Slow drain, sewer backup, dead water heater or a leak? We're a Dearborn plumber you can reach today. Call (313) 474-7729 to talk to us. We're open 8 AM–10:30 PM, every day.
Dearborn sits directly west of Detroit, with the Rouge River winding through the middle of the city. East and west Dearborn grew at different times, so a drain call in one neighborhood can look very different from one a couple of miles away: older brick bungalows with clay or cast-iron laterals on one side, later post-war ranches on the other.
What Dearborn's housing age means for plumbing
Walk most Dearborn blocks and you're looking at houses from the Before 1940 and 1950s, which together make up 48% of the city's 39,394 housing units (ACS 2020–2024). The median year built is 1952, and 71% of homes predate 1960.
| Year built | Dearborn | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 24% | 36% |
| 1940s | 22% | 20% |
| 1950s | 24% | 21% |
| 1960s | 7% | 8% |
| 1970s | 6% | 5% |
| 1980–1999 | 9% | 5% |
| 2000 or later | 7% | 4% |
What Dearborn plumbing is usually made of
The typical Dearborn house from the Before 1940 was built with cast-iron waste lines and clay sewer pipe, plus galvanized or copper water lines. Over seven decades, those clay joints let roots in, cast iron scales up inside, and galvanized pipe narrows. None of that means immediate replacement, but it does mean a camera and a careful look before guessing.
Owners, landlords and multi-unit buildings in Dearborn
About 68% of occupied homes in Dearborn are owner-occupied, and 74% of housing units are single-family detached houses (ACS). Only 6% of units are in two- to four-unit buildings and 14% in larger buildings, so most plumbing calls here come from homeowners responsible for everything from the meter to the city sewer connection.
Local plumbing notes for Dearborn
Dearborn is big enough to have two different plumbing personalities. Its oldest neighborhoods have pre-war brick homes where the main cleanout may sit behind a finished basement wall, and some have had additions that put a bathroom far from the original stack, with long horizontal drain runs that clog more easily. Dearborn's newer streets lean toward 1950s ranches where the water heater and furnace share one flue and one corner. Because the city requires plan review for permitted work and that review can take 5 to 10 business days, it pays to plan a water heater or sewer replacement before the old one fails completely, rather than in the middle of a cold week. If you're buying in Dearborn, a sewer camera inspection before closing is sensible due diligence with this housing mix: about 71% of homes are pre-1960, and nearly a quarter are pre-1940.
Hot water problems in Dearborn homes
Most Dearborn homes run on gas (72% heat with utility gas per ACS), and so do most of their water heaters. A tank that's leaking, a pilot that won't stay lit or a relief valve that drips are the usual reasons people call. Replacements are a permitted job in Dearborn; we handle the permit with the City of Dearborn (Home Improvement & Construction). More on our water heater page.
Winter and frozen pipes in Dearborn
Expect about 30 days a winter that don't climb above freezing, based on NOAA's Detroit Metro Airport data for 2015-2025, plus a sub-zero night in most winters (9 of 10). In Dearborn's post-war houses, the trouble spots are usually pipes near basement windows and rim joists, and kitchen sinks on outside walls. See our frozen pipes guide or, for a split pipe, the emergency plumber page.
Lead service lines and sewer laterals in Dearborn
Most suburbs in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties buy wholesale water from the Great Lakes Water Authority, with your city handling the local mains, meters and billing. Michigan's Lead and Copper Rule requires every community water supply to replace all lead and galvanized-previously-connected-to-lead service lines by January 1, 2041, at the supply's expense, and to notify affected homes every year. If you've received a letter from Dearborn about your service line, that's why.
On the sewer side, the pipe from your house to the public sewer is the property owner's responsibility in most Detroit-area cities, so a root-clogged or broken lateral in Dearborn is usually a private repair. A camera inspection shows exactly what's wrong; see sewer line repair.
Plumbing permits in Dearborn
Dearborn says a plumbing permit is needed to install, modify or repair plumbing systems. Applications go through the city's BS&A online portal, plan review typically takes 5 to 10 business days, and inspections are scheduled through the same portal. Contractors have to hold a Michigan license and register with the city. Source: City of Dearborn (Home Improvement & Construction). Statewide, plumbing is governed by the 2021 Michigan Plumbing Code (effective March 12, 2024), with one- and two-family homes following the plumbing provisions of the Michigan Residential Code. Clearing a stoppage or repairing only the working parts of a faucet generally doesn't need a permit; replacing pipe or a water heater does.
Plumbing services in Dearborn
Drain cleaning
Main-line clogs at the basement floor drain are a classic Dearborn call. Fixture, floor-drain and main-line cleaning.
Sewer line repair
Camera inspection, spot repair and lateral replacement, permitted through Dearborn.
Water heater repair
Gas and electric tank repair and replacement for Dearborn homes.
Emergency leak repair
Burst and frozen pipes, active leaks and backups. Call first.
Nearby service areas: Dearborn Heights, Allen Park, Inkster, and Detroit. See all areas.
No published prices. Every job is priced on site after diagnosis, because access, pipe material, depth and parts all change the work. Call (313) 474-7729 to talk through a plumbing problem in Dearborn.
Dearborn plumbing FAQ
How old are most homes in Dearborn?
The American Community Survey (2020–2024) gives a median year built of 1952 for Dearborn's 39,394 housing units, with 71% built before 1960 and 24% before 1940.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Dearborn?
Usually, for anything beyond clearing a stoppage or repairing faucet parts. Water heater replacement, re-piping and sewer work need a permit from the City of Dearborn (Home Improvement & Construction).
Could my Dearborn home have a lead water service line?
It's possible, especially in homes built before about 1950 (46% of Dearborn's housing). Check where the line enters the basement, and contact the city's water department; Michigan requires water supplies to replace lead lines by 2041.
Who fixes the sewer line between my Dearborn house and the street?
Generally the property owner is responsible for the private lateral from the house to the public sewer, and the city maintains the public main.
Do you cover all of Dearborn?
Yes, we take calls from every neighborhood in Dearborn. Call (313) 474-7729 or send the form with your ZIP code.
How long does a plumbing permit take in Dearborn?
The city's page says plan review typically takes 5 to 10 business days through BS&A. Simple repairs that only touch the working parts of a faucet or valve, or clearing a stoppage, generally don't need a permit under the state plumbing code.