Slow drain, sewer backup, dead water heater or a leak? We're a Madison Heights plumber you can reach today. Call (313) 474-7729 to talk to us. We're open 8 AM–10:30 PM, every day.
Madison Heights sits along I-75 and I-696 in south Oakland County, north of Hazel Park. Most of Madison Heights was built in the 1950s and 1960s, which puts many homes squarely in the window where original water heaters are long gone and original sewer laterals are starting to fail.
What Madison Heights's housing age means for plumbing
Madison Heights's 14,872 housing units have a median build year of 1961, according to the 2020–2024 ACS. That's 14 years newer than Detroit's median of 1947. The largest shares come from the 1950s (40%) and 1960s (17%).
| Year built | Madison Heights | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 4% | 36% |
| 1940s | 6% | 20% |
| 1950s | 40% | 21% |
| 1960s | 17% | 8% |
| 1970s | 17% | 5% |
| 1980–1999 | 13% | 5% |
| 2000 or later | 4% | 4% |
Pipes you're likely to find in a Madison Heights home
Plumbing in Madison Heights's 1950s homes is typically copper for water and cast iron or plastic for drains. Those systems have fewer surprises than pre-war plumbing, but they're now old enough that original shutoff valves seize, water heaters have been replaced once or twice, and laterals can sag or root up.
Madison Heights housing types and plumbing responsibility
About 65% of occupied homes in Madison Heights are owner-occupied, and 67% of housing units are single-family detached houses (ACS). 24% of units are in buildings with five or more units. In apartments and condos, the association or building owner is usually responsible for shared stacks and mains, while fixtures and lines inside the unit fall to the owner, so check your bylaws or lease first.
Madison Heights: common calls and local details
Madison Heights' median home was built in 1961; about 49% of homes predate 1960, and the 1950s and 1960s make up most of the city. About 65% are owner-occupied. That puts many houses at an age where original water heaters were replaced long ago, copper supply lines are holding up but original shutoff valves may not be, and laterals are starting to need attention. Madison Heights posts building and trade permit applications on its building permits page. A common call here is a water heater replacement where the old unit vented into a chimney shared with a newer, high-efficiency furnace that no longer uses it; the venting needs to be re-evaluated when that happens.
Madison Heights water heater repair and replacement
ACS data show 84% of occupied Madison Heights homes heat with utility gas and 13% with electricity. Most water heaters follow the same fuel, so the typical Madison Heights unit is a gas tank in the basement venting into a chimney or metal flue. Common calls are pilot or burner problems, sediment rumbling, leaking relief valves and tanks that finally rust through. Replacement needs a permit from the Madison Heights Building Permits; see water heater repair for what to check first.
Freeze risk for Madison Heights plumbing
NOAA records from Detroit Metro Airport show the region's coldest recent low was -14.0°F in the winter of 2018–19, and that an average winter brings 30 days where the high stays at or below freezing (2015-2025). Newer Madison Heights homes are usually better insulated, but hose bibs left on and lines in garages or over unheated spaces still freeze. See our frozen pipes guide or, for a split pipe, the emergency plumber page.
Water service, sewer laterals and lead lines in Madison Heights
Michigan requires water supplies, including Madison Heights'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.
If a backup happens during a heavy storm and neighbors are affected too, call Madison Heights'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.
Madison Heights permits and inspections
Madison Heights posts its building and trade permit applications on the city's building permits page. Source: Madison Heights Building Permits. 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 Madison Heights
Drain cleaning
Kitchen-line and fixture clogs are the usual drain calls in Madison Heights. Fixture, floor-drain and main-line cleaning.
Sewer line repair
Camera inspection, spot repair and lateral replacement, permitted through Madison Heights.
Water heater repair
Gas and electric tank repair and replacement for Madison Heights homes.
Emergency leak repair
Burst and frozen pipes, active leaks and backups. Call first.
Nearby service areas: Hazel Park, Royal Oak, 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 Madison Heights.
Madison Heights plumbing FAQ
How old are most homes in Madison Heights?
The American Community Survey (2020–2024) gives a median year built of 1961 for Madison Heights's 14,872 housing units, with 49% built before 1960 and 4% before 1940.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Madison Heights?
Usually, for anything beyond clearing a stoppage or repairing faucet parts. Water heater replacement, re-piping and sewer work need a permit from the Madison Heights Building Permits.
Could my Madison Heights home have a lead water service line?
It's possible, especially in homes built before about 1950 (10% of Madison Heights'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 Madison Heights 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 Madison Heights?
Yes, we take calls from every neighborhood in Madison Heights. Call (313) 474-7729 or send the form with your ZIP code.