Hillsborough County · Manchester–Nashua metro
Plumbing help in Manchester, NH
Frozen PipesOlder Pipes
Manchester has drawn its water from Lake Massabesic since 1874. It's an old mill city, with about 60% of homes built before 1980, and long New England winters make frozen pipes and aging plumbing the common calls.
- Median home built
- 1966
- Built before 1980
- 62%
- Owner-occupied
- 47%
- Water hardness
- See below
- Winter
- Long, hard freezes
- Plumbing code
- IPC
What Manchester homeowners call plumbers about
- Frozen Pipe Repair
Long cold winters freeze pipes in older homes' exterior walls and porches.
- Repiping
Older mill-era homes often have galvanized supply lines.
- Drain Cleaning
Multi-family buildings share old cast iron drains.
Protecting pipes through a Manchester winter
Long, hard freezes · 62% of Manchester homes were built before 1980
Emergency plumbing in Manchester
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 Manchester homes, based on local conditions.
What's behind the walls of Manchester's older homes
The median home in Manchester was built in 1966, and 62% of homes predate 1980. Homes from that era were typically built with copper or galvanized supply, cast iron drains, clay or cast iron sewer laterals.
- Galvanized steel supply (1900–1960)
- Copper supply (1950–2000)
- Polybutylene (some homes) (1978–1996)
- PEX / CPVC (1995–today)
Permits and code in Manchester
Plumbers in New Hampshire are licensed by the Mechanical Licensing Board (OPLC), and plumbing follows the state building code's IPC-based plumbing provisions. [2]
Where Manchester's water comes from
Lake Massabesic has supplied drinking water to the Manchester region since 1874 and now serves more than 159,000 people. [1]
Plumbing services for Manchester homes
Manchester plumbing questions
Where does Manchester's water come from?
Lake Massabesic, the city's source since 1874.
How do I check a Manchester plumber?
Verify the license with New Hampshire's OPLC Mechanical Licensing Board.
How do I keep pipes from freezing in Manchester?
Insulate pipes on exterior walls, seal drafts, keep the heat on and let a faucet drip in deep cold.
Why do older Manchester homes need repiping?
Galvanized supply pipe in older homes corrodes inside, causing low pressure, rusty water and leaks.
Do Manchester basements flood in spring?
Snowmelt and spring rain can raise groundwater around older foundations. A tested sump pump and good exterior drainage keep most basements dry.
Sources (3)
- U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 1-year (B25035) · checked 2026-10-01
- Manchester Water Works, Lake Massabesic Watershed · checked 2026-10-01
- New Hampshire OPLC, Mechanical Licensing Board · checked 2026-10-01