built before 1980. That means aging supply pipe, cast iron drains and, in many older single-family homes, lead service lines that the city is replacing block by block.
- Median home built
- 1946
- Built before 1980
- 90%
- Owner-occupied
- 51%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Long, hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- Local
Common repairs in Detroit homes
- Water Line Repair
Many older homes have lead or aging service lines between the street and the house.
- Sewer Backup
Heavy storms and old, root-damaged laterals send water back through basement floor drains.
- Repiping
With about 90% of homes built before 1980, galvanized supply pipe is common and a frequent cause of low pressure and leaks.
Local programs in Detroit
What's behind the walls of Detroit's older homes
The median home in Detroit was built in 1946, and 90% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with galvanized steel supply lines, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals, often partly replaced over the years.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Protecting pipes through a Detroit winter
Long, hard freezes · 90% of Detroit homes were built before 1980
Emergency plumbing in Detroit
Call (833) 878-1592Shut off your main water supply if it's safe to do so. The emergencies below are listed most likely first for Detroit homes, based on local conditions.
Where Detroit's water comes from
The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department estimates more than 80,000 lead service lines serve Detroit homes, mostly single-family homes built before 1945. It is replacing them at no cost to property owners over roughly 10 years. [1]
Plumbing services for Detroit homes
Detroit plumbing questions
Does my Detroit home have a lead service line?
If it's a single-family home built before 1945 and the line hasn't been replaced, it's likely. Where the line enters the basement, lead is dull gray and soft. DWSD's program replaces lead lines at no cost to owners.
Why does my Detroit basement flood during storms?
Heavy rain can overload sewers and push water back through floor drains, and old laterals with roots or cracks make it worse. A backwater valve and a camera inspection of the lateral are common fixes.
Sources (2)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- City of Detroit, DWSD Lead Service Line Replacement Program · checked 2026-10-01