Plumbing service in New York
Call NowNew York plumbing runs from New York City brownstones and apartment buildings to upstate homes in Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester that face lake-effect snow and deep frost.
New York weather and your plumbing
Upstate New York has long, snowy winters, with heavy lake-effect snow near Lakes Erie and Ontario. New York City and Long Island are milder but get nor'easters and coastal storms. Summers are warm and humid statewide.
Season by season in New York
- Upstate winter
- Deep cold and lake-effect snow freeze pipes, water services and outdoor plumbing in Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester.
- Coastal storms
- Nor'easters and tropical storms flood basements and overload sewers in New York City and on Long Island.
Problems the New York climate causes
Frozen pipes upstate
Cause: Long cold winters with lake-effect snow.
Result: Pipes in exterior walls and unheated spaces split.
Do: Keep heat on, insulate vulnerable pipes and know where the main shutoff is.
Basement sewer backups in NYC
Cause: Intense rain on combined sewers.
Result: Sewage comes up through basement drains.
Do: Ask about a backwater valve, which the city recommends for flood-prone areas.
Housing in New York
New York City has a huge stock of pre-war apartment buildings and brownstones with cast-iron drains and old supply risers, where repairs often involve neighbors and building management. Upstate cities have many older homes with basements, and Adirondack and Catskill homes are commonly on private wells.
Where calls are covered in New York
- Covered ZIP codes
- 1,213
- Cities and towns with coverage
- 961
Most covered ZIP codes
- New York · 69 ZIPs
- Brooklyn · 38 ZIPs
- Bronx · 25 ZIPs
- Syracuse · 17 ZIPs
- Staten Island · 13 ZIPs
- Buffalo · 13 ZIPs
- Albany · 12 ZIPs
- Jamaica · 9 ZIPs
Check whether your exact New York ZIP code is covered (coverage changes over time)
New York questions
Does New York State license plumbers?
Not statewide. New York City licenses master plumbers through the Department of Buildings, and other cities and counties set their own rules.
Can a backwater valve help my NYC basement?
Yes, in many cases. It lets wastewater leave but blocks sewer water from flowing back in during heavy storms.
How do I check a plumber's license in New York?
New York has no general statewide plumbing license. In New York City, the Department of Buildings licenses master plumbers. Elsewhere in the state, plumber licensing is handled by individual cities and counties, so requirements differ by location.