Serving Boston, MA
Plumber in Boston, MA
Licensed Boston Plumbers Serving Triple Deckers, Brownstones, and Condos
Cod Plumbing serves Boston homeowners, landlords, and property managers with fast, honest Boston plumbing service. Boston Water and Sewer Commission reports that water mains across the city range from 18 to 147 years old, and we know exactly what that age spread means once we open a wall or a basement access panel.
Plumber in Boston
Two Hour Appointment Windows
You pick the window. We show up on time.
No Salespeople
Real plumbing technicians, not commission-driven sales reps.
$0 Dispatch Fees
You only pay for the plumbing work we perform.
Plumbing Services in Boston, MA
Boston's housing stretches from Colonial era streets to modern high rise towers, and the plumbing underneath tells the same story. Roughly 15,000 triple decker buildings went up across the city between 1880 and 1930, and a large share of them are still running original pipe somewhere in the system. We arrive knowing what era of construction we are walking into before we ring the bell.
Call us at 857-426-3836 or schedule online to book your Boston plumbing service today. We offer same day appointments and a two hour guaranteed arrival window.
Services We Provide in Boston
Local Knowledge
Boston Housing Stock and Plumbing History
The triple decker is Boston's signature housing type. Around 15,000 of these three story, wood framed buildings were constructed between 1880 and 1930 to house factory workers and immigrant families, and they remain concentrated in Dorchester, Roxbury, East Boston, South Boston, Allston, Brighton, and parts of West Roxbury. Each triple decker was designed with kitchens and bathrooms stacked directly above one another, which means all the plumbing for three separate households runs through a single vertical chase from the basement to the roof. The South End is the largest Victorian residential district in the United States, developed mostly between the 1850s and the 1880s as connected brick bow front rowhouses on filled land. Many of these buildings, along with older stock in Dorchester, still carry galvanized steel supply lines that were standard practice before mid century copper became common, and Boston's freeze and thaw cycles speed up the corrosion of that older material. Newer construction in the Seaport and around downtown has added modern copper and PEX systems to the citywide mix, but for most Boston neighborhoods the plumbing in the walls was installed decades before anyone living there today moved in, and knowing the construction era of a specific address tells us most of what we need before a truck even leaves the shop.
Water Supply
Water Quality and Supply in Boston
Boston receives its water through the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, which purchases treated water wholesale from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. MWRA draws from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs and treats it at the John J. Carroll plant in Marlborough, producing water that measures about 17.1 milligrams per liter of hardness, which is very soft. Soft water is gentler on scale buildup but more corrosive to bare metal, so BWSC raises the pH to a target of 9.3 to slow that corrosion, a treatment change that has cut lead leaching in high risk homes by roughly 90 percent since it was introduced. BWSC also runs a Lead Replacement Incentive Program that gives Boston property owners a free inspection and free replacement of any lead water service pipe on the private side, funded in part by a 40 percent MassDEP grant and federal infrastructure dollars. Between January and October of 2024, BWSC removed 326 lead service lines and ran 954 scratch tests to confirm pipe material citywide. Homeowners can reach the Lead Hotline directly at 617-989-7888 to schedule an inspection.
What We See Most
Common Plumbing Issues in Boston
Based on years of plumbing work throughout Boston, these are the issues we diagnose and repair most often in the neighborhood.
Triple Decker Shared Stack Failures in Dorchester and Roxbury
With roughly 15,000 triple deckers built between 1880 and 1930 concentrated in Dorchester, Roxbury, East Boston, and Allston Brighton, a single blocked or corroded vertical stack can take down drains on all three floors at once. We provide drain cleaning in Boston and camera the full stack before recommending a repair so landlords know exactly what they are paying for.
Galvanized Supply Lines in South End Rowhouses
The South End's Victorian rowhouses, developed mostly between the 1850s and 1880s as the largest Victorian residential district in the country, commonly still run original galvanized steel supply branches. As these pipes corrode internally, pressure drops floor by floor. Repiping with copper or PEX restores full flow permanently.
Lead Service Lines in Homes Built Before 1950
BWSC removed 326 private lead service lines between January and October of 2024 alone, and free replacement is available through the Lead Replacement Incentive Program. If your Boston home predates 1950, we can identify the service line material at the meter and help you start the free replacement process.
Aging Water Mains from the 1880s Still in Service
Boston's distribution system includes mains as old as 147 years, with some of the oldest cast iron sections still active in Charlestown and other historic sections of the city. Main age affects pressure consistency and the likelihood of sediment reaching your fixtures during nearby repair work.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Boston
Our licensed plumbers work throughout Boston and surrounding communities. If you do not see your neighborhood listed, give us a call.
Need a Plumber in Boston?
Call or schedule online. Two hour windows guaranteed.
Questions
Plumbing Questions from Boston Homeowners
How old are Boston's water mains, and does that affect my home?
Boston Water and Sewer Commission reports that mains across the city range from 18 to 147 years old, with some of the oldest cast iron sections dating to the 1880s. Older mains are more prone to sediment disturbance during nearby repairs and can affect pressure and water clarity temporarily. If your neighborhood has had recent main work, a brief flush at your outdoor spigot usually clears any sediment. For persistent discoloration or sudden pressure loss after main work, reach out to an emergency plumber in Boston before assuming the issue will resolve on its own.
My triple decker in Dorchester has a shared drain stack. Whose problem is a backup that hits all three floors?
A backup that shows up on multiple floors at once almost always means the shared vertical stack itself is the problem, not one tenant's unit. In a typical Boston triple decker built between 1880 and 1930, that stack is a single run of cast iron serving the whole building, and it is a building owner responsibility. We camera the line to show exactly where the blockage or corrosion sits.
Does Boston still have a free lead pipe replacement program?
Yes. Boston Water and Sewer Commission's Lead Replacement Incentive Program continues to offer a free inspection and free replacement of private side lead service lines, supported by MassDEP grant funding and federal infrastructure dollars. BWSC removed 326 lead lines between January and October of 2024 alone. Call the Lead Hotline at 617-989-7888 to check your address.
Why is Boston's water so soft, and does that matter for my pipes?
MWRA source water measures about 17.1 milligrams per liter of hardness, close to the softest water classification. Soft water will not build up mineral scale the way hard water does, but it is more corrosive to bare metal pipe over time. BWSC compensates by raising pH to a target of 9.3, which has cut lead leaching in high risk homes by roughly 90 percent since the treatment change took effect.
I live in the South End. My rowhouse still has galvanized pipe. Should I be worried?
The South End is the largest Victorian residential district in the country, developed mostly between the 1850s and the 1880s, and a lot of that original galvanized steel supply pipe is still in the walls. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside out, so declining pressure and rust tinted water are the warning signs. A whole home repipe with copper or PEX solves it permanently rather than patching section by section.
Is it true triple deckers in Allston and Brighton have all the plumbing in one wall?
Yes. Triple deckers were designed with kitchens and bathrooms stacked directly above each other so a single vertical chase could carry supply and drain lines for all three units. That efficient design from 1880 to 1930 also means one aging section of pipe can affect every floor, which is why we always inspect the full chase rather than just the fixture that is acting up.
Have a question not listed here?
$99
Drain Clean Special
Whether it is a stubborn shower drain clog, a kitchen sink backup, or any bathroom drain causing problems, our expert drain technicians can get your Boston home flowing again quickly. Family owned. No salespeople. Guaranteed.
What to Expect:
- Two hour arrival window.
- Upfront pricing with no hidden fees. A tech will inspect your drain and provide pricing before work begins.
- Free camera inspection included with exterior cleanout access to confirm the line is clear.
$399
Plumbing Inspection
Buying a home or checking the condition of your plumbing? Our plumbing inspection checks for leaks, pressure concerns, failing fixtures, water heater issues, and other visible plumbing problems.
What to Expect:
- Inspect all visible pipes, shutoffs, and water heater.
- Test water pressure and flow.
- Identify slow drains or potential leaks.
- Provide a detailed report with findings.
- Included free for Cod Club members.
$199
Water Heater Maintenance
Routine maintenance helps your standard tank water heater run more efficiently and extends its service life. Cod Plumbing flushes and inspects your water heater so small problems are easier to catch early.
What to Expect:
- Drain tank and remove sediment buildup.
- Inspect anode rod and thermostat.
- Help reduce the risk of corrosion and tank leaks.
- Recommended annually for best results.
- Ask about whole home water filtration systems.
Let's Get Your Plumbing Back on Track
Proudly serving Boston and surrounding areas.