Somerville is a city of multifamily housing, converted triple-deckers, and a dense mix of rental units and owner-occupied homes sitting on some of the oldest plumbing infrastructure in the region. Pipes that have been in the ground for generations, drain systems that were never designed for the load they carry today, and buildings where one line serves three floors are the everyday reality here. Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating handles that work, from a single clogged drain in a ground-floor unit to a full repipe of a building that has been patched one too many times. We are available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and same-day appointments are often available when something goes wrong.
Property managers, landlords, and homeowners across Somerville call us for the same reason: they want a licensed plumber who shows up, identifies the real problem, and fixes it without turning a simple repair into a project. We explain the price before anything is scheduled. We give honest recommendations on repairs, never an upsell. And when the job is done, we leave the space the way we found it.
Triple-deckers and converted multifamily buildings carry plumbing decisions made decades ago, and those decisions have consequences. Galvanized steel supply lines corrode from the inside out, narrowing over time until the pressure at the top-floor fixtures drops to a trickle. Cast-iron drain stacks crack, shift at the joints, and collect buildup that no amount of snaking fully clears. When a repair keeps coming back in the same spot, it usually means the pipe around it has reached the end of its useful life, not just the fitting that failed.
We assess what is actually in the building before recommending a course of action. Sometimes a targeted repair holds. Sometimes the honest answer is that repiping a section, or the whole supply system, is what stops the cycle of callbacks. We tell you which one applies and why.
A rental unit with a backed-up drain or a failed water heater cannot wait for a convenient window. Tenants have rights, landlords have obligations, and the gap between a problem reported and a problem resolved needs to be short. We handle the kind of work that comes with a managed building: drain cleaning, toilet and faucet repairs, fixture replacements between tenancies, water heater swaps, and the occasional leak that turns out to be more involved than it looked from the surface.
We work around occupied units. If a repair requires isolating a section of the building's water supply, we plan it to minimize the time tenants are without water, and we confirm the scope before we start.
When a pipe fails, a drain backs up completely, or a water heater stops producing hot water, the question is always how soon someone can be there. Same-day appointments are often available when you call during our hours, which run every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. We do not promise a specific arrival window, but urgent calls are treated as urgent, and we work to get to them as quickly as the schedule allows.
For non-emergency calls, scheduling is straightforward. You call, we talk through the job, and we give you a time that works. If you are managing a property with multiple units, we can work through a list of repairs in a single visit where the scope allows.
Not every plumbing job can wait for a vacant unit or a slow day. We plan the work around the building's schedule where possible. A shutoff that takes a whole floor offline for an hour can often be timed for early morning before residents are up. A fixture replacement in a common area can be scheduled around foot traffic. The goal is to get the repair done without turning the building upside down in the process.
We keep your home dry and your water flowing.
Restaurants, retail spaces, and offices in Somerville have the same plumbing needs as residential buildings, with less tolerance for downtime. A commercial kitchen with a blocked drain or a failed backflow preventer is not a minor inconvenience. It is a health code issue and a closed service.
We handle commercial plumbing work with that reality in mind. Partial isolations let us work on one section of a system while the rest of the building stays operational. We assess the layout, identify what can be isolated, and plan the repair to keep the interruption as short as possible. Backflow preventer service, fixture installation, drain cleaning, and water line repairs are all part of what we do on the commercial side. The price is confirmed before we schedule, and the work is performed by licensed plumbers who know how to move through a working space.
We make the repair and leave it tidy.
If you would rather read than call, our plumbing service guide has the detail.
A new appliance that is not connected correctly is a leak waiting to happen. We handle the supply and drain connections for washing machines and dishwashers, confirm the shutoff valves are working properly, and check for any existing issues at the connection point before the appliance goes in. In older buildings where the supply lines have not been touched in years, this is also a good moment to replace valves that would not close reliably in an emergency.
A shutoff valve that will not close is a serious problem the moment a pipe fails or a fixture needs replacing. In buildings with original plumbing, many of these valves have never been exercised and have seized or corroded to the point where they are no longer functional. We replace them with valves that work, test them before we leave, and confirm the supply is fully restored. For a landlord managing multiple units, getting the shutoffs in working order is straightforward maintenance that prevents a much larger problem later.
Backflow preventers protect the potable water supply from contamination caused by pressure reversals in the system. They require periodic inspection and, where they have failed or are no longer holding, replacement. We service and replace backflow prevention devices on residential and commercial properties, and we confirm the installation meets the requirements of the supply system it protects.
A bathroom renovation or a fixture upgrade involves more than the visible finish work. The supply connections, the drain rough-in, the valve body behind the wall, and the hot and cold balance all have to be right before the tile goes up. We handle the plumbing side of shower and bath installations, working alongside the other trades or completing the rough-in and trim-out as a standalone job.
Low pressure at one fixture is usually a localized problem: a clogged aerator, a failing valve, or a supply line that has narrowed. Low pressure throughout a building, or pressure that drops sharply when more than one fixture is running, points to something further upstream. We run a proper pressure diagnostic, trace the cause, and fix the actual problem rather than adjusting the symptom. In older buildings with corroded galvanized lines, the diagnosis often leads to a conversation about repiping, and we have that conversation honestly.
Reach out and we'll start at the source of the leak.
Pricing is not a fixed number until the job is scoped. The rate is confirmed on the phone before anything is scheduled, and it reflects what the work actually involves. A straightforward faucet replacement is priced differently from a repair that requires opening a wall to reach the leak, and a drain cleaning that clears on the first pass is a different job from one that reveals a collapsed section of line.
The things that change a quote are the things that change the work: what the fault turns out to be, how accessible the pipe is, whether the problem is isolated or part of a larger failure, and what parts the job requires. We walk through all of that before we schedule, so you are not deciding whether to proceed without knowing what you are agreeing to.
No pressure and no gimmicks, just sound, lasting plumbing.
The full breakdown of what each type of job involves is on the service page. If you have a specific situation and want to talk through what it is likely to require, a call is the fastest way to get a straight answer.
We provide plumbing service throughout Somerville and the surrounding communities in Middlesex County. If you are in Cambridge, Medford, Everett, Malden, or Chelsea, we cover your area. Call (339) 365-9282 to confirm coverage at your address and get a quote for the work you need.
You always know who to call if you need us again.
We'll make your plumbing sound again.
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.
In most cases, yes. We assess the layout, identify which sections of the system can be isolated, and plan the repair to keep the rest of the building operational where the work allows. Drain cleaning, backflow preventer service, and fixture repairs can often be completed with a partial shutoff rather than a full one. We confirm the plan and the impact before we start, so you know exactly what the interruption will look like.
We handle multi-unit buildings as a single job when the work is coordinated across the property. Property managers and landlords can call to discuss what is needed across multiple units, and we scope the work accordingly. There is no need to book each unit as a separate service call if the work is being done at the same time.
In a building with shared supply lines and drain stacks, a problem in one unit can affect others, and isolating the fault without cutting water to the whole building takes more planning. Older materials like galvanized steel and cast iron also behave differently from modern pipe when they are opened up, and a repair that looks simple from the outside can reveal a larger condition once the work starts. We assess the system before we commit to a scope, so the quote reflects what the job actually involves.
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.
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.
A repair that does not hold is often the result of addressing the visible symptom rather than the underlying cause. A patched pipe in a section of heavily corroded line, for example, is likely to develop another failure nearby. When we make a repair, we assess the surrounding pipe and connections to make sure the fix addresses the real problem and not just the spot that happened to fail first.
In most cases, yes, though there will be periods during the work when the water supply to parts of the house is shut off. We work through the job in sections where the layout allows, so the disruption to daily routines is manageable. Before work begins, the schedule for water shutoffs is explained so the household knows what to expect and when.
A recurring blockage usually means the underlying cause was not fully addressed. A clog that returns quickly is often a sign of buildup further down the line, a partial obstruction that was not completely cleared, or a structural issue like a root intrusion or a collapsed section. We look at what the line is doing and address the cause rather than just clearing it again.
Most people wait longer than they should. A small leak, a slow drain, or a valve that is starting to fail rarely fixes itself, and the longer it goes, the more likely it is to become an emergency. Calling when a problem is still manageable is almost always less expensive and less disruptive than calling after it has gotten worse.
A whole-home repipe typically refers to the supply lines, the pipes that carry pressurized water to fixtures throughout the house. Drain lines are a separate system. If drain lines are also deteriorating, we assess them separately and discuss what replacement would involve. Both can be addressed, but they are scoped and priced as distinct work.
Dan Hickey Plumbing & Heating is available every day from 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Same-day service is often available for urgent calls. If you have a repipe, a bathroom installation, or a valve replacement you have been putting off, the time to schedule it is before the pipe decides the timeline for you. Call (339) 365-9282 for a quote, and we will walk through what the job involves and lock in a date that works.
We are in these nearby communities as well: Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Arlington, Quincy.
Check our list of communities.
Below is a plain-language look at the plumbing work we handle across Somerville 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 Somerville 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