When a pipe lets go or a drain stops moving, the first question is usually whether someone can come out today. The second is what it is going to cost. Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating handles both of those upfront. You get a price on the phone before anything is scheduled, and same-day appointments are often available when the situation will not keep. Licensed plumbers perform the work, and we give honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell.
Cambridge has a lot of housing that has been standing for a long time, and a lot of it is occupied by people who cannot just move out while something gets fixed. Apartment residents, property managers keeping multi-unit buildings running, and businesses that need a plumber who will work around an occupied space are all calls we take regularly. Whatever the setup, the process is the same: describe what is happening, get a quote, and we schedule from there.
Plumbing calls in a city this size cover a wide range, and the job on the other end of the phone is rarely the same twice. The age of the building, what it is used for, and how many units share the same stack all change what a repair involves.
Some calls are straightforward. A faucet drips, a toilet runs, a shutoff valve no longer closes all the way. We diagnose the problem, confirm what it needs, and fix it. Other calls take more tracing. A leak that shows up on a ceiling may have started somewhere else entirely. Low water pressure can point to a corroded pipe, a failing pressure regulator, or a partially closed valve that nobody noticed. We follow the problem to its source rather than patching the symptom and moving on.
Blocked drains and slow-running waste lines are common in older buildings where the cast-iron or clay drain stack has had decades of buildup. We clear the line and, where the clog keeps returning, we look further into why.
When a repair is not the right answer, we say so. A water heater that is leaking from the tank, a pipe that has failed in multiple spots, or a sewer line that a camera shows has collapsed in section are all situations where replacement makes more sense than another patch. We scope the job, explain what it involves, and carry it out. The full list of what we handle is on the service page, but the short version covers water heaters, drain lines, supply lines, sewer lines, fixtures, and garbage disposals.
Whole-property repiping is a bigger undertaking, and it comes up regularly in Cambridge's older housing stock. Galvanized steel lines that have been narrowing from the inside for decades, lead service lines that need to come out, and cast-iron drain stacks that have reached the end of their life are all situations where a full replacement is the cleaner solution.
Not every call is an emergency. Fixture upgrades, new vanity installations, garbage disposal replacements, and backflow preventer installations are all jobs that get scheduled in advance. We handle these the same way: confirm the scope, give a price, show up and do the work cleanly.
Plumbing problems don't wait, and neither do we, which is why we are available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Same-day service is often available when something goes wrong that cannot wait. Emergency calls during those hours are answered and prioritized.
For occupied apartments and commercial spaces, we work around the people who need to stay in them. A property manager dealing with a leak in a tenant unit does not need a plumber who requires the building to be empty. We assess the situation, communicate clearly about what the work involves, and carry it out with as little disruption as possible.
Scheduling for planned work is straightforward. Call, describe the job, get a price, and we confirm a time. We keep your home dry and your water flowing.
The specifics for a job like this are on the page on pipe work.
The rate is confirmed on the phone before anything goes on the calendar. We ask about the job, what has been happening, and what has already been tried, and we give you a number based on what the work actually involves.
What moves a quote is what the fault turns out to be and what has to come apart to reach it. A faucet replacement on an accessible supply line is a different job from a leak behind a tiled wall. A water heater swap in an open utility room is different from one in a tight mechanical space with old connections that need updating. We explain what goes into the number so the price makes sense before we start.
No pressure and no gimmicks, just sound, lasting plumbing. If you have questions about what a particular job typically involves, ask on the call and you will get a straight answer.
Plumbing and construction timelines intersect at specific points, and getting a plumber in at the wrong stage costs everyone time. We come in early enough to rough in the supply and drain lines before walls close, and we return for the finish work once the tile and fixtures are ready.
Cambridge has a lot of renovation activity across its older building stock, from single-family homes being updated to multi-unit buildings getting kitchens and bathrooms brought up to current standards. We work alongside other trades on these jobs and fit the plumbing around the sequence rather than creating a bottleneck. Sink, basin, and vanity installations, toilet replacements, and fixture upgrades are all part of what we handle on the finish side. If a remodel is already in progress and the plumbing scope has not been confirmed, it is worth a call to talk through where things stand.
We handle a broad range of plumbing work across residential and commercial properties in the city. Here is what each of the common job types actually involves.
Older Cambridge properties frequently carry galvanized steel supply lines that have been corroding from the inside for decades. The result is reduced pressure, discolored water, and pipes that are close to failing. We assess the existing system, work through the replacement line by line, and confirm pressure and flow before we finish. Lead service line replacement falls in the same category.
A water heater that stops producing hot water, or produces it inconsistently, may be repairable or may need replacing. We diagnose the unit first. If it is a heating element, a thermostat, or a connection, we fix it. If the tank itself has failed or the unit is at the point where repair no longer makes sense, we replace it. We service both tank and tankless systems.
A new sink or vanity involves more than setting the fixture in place. Supply connections, drain rough-in, shutoff valve condition, and the fit of the drain assembly all need to be right. We handle the plumbing side of the installation cleanly so the finish work goes on top of something solid.
When a pipe lets go, the first step is getting the water off. We locate the break, assess the condition of the surrounding pipe, and make the repair. In the Northeast, freeze events are the most common cause, and a pipe that has split in one place may have stress elsewhere in the same run. We check the surrounding section before we close anything up.
A basement without a working sump pump is at risk every time the ground is saturated. We install new pumps, replace failing units, and address the drainage plumbing that routes water to the pump. If a pump has been sitting idle, it is worth having it checked before it is needed.
A slow drain is easy to ignore until it backs up. We clear blockages in kitchen drains, bathroom drains, and main lines. For buildup that a standard snake will not fully clear, hydro jetting breaks through the obstruction and clears the line properly. If the same drain keeps blocking, we look at the line itself to find out why.
We make the repair and leave it tidy.
We provide plumbing service across Cambridge and the surrounding areas throughout Middlesex County. If you are in Somerville, Watertown, Medford, Belmont, or Arlington, we cover your area. The plumbing challenges across these communities are similar: older housing stock, cold winters, and the everyday wear that comes with densely occupied buildings.
You always know who to call if you need us again.
Yes. If you have several smaller repairs, a leaky faucet, a running toilet, a slow drain, and a shutoff valve that does not close fully, it makes sense to go through them in one visit rather than scheduling separately. When you call, let us know what is on the list so we can plan the visit accordingly.
After a significant repair, it is reasonable to keep an eye on the area for the first few days, particularly around connections and joints that were disturbed. If anything looks off, a small drip or a fitting that does not look right, calling sooner rather than later is the right move. We would rather come back to check something than have a small issue develop into a larger one.
It often does. Older buildings in Cambridge frequently have galvanized steel supply lines, cast-iron drain stacks, and original shutoff valves that have never been replaced. These materials behave differently from modern pipe, and a repair that would be straightforward in a newer building may involve additional work to address what surrounds the fault. We assess what is actually in the building before recommending a course of action.
Call (339) 365-9282 and describe the situation. We talk through the job, confirm what is involved, and give you a price before anything is scheduled. We work with property managers and landlords across Cambridge and the surrounding area, and we are familiar with the practical constraints of keeping a building occupied while repairs are underway.
Any time a renovation moves, adds, or modifies supply lines, drain lines, or fixtures, a licensed plumber should be part of the work. That includes kitchen and bathroom remodels, additions, and any project that requires relocating a water heater or adding a new fixture connection. Getting the plumbing right at the rough-in stage prevents problems that are much harder to fix once walls are closed.
In most cases, yes. We assess the scope of the job when you call and let you know if the work requires the water to be shut off to the unit or the building, and for how long. For most repairs and installations, the disruption is limited and manageable around an occupied space. Property managers and landlords in Cambridge call us regularly for exactly this kind of work.
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.
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.
Planned work like a full repipe or a fixture installation is scheduled based on current availability, which varies. When you call, we can tell you what the schedule looks like and confirm a time that works. Urgent and same-day calls are handled separately from planned work, so a non-emergency job does not compete with an active leak for the same slot.
Describing what you are seeing is enough. Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating will ask the right questions, give you a price, and get a licensed plumber out to Cambridge. We are available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Call (339) 365-9282 and tell us what is happening.
Ready for your pipes. Call today.
We are in these nearby communities as well: Somerville, Arlington, Everett, Malden, Newton, Quincy.
Check our list of communities.
Below is a plain-language look at the plumbing work we handle across Cambridge 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 Cambridge 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