Looking for a Hazel Park plumber? We fix clogged drains, sewer laterals, water heaters and leaks across Hazel Park. Call (313) 474-7729 to talk to us. We're open 8 AM–10:30 PM, every day.
Hazel Park is a small south Oakland County city along I-75, just north of Eight Mile. It's dense with small 1940s and 1950s homes, and in most of them the basement floor drain is the first place a sewer problem shows up.
How old are Hazel Park houses?
Most of Hazel Park went up in the boom years after World War II. Of 7,314 housing units, ACS 2020–2024 estimates place 65% before 1960; the biggest building periods were the 1950s (31%) and the Before 1940 (20%). Median year built: 1955.
| Year built | Hazel Park | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 20% | 36% |
| 1940s | 14% | 20% |
| 1950s | 31% | 21% |
| 1960s | 11% | 8% |
| 1970s | 11% | 5% |
| 1980–1999 | 6% | 5% |
| 2000 or later | 6% | 4% |
Typical plumbing in Hazel Park houses
Post-war Hazel Park houses tend to share a recipe: a cast-iron stack and basement floor drain, a clay lateral running to the street or alley, and supply lines in galvanized steel or early copper. Many basements also have an original laundry tub drain and floor drain tied into the same line, which is why a main-line clog often shows up there first.
Who calls a plumber in Hazel Park
About 66% of occupied homes in Hazel Park are owner-occupied, and 88% of housing units are single-family detached houses (ACS). Only 1% of units are in two- to four-unit buildings and 8% 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 Hazel Park home
Hazel Park is compact and dense, with about 7,300 housing units, a median year built of 1955, about 20% of homes from before 1940, and 65% from before 1960. Many are small 1940s and 1950s houses on narrow lots, and about 66% are owner-occupied. In most of them, the basement floor drain is where a main-line problem shows up first, often after laundry or heavy rain. Cast-iron drains and clay laterals are typical for the era. Hazel Park's Building Department handles permits for plumbing work; check before replacing a water heater or altering drain lines. If you're buying in Hazel Park, ask whether the sewer lateral has ever been replaced; if not, a camera inspection is a sensible part of due diligence.
Water heaters in Hazel Park
Gas is the dominant fuel here: 85% of occupied units heat with utility gas, versus 11% electric (ACS). That points to gas tank water heaters in most Hazel Park basements, often sharing a flue with the furnace. Venting and combustion air matter as much as the tank itself, especially after a furnace upgrade. See water heater repair.
Freeze risk for Hazel Park plumbing
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 Hazel Park'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.
Hazel Park water and sewer: who owns what
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 Hazel Park about your service line, that's why.
If a backup happens during a heavy storm and neighbors are affected too, call Hazel Park's public works or water department; Michigan law gives you 45 days to give written notice if you think the public sewer caused damage. Otherwise, the lateral from the house is usually yours to maintain. See sewer backups.
Hazel Park permits and inspections
Hazel Park's Building Department handles permits for plumbing work; check with the city before replacing a water heater or altering drain lines. Source: Hazel Park 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 Hazel Park
Drain cleaning
Main-line clogs at the basement floor drain are a classic Hazel Park call. Fixture, floor-drain and main-line cleaning.
Sewer line repair
Camera inspection, spot repair and lateral replacement, permitted through Hazel Park.
Water heater repair
Gas and electric tank repair and replacement for Hazel Park homes.
Emergency leak repair
Burst and frozen pipes, active leaks and backups. Call first.
Nearby service areas: Ferndale, Madison Heights, Warren, 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 Hazel Park.
Hazel Park plumbing FAQ
How old are most homes in Hazel Park?
The American Community Survey (2020–2024) gives a median year built of 1955 for Hazel Park's 7,314 housing units, with 65% built before 1960 and 20% before 1940.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Hazel Park?
Usually, for anything beyond clearing a stoppage or repairing faucet parts. Water heater replacement, re-piping and sewer work need a permit from the Hazel Park Building Department.
Could my Hazel Park home have a lead water service line?
It's possible, especially in homes built before about 1950 (34% of Hazel Park'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 Hazel Park 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 Hazel Park?
Yes, we take calls from every neighborhood in Hazel Park. Call (313) 474-7729 or send the form with your ZIP code.