Serving Charlestown, MA
Plumber in Charlestown, MA
Charlestown Plumbers Experienced in Historic Rowhouses and Navy Yard Conversions
Cod Plumbing provides plumbing services in Charlestown with the care and expertise this historically significant neighborhood demands. More than 57 percent of Charlestown's housing predates 1950, but the neighborhood also added a wave of new residential units through Navy Yard conversions between 2000 and 2019, and those two building types require completely different plumbing knowledge.
Plumber in Charlestown
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Plumbing Services in Charlestown, MA
Charlestown's median construction year is 1938, but the neighborhood really splits into two distinct plumbing environments. The Monument Square and Town Hill area holds Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate rowhouses whose original plumbing has been patched and extended for over a century, while the Navy Yard's converted industrial buildings, like the 367 unit Parris Landing complex finished in 2006, are now entering their second decade of residential plumbing life.
Call us at 857-426-3836 or schedule online to book your Charlestown plumbing service today. We offer same day appointments and a two hour guaranteed arrival window.
Services We Provide in Charlestown
Local Knowledge
Charlestown Housing Stock and Plumbing History
Charlestown has 7,304 housing units, and only 5.9 percent are detached single family homes. The historic Hill and Monument area, covering Monument Square, Town Hill, and Charlestown Heights, holds dense Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate rowhouses dating to the early 19th century, most sharing party walls in brick construction that limits how pipe routing can be planned during any renovation. Plumbing here has been patched and extended by different owners across nearly two centuries rather than replaced in a single pass. The Navy Yard, a former federal shipyard operational from 1800 to 1974 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966, now includes major residential conversions. Parris Landing, 367 luxury condominium units converted from a former machine shop and completed in 2006, along with Flagship Wharf and Charlestown Loft Living, feature plumbing runs originally designed for manufacturing use and retrofitted for residential occupancy. Those systems are now 18 to 25 years into their post conversion life, entering the range where original fixtures, water heaters, and stub out connections start needing service.
Water Supply
Water Quality and Supply in Charlestown
Charlestown is served by the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, which distributes MWRA water from the Quabbin and Wachusett Reservoirs. In December of 2021, sampling showed lead levels in Boston tap water exceeding MassDEP standards, traced to private lead service lines and indoor lead solder rather than the public supply system, and Charlestown was among the neighborhoods with documented private lead service concerns. Since 2023, BWSC replaces private lead service lines at no cost to property owners using federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding, a program that has grown from a 1,000 dollar credit in 2004 to full free replacement today. BWSC's 2024 spring lead sampling program conducted 377 vacuum investigations, identifying 35 lead services, and 954 scratch tests, finding 156 lead services citywide, driving continued outreach to property owners whose lines have not yet been identified or replaced. Property owners can reach the Lead Hotline at 617-989-7888.
What We See Most
Common Plumbing Issues in Charlestown
Based on years of plumbing work throughout Charlestown, these are the issues we diagnose and repair most often in the neighborhood.
Layered Repairs in Monument Square and Town Hill Rowhouses
Charlestown's Federal and Greek Revival rowhouses near Monument Square and Town Hill have had plumbing patched and extended by different owners for close to two centuries. Shared party walls and brick construction limit how new pipe can be routed, and stack replacements here require careful planning to avoid damaging historic fabric. A plumber in Charlestown Boston who knows these rowhouses checks the full stack before diagnosing any single fixture complaint.
Parris Landing and Navy Yard Conversion Fixture Age
Parris Landing, converted from a machine shop into 367 residential units in 2006, and similar Navy Yard conversions like Flagship Wharf are now 18 to 25 years into their post conversion life. Failed pressure reducing valves on high rise stacks and aging domestic hot water recirculation systems are common in this specific building type.
Private Side Lead Service Lines Confirmed by 2024 Sampling
BWSC's 2024 spring sampling found 35 lead services through vacuum investigation and 156 through scratch testing citywide, and Charlestown was flagged in a 2021 MassDEP exceedance event tied to private lead lines. Since 2023, replacement is free for property owners through federal infrastructure funding. A plumbing inspection in Charlestown confirms whether your line qualifies before you call the Lead Hotline.
Certificate of Appropriateness Requirements for Historic District Work
Charlestown's five National Register districts, including Monument Square, Town Hill, Charlestown Heights, and the Naval Shipyard, require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Boston Landmarks Commission before any exterior alteration and before Inspectional Services will issue a permit. We plan plumbing projects around this review step whenever exterior work is involved.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Charlestown
Our licensed plumbers work throughout Charlestown and surrounding communities. If you do not see your neighborhood listed, give us a call.
Need a Plumber in Charlestown?
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Questions
Plumbing Questions from Charlestown Homeowners
Does my Charlestown rowhouse near Monument Square have lead pipes?
It is worth checking. BWSC's 2024 spring sampling program found lead through both vacuum investigation and scratch testing across the city, and Charlestown was specifically flagged during a December 2021 MassDEP exceedance event tied to private lead service lines and indoor lead solder rather than the public water supply. Since 2023, BWSC replaces private lead lines at no cost, and you can reach the Lead Hotline at 617-989-7888.
What plumbing issues are common at Parris Landing and other Navy Yard condos?
Parris Landing converted a former machine shop into 367 residential units in 2006, and it is now 18 to 25 years into its life as housing. The most common issues we see in this building and similar Navy Yard conversions like Flagship Wharf are failed pressure reducing valves on the high rise stacks and aging domestic hot water recirculation systems that were designed for a different scale of use than the original industrial building.
Do I need a permit from the Boston Landmarks Commission for plumbing work in Charlestown?
Only if the work touches the exterior. Charlestown has five National Register historic districts, including Monument Square, Town Hill, Charlestown Heights, and the Naval Shipyard, and any exterior alteration requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Boston Landmarks Commission before Inspectional Services will issue a permit. Interior plumbing work inside these rowhouses does not require that review.
How old is the typical Charlestown rowhouse near Bunker Hill?
Over 57 percent of Charlestown's housing predates 1950, and the rowhouses closest to the Monument, in Federal, Greek Revival, and Italianate styles, generally date to the early 1800s through the late 1800s. Plumbing in these buildings has typically been patched and extended repeatedly rather than fully replaced in one pass, so finding several generations of pipe material in a single home is normal.
Is the Charlestown Navy Yard still adding new residential units?
Yes. In 2024, the Boston Planning Department recommended approval of the Pier 5 redevelopment and an extension of the Office to Residential Conversion Program within the Yard, which will bring more residential units requiring new plumbing systems built into structures that were originally designed for industrial use, a technically demanding category of work we have experience with.
What is BWSC's free lead line replacement program in Charlestown?
Since 2023, Boston Water and Sewer Commission replaces private side lead service lines at no cost to the property owner, funded through federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act dollars. The program has grown steadily since it began in 2004 as a 1,000 dollar credit. Charlestown property owners can call the Lead Hotline at 617-989-7888 to schedule an inspection.
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$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
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