Plumbers in Brooklyn, NY

Brooklyn Plumbers

Although Manhattan gets the reputation for having most of the glitz and glamour, Brooklyn, New York, is actually the most heavily populated borough in New York City. Its vibrant music, arts, and culture scene combined with its diverse selection of neighborhoods and housing options make Brooklyn an attractive alternative to living in Manhattan for people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.

From industrial lofts to charming brownstones, all Brooklynites need plumbing services from time to time. The older homes that are common throughout the borough all require a vast array of plumbing maintenance tasks to keep up with the demands of city life. Brooklyn plumbers tackle everything from minor jobs like clearing clogs to major plumbing projects like retrofitting entire apartment buildings. Most experts suggest getting several estimates before hiring a plumber to be sure the prices are competitive and asking around for reviews from previous clients.

Local Costs for Plumbing Tasks

From smaller tasks such as drain repair and faucet installation to pipe replacement and bathtub installations, Brooklyn homeowners rely on plumbers for a variety of projects. The following table provides a quick look at how Brooklyn’s costs for some of the most common plumbing tasks compare to the national average:

As the above table demonstrates, most tasks cost slightly more in Brooklyn than in other parts of the country.

Necessary Licensing and Qualifications

New York City plumbing license requirements vary depending on the level of experience the plumber has accumulated. There are three types of plumbers:

• Apprentice Plumbers don’t need a license. They receive on-the-job training and relevant classroom training under a Journeyman Plumber. In New York City, plumbing apprentices complete approximately 10,000 hours of plumbing work.
• Journeyman Plumbers must register with the city and have a solid working knowledge of plumbing. They also need to have at least five years of full-time work experience under the supervision of a Master Plumber or have completed an approved training program and one year of New York City plumbing experience.
• Master Plumbers must be licensed with the city. To qualify, they need a bachelor's degree in engineering and five years of experience or have seven years of plumbing experience.

Brooklyn plumbers may belong to local associations such as the Association of Contracting Plumbers of the City of New York, Inc. or the City of New York Master Plumbers Council, Inc. In addition to verifying the plumber’s credentials, homeowners should also verify that the plumber is insured. Otherwise, the homeowner could be liable for the costs of any accidents that occur.

How Plumbing Affects the Value of a Home in Brooklyn

Plumbing can enhance the resale value of a home in Brooklyn and across the United States. Prospective buyers usually run from homes with leaks and faulty pipes. No one wants to inherit the potential for catastrophic leaks or the accumulation of mold and mildew due to damp situations. Buyers look for homes with strong water pressure, efficient water heaters, and eco-friendly fixtures that help save on utility costs. Although most Brooklyn buyers are aware that plumbing issues are sometimes par for the course in the area’s older homes, fixing any problems before listing a home commands a higher asking price and increases the likelihood of a quicker sale.

Brooklyn, NY Neighborhood Information

Brooklyn is the largest of New York City’s five boroughs, and more than 2.5 million New Yorkers live in Brooklyn's 30+ neighborhoods. No matter which nook and cranny of this large borough they call home, all Brooklynites all experience the same winter conditions, which feature temperatures at or below freezing level. Frozen and burst pipes can be a significant concern in homes throughout Brooklyn, often requiring emergency plumbing services to minimize flooding and property damage.

Residents of charming, tree-lined Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Windsor Terrace and Brooklyn Heights commonly experience drain problems caused by growing roots that can block the home's drainage system. The Fort Greene/Clinton neighborhood also features areas in which tree-lined streets can cause drain line problems, but this vibrant neighborhood includes a mix of tree-lined blocks filled with rowhouses and brownstones along with newer, high-rise apartment buildings in mixed-use areas. In these newer sections of this culturally diverse neighborhood, some of the most common plumbing tasks include installing new faucets, unclogging drains, and installing new sinks or bathtubs.

With a mixture of new construction and older brownstones and rowhouses, the popular neighborhood of Park Slope offers a diverse selection of housing options to residents and a mixed bag of plumbing problems ranging from water heater repairs to retrofitting plumbing for high-efficiency fixtures. Park Slope features a family-friendly community with good schools, plenty of shopping, and a delicious mix of restaurants. Home prices are among the priciest in the city, with most brownstones costing well over $1 million.

Williamsburg is another very popular neighborhood. Young professionals, writers, and artists flock to this more affordable area, thanks largely to its more reasonable prices and roomier apartments. Locals often call this neighborhood the "new SoHo" with its vibrant population of artists, musicians, and professionals. North Williamsburg boasts a lot of new construction, where typical plumbing problems include clogged drains and installing new fixtures. South Williamsburg features a more diverse combination of older homes and new construction.