We're the Redford 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.
Redford Charter Township borders Detroit's northwest side, along Telegraph and Grand River. It's a township rather than a city, but it's built out like an inner-ring suburb: block after block of post-war brick and frame houses that share a lot with neighboring northwest Detroit.
Redford housing by the numbers
Redford is a post-war city at heart. The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020–2024) shows 79% of its 19,515 housing units were built before 1960, led by the 1950s (58%) and the 1940s (15%). The median year built is 1955. That's 8 years newer than Detroit's median of 1947.
| Year built | Redford | Detroit |
|---|---|---|
| Before 1940 | 6% | 36% |
| 1940s | 15% | 20% |
| 1950s | 58% | 21% |
| 1960s | 11% | 8% |
| 1970s | 4% | 5% |
| 1980–1999 | 3% | 5% |
| 2000 or later | 3% | 4% |
Typical plumbing in Redford houses
Homes from the 1940s and 1950s in Redford 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 Redford
About 79% of occupied homes in Redford are owner-occupied, and 93% of housing units are single-family detached houses (ACS). Only 2% of units are in two- to four-unit buildings and 3% in larger buildings, so most plumbing calls here come from homeowners responsible for everything from the meter to the city sewer connection.
Redford: common calls and local details
Redford Charter Township looks and plumbs a lot like the northwest Detroit neighborhoods it borders. About 79% of its homes were built before 1960, mostly in the 1940s and 1950s, and 89% are owner-occupied. The typical Redford call involves a brick or frame house with a cast-iron stack, a clay lateral running out to a mature tree-lined street, and a gas water heater sharing a chimney flue with the furnace. Roots in the lateral are a recurring theme on streets with large trees. The township's Building & Safety Engineering Department runs permits and inspections through BS&A Online, which makes it easy to confirm that a past water heater or sewer job was permitted, a handy check when buying a Redford home. Redford is a township, not a city, so look for the township's departments rather than a city hall.
Water heaters in Redford
Gas is the dominant fuel here: 89% of occupied units heat with utility gas, versus 9% electric (ACS). That points to gas tank water heaters in most Redford 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.
Winter and frozen pipes in Redford
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Detroit Metro Airport, averaged 111 nights at or below freezing per winter from 2015-2025, and 30 days that never got above 32°F. In 9 of those 10 winters the low hit 0°F or colder at least once. In Redford'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 Redford
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 Redford 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 Redford is usually a private repair. A camera inspection shows exactly what's wrong; see sewer line repair.
Who issues plumbing permits in Redford
Redford's Building & Safety Engineering Department issues plumbing permits, and the township runs permit applications, inspection scheduling and fee payment through BS&A Online. Source: Redford Township Building & Safety. 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 Redford
Drain cleaning
Main-line clogs at the basement floor drain are a classic Redford call. Fixture, floor-drain and main-line cleaning.
Sewer line repair
Camera inspection, spot repair and lateral replacement, permitted through Redford.
Water heater repair
Gas and electric tank repair and replacement for Redford homes.
Emergency leak repair
Burst and frozen pipes, active leaks and backups. Call first.
Nearby service areas: Livonia, Dearborn Heights, Southfield, 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 Redford.
Redford plumbing FAQ
How old are most homes in Redford?
The American Community Survey (2020–2024) gives a median year built of 1955 for Redford's 19,515 housing units, with 79% built before 1960 and 6% before 1940.
Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Redford?
Usually, for anything beyond clearing a stoppage or repairing faucet parts. Water heater replacement, re-piping and sewer work need a permit from the Redford Township Building & Safety.
Could my Redford home have a lead water service line?
It's possible, especially in homes built before about 1950 (21% of Redford'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 Redford 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 Redford?
Yes, we take calls from every neighborhood in Redford. Call (313) 474-7729 or send the form with your ZIP code.