When something goes wrong with the plumbing in your Arlington home or building, the process should be simple. You call, we ask a few questions about what is happening, and we get a licensed plumber out to take a look. Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating handles the full range of residential and commercial plumbing work in Arlington, from a faucet that will not stop dripping to a sewer line that needs to be replaced. We explain what the job involves and what it costs before anything is scheduled.
Arlington's housing stock is older, and older homes come with older plumbing. Galvanized supply lines, cast-iron drain stacks, and original fixtures are common throughout the city. We work on all of it. Whether you are a homeowner dealing with a slow drain, a property manager keeping a multi-unit building running, or a contractor needing the plumbing side of a renovation handled, the first step is the same: one call to (339) 365-9282.
Getting your water flowing again is easier than you think. When you reach us, we talk through what you are seeing, ask about the age of the system and what has already been tried, and give you a rate based on what the work actually involves. You get that number before we schedule anything, so there is no uncertainty about what you are agreeing to.
What moves a quote is what the fault turns out to be, and what has to come apart to reach it. A toilet that needs a new fill valve is a different job from a toilet that needs to be pulled and reseated because the flange beneath it has failed. A faucet replacement on an accessible shutoff is different from one where the valve behind the wall has not been touched in forty years and needs to be replaced before anything else can happen. We scope the job honestly and give you a straight answer on the cost.
Ask what the quote covers and you get a clear explanation. The service page carries the full breakdown of what we handle and how pricing works across different job types.
A single slow drain usually points to a blockage in that fixture's own line. A clog in a kitchen sink, a hair buildup in a shower trap, a partial obstruction in a toilet drain: these are contained problems, and we clear them. We use drain snaking for most blockages and hydro jetting where the buildup is deeper or the line has not been cleared in a long time.
When multiple fixtures start behaving badly at the same time, the problem is almost never in any one of them. A main sewer line that is partially blocked or has begun to collapse will slow every drain in the house, cause toilets to gurgle when a sink runs, and eventually back up into the lowest fixture in the building. That is a different diagnosis and a different repair.
We run a camera through the line to see what is actually happening before we recommend a course of action. In older Arlington homes, tree root intrusion and deteriorating cast-iron or clay pipe are common findings. Knowing what is there is the only way to fix the right thing.
Plumbing problems do not all arrive the same way, and the work they call for is not all the same either. A repair on a failing fixture is a different visit from a full water line replacement, and both are different from the plumbing side of a planned renovation. We handle all three.
Plumbing problems don't wait, and neither do we, which is why we start every job by confirming the actual source of the problem rather than treating the most visible symptom. A water stain on a ceiling might point to a supply connection two floors up. Low water pressure at one fixture might be a clogged aerator, or it might be a corroded galvanized line that is narrowing throughout the house. We trace it back before we open anything up.
Some jobs are repairs that have run their course. When a water heater has been patched more than once and is still underperforming, replacement is usually the more practical answer. When a shutoff valve no longer closes fully, it needs to come out. When galvanized pipe has corroded to the point where pressure is consistently low and the water runs discolored, repiping is the solution rather than another targeted fix. We tell you which one applies and why.
A bathroom or kitchen renovation involves real plumbing work on the supply and drain side, and that work needs to be done in the right order. Fixture installation, new drain runs, supply connections, and backflow prevention where code requires it are all part of what we handle. We take pride in the plumbing work we leave behind, and that starts with making sure the rough-in is right before anything gets closed up.
Our customers call us back because we make plumbing simple, and that means being clear about what each type of job requires rather than describing it in general terms.
A leak inside a wall or below a floor is often well-established before it becomes visible. The water travels along framing and subfloor before it shows up as a stain or a soft spot. We use pressure testing and inspection of accessible line sections to narrow the location before we open anything. The goal is to find the source accurately so the repair goes in the right place.
New England water is naturally soft, so a whole-home softener is not something most Arlington households need. Water filtration is a different matter. If the taste or smell of the water is off, or if there is a specific contaminant concern, we install point-of-use and whole-home filtration systems on the supply side. We handle the plumbing connections and the line work.
A toilet that rocks, leaks at the base, or has a flange that has deteriorated needs more than a new wax ring. We pull the toilet, assess the flange and the floor beneath it, make the necessary repairs, and reset the unit correctly. If the toilet itself has reached the end of its useful life, we replace it and handle the supply connection and shutoff at the same time.
A refrigerator water line is a small job that causes real damage when it fails. We install the supply line, connect it to the nearest cold water source, and confirm there are no drips at the connection or behind the appliance before we finish.
When galvanized steel supply lines have corroded through decades of use, the answer is replacing them throughout the house. We assess the existing system, discuss material options, and work through the replacement line by line. Repiping restores full pressure and eliminates the ongoing failures that come with pipe that has reached the end of its service life.
A camera inspection of the sewer line or an underground supply run shows exactly what is there without digging. We use it to locate root intrusion, cracks, joint failures, and blockages that cannot be diagnosed from the surface. The inspection drives the repair recommendation so the right fix goes in the right place.
the plumbing services page is where the process is written out.
We are available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and same-day appointments are often available for urgent situations. When something will not keep, such as a burst pipe, a sewer backup, or no hot water in a building with tenants, we work to get there as quickly as the schedule allows.
For property managers and landlords, we understand that the building has to keep running. We coordinate around occupied units where we can, confirm what access we need before we arrive, and let you know what to expect at each stage of the job. No pressure and no gimmicks, just sound, lasting plumbing, handled around the reality of your property.
You always know who to call if you need us again.
Water finds the lowest point and the path of least resistance, which means the stain on the ceiling, the soft spot in the floor, or the discoloration on the wall is almost never directly above or below the source of the leak. By the time water becomes visible, it has usually traveled a significant distance from where the pipe failed.
We work back from the damage to the cause. That means checking the supply connections above the affected area, pressure-testing sections of the line, and inspecting accessible runs before we open anything up. In older homes throughout the region, pinhole leaks in corroded pipe, failed compression fittings, and cracked supply connections behind fixtures are common sources. Finding the actual leak, rather than the evidence of it, is what makes the repair hold.
Work on hidden leaks is performed by licensed plumbers who know how to read what the building is telling them. We make the repair and leave it tidy.
We handle plumbing work throughout Arlington and the communities around it in Middlesex County. If you are in Belmont, Winchester, Medford, Watertown, or Cambridge, we cover your area. The housing stock across these communities shares a lot of the same characteristics: older construction, original or early-replacement plumbing, and the seasonal demands that come with New England winters. The work varies by property, but the approach is the same wherever the call comes from.
Call (339) 365-9282 to confirm coverage at your address and get a quote.
A ceiling stain almost always means water is getting in from above, either from a fixture, a supply line, or a drain connection on the floor above. The stain itself shows where the water ended up, not necessarily where it started, so we trace the source before opening anything up.
Galvanized supply lines that have corroded from the inside, cast-iron drain stacks that have begun to crack or separate, and sewer laterals that have taken on root intrusion are among the most common findings in older homes throughout the city. Shutoff valves that no longer close fully and supply connections behind fixtures that have never been replaced are also frequent issues. A call to walk through what you are seeing is the fastest way to figure out what you are dealing with.
Permit requirements vary depending on the scope of the work and the local rules that apply to your property. We can discuss whether a permit is likely to be needed for your job when you call, and we factor that into how the work is planned. We do not skip steps that are required for the work to be done correctly.
It depends on the scope of the work and where in the building it is happening. Localized repairs, a fixture replacement or a drain line repair in one area, often do not require shutting down the whole operation. A larger job that affects the main supply or requires extended shutoffs may need to be scheduled outside business hours. We talk through the options when you call so you can plan accordingly.
We can work through the logistics when you call. In some cases a trusted contact with access to the property can be present in place of the homeowner. We confirm the details before the visit so the job can go forward without unnecessary delays.
We coordinate around the tenant's schedule where we can and confirm what access we need before we arrive. We let you know what the job involves, what it will cost, and what to expect at each stage before anything is scheduled. Property managers and landlords call us regularly for work across multi-unit buildings throughout Middlesex County, and the process is the same regardless of whether you are on-site or managing the visit remotely.
In most cases, yes. When you call and describe what is happening, we can give you a rate for the most likely scope of work before anything is scheduled. If the job turns out to be more involved than the description suggested, we confirm the updated price before proceeding.
A toilet that runs continuously can waste a significant amount of water, often hundreds of gallons per day depending on the severity of the leak. That shows up on the water bill long before most homeowners connect it to the toilet. The fix is usually straightforward, a flapper, a fill valve, or a flush valve seat, and the savings on the water bill make it worth addressing promptly.
Yes. When we replace a fixture, a water heater, or a section of pipe, we take the old material with us. We do not leave removed parts, packaging, or debris behind. The space is left the way we found it.
For straightforward work, a description over the phone is often enough to give a working price. For jobs where the scope depends on what is found behind a wall, under a floor, or inside a pipe, the price is confirmed once we have assessed the situation. We are clear about which category a job falls into before we schedule anything.
In most homes, the main shutoff is near the water meter, which is typically in the basement, a utility room, or along the foundation wall where the supply line enters the house. In some older homes it may be outside near the street. If you are not sure where yours is, it is worth locating it before you need it in a hurry.
Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating is available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. When you call (339) 365-9282, you get a clear explanation of what the job involves and what it will cost before anything is scheduled. A real answer about your specific situation is worth more than a general estimate from a search result.
Ready for your pipes. Call today.
We are in these nearby communities as well: Cambridge, Somerville, Woburn, Malden, Everett.
Check our list of communities.
Below is a plain-language look at the plumbing work we handle across Arlington and the surrounding communities. Each row covers what the service includes, who it fits best, and a practical note to help you decide whether to call. If you have questions about a specific job, call us and we will walk through it with you before anything is scheduled.
| Type of Job | What It Covers | Typical Situations | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-Home Repiping |
| older Arlington homes with corroding galvanized pipe, discolored water, or persistent pressure problems | Galvanized steel pipe corrodes from the inside over time, narrowing the line and eventually failing. Repiping solves problems that patching cannot fix permanently. |
| Water Pressure & Shutoff Valve Repair |
| homes with noticeably low pressure or valves that no longer close fully | Shutoff valves in older homes often corrode to the point where they will not fully close, which creates a serious problem during any repair or emergency. |
| Toilet Repair & Installation |
| homeowners with a toilet that runs, leaks at the base, or needs full replacement | A running toilet can waste a significant amount of water before the problem becomes obvious. Most repairs are straightforward and completed in a single visit. |
| Sewer Line Replacement |
| homes with older clay or cast-iron sewer lines showing root damage or freeze-thaw deterioration | Massachusetts freeze-thaw cycles accelerate deterioration in clay and cast-iron lines. We inspect first and replace only what the camera confirms needs replacing. |
| Leak Detection & Repair |
| anyone who suspects a hidden leak or has visible water damage | Leaks inside walls or under floors can cause significant damage before they surface. Early detection keeps repair costs down. |
| Water Heater Repair & ReplacementMost Popular |
| households with inconsistent hot water, a leaking tank, or a unit past its useful life | Same-day service is often available for no-hot-water calls. Work is performed by licensed plumbers who know the gas and water line connections. |
| Frozen Pipe Repair |
| homeowners dealing with a freeze event or preparing exposed pipes for a Massachusetts winter | Pipes in unheated crawl spaces, exterior walls, and uninsulated areas are most at risk. A burst pipe after a freeze is one of the more damaging plumbing emergencies we respond to. |
| Emergency Plumbing |
| urgent situations that cannot wait for a scheduled appointment | We are open every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Same-day service is often available for emergency calls placed within those hours. |
| Sewer & Main Line Service |
| homes with multiple slow drains, recurring backups, or suspected main line problems | Slow drains at every fixture usually point to the main line, not individual clogs. Camera inspection confirms the cause before we recommend a fix. |
| Drain Cleaning & Clog Removal |
| homeowners dealing with slow or backed-up drains | A clog that keeps coming back usually points to a deeper problem in the line. We find the cause, not just the blockage. |
| Faucet & Fixture Installation |
| remodels, fixture upgrades, or worn-out hardware that needs replacing | We handle the plumbing side of kitchen and bathroom updates cleanly, whether it is a single faucet or a full fixture swap. |
| Sump Pump & Basement Drainage |
| Middlesex County basements that take on water during snowmelt, heavy rain, or nor'easters | A sump pump that has not been checked in a while is worth a call before the next storm season. A failed pump during a nor'easter turns into a flooded basement fast. |
Call (339) 365-9282 and tell us what is going on. We will ask the right questions, give you a price, and get the job on the schedule.
(339) 365-9282