We're the Harper Woods plumber for older Detroit-area houses: drains, sewer lines, water heaters and urgent leaks. Call (313) 474-7729 to talk to us. We're open 8 AM–10:30 PM, every day.
Harper Woods sits between Detroit's northeast side and Grosse Pointe Woods, along I-94. Most of its homes went up in the 1940s and 1950s, so original water service lines, cast-iron drains and older laterals are common.
Harper Woods housing by the numbers
Harper Woods is a post-war city at heart. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020–2024) shows 73% of its 5,961 housing units were built before 1960, led by the 1950s (48%) and the 1940s (20%). The median year built is 1955. That's 8 years newer than Detroit's median of 1947.
| Year built | Harper Woods | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 6% | 36% |
| 1940s | 20% | 20% |
| 1950s | 48% | 21% |
| 1960s | 11% | 8% |
| 1970s | 6% | 5% |
| 1980–1999 | 10% | 5% |
| 2000 or later | 0% | 4% |
What Harper Woods plumbing is usually made of
Homes from the 1940s and 1950s in Harper Woods usually have cast-iron drains inside, clay sewer laterals outside, and either galvanized steel or copper supply lines, since copper became common during these decades. After 60 to 80 years, the most frequent calls are root-clogged laterals, rusted cast-iron under the basement floor, and pinhole leaks or poor pressure from galvanized pipe.
Owners, landlords and multi-unit buildings in Harper Woods
About 67% of occupied homes in Harper Woods are owner-occupied, and 84% of housing units are single-family detached houses (ACS). Only 5% of units are in two- to four-unit buildings and 9% in larger buildings, so most plumbing calls here come from homeowners responsible for everything from the meter to the city sewer connection.
What to watch for in a Harper Woods home
Harper Woods sits along I-94 between Detroit's northeast side and the Pointes, and most of its homes went up in the 1940s and 1950s: 73% predate 1960, only about 6% predate 1940. About 67% are owner-occupied. The typical Harper Woods home has a cast-iron stack, a clay lateral and a gas water heater; original water service lines and basement floor drains are common sources of calls. The city's Building Department reviews construction plans before permits are issued, so allow time for that on larger jobs like a sewer replacement. Because Harper Woods homes are similar in age and construction to the Detroit neighborhoods next door, it's worth knowing what DWSD's programs offer even though they don't apply across the city line.
Harper Woods water heater repair and replacement
Most Harper Woods homes run on gas (86% 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 Harper Woods; we handle the permit with the Harper Woods Building Department. More on our water heater page.
Freeze risk for Harper Woods plumbing
Over 10 winters (2015-2025), NOAA's Detroit Metro Airport station logged an average of 2.6 days a year with lows of 0°F or colder and 111 freezing nights. It's the multi-day cold snaps that freeze pipes. In Harper Woods'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 Harper Woods
Michigan requires water supplies, including Harper Woods's, to replace all lead service lines and galvanized lines that were connected to lead by 2041, paying for the full line. You can check yours where the pipe enters the basement: lead is soft, dull gray and scratches to shiny silver. Ask the city before paying privately to replace a lead service.
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 Harper Woods is usually a private repair. A camera inspection shows exactly what's wrong; see sewer line repair.
Who issues plumbing permits in Harper Woods
The Harper Woods Building Department handles permits and inspections and reviews construction plans before permits are issued. Source: Harper Woods Building Department. 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 Harper Woods
Drain cleaning
Main-line clogs at the basement floor drain are a classic Harper Woods call. Fixture, floor-drain and main-line cleaning.
Sewer line repair
Camera inspection, spot repair and lateral replacement, permitted through Harper Woods.
Water heater repair
Gas and electric tank repair and replacement for Harper Woods homes.
Emergency leak repair
Burst and frozen pipes, active leaks and backups. Call first.
Nearby service areas: Grosse Pointe Woods, Eastpointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, 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 Harper Woods.
Harper Woods plumbing FAQ
How old are most homes in Harper Woods?
The American Community Survey (2020–2024) gives a median year built of 1955 for Harper Woods's 5,961 housing units, with 73% built before 1960 and 6% before 1940.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Harper Woods?
Usually, for anything beyond clearing a stoppage or repairing faucet parts. Water heater replacement, re-piping and sewer work need a permit from the Harper Woods Building Department.
Could my Harper Woods home have a lead water service line?
It's possible, especially in homes built before about 1950 (26% of Harper Woods'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 Harper Woods 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 Harper Woods?
Yes, we take calls from every neighborhood in Harper Woods. Call (313) 474-7729 or send the form with your ZIP code.