01Homes in the NY suburbs and their plumbing
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Post-war single-family houses | Nassau, western Suffolk | Water heaters, sump pumps, sewer laterals, frozen pipes |
| Homes on cesspools & septic | Much of Suffolk, Putnam, parts of northern Westchester | Backups may be a full system, not a pipe clog |
| Prewar apartment buildings | Yonkers, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, White Plains | Risers, stacks, central hot water |
| Homes on private wells | Putnam, northern Westchester, eastern Suffolk | Well pumps, pressure tanks, water treatment |
02Common plumbing problems
- Frozen and burst pipes in garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls
- Sump pump failures during heavy rain
- Water heater replacement
- Root intrusion in sewer laterals
- South Shore coastal flooding
03Licensing & permits
- Westchester
- Countywide master plumber license; permits from the city, town or village
- Nassau
- Licensing by village, town or city; reciprocity exists between some
- Suffolk
- County master plumber license; some towns license separately
- Rockland & Putnam
- Town and village building departments
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water
- Local water districts, county authorities and private water companies
- Gas
- National Grid (Long Island), Con Edison and NYSEG (Westchester and Putnam), Orange & Rockland (Rockland)
- Sewer
- County and town sewer districts in many areas; cesspools and septic elsewhere
Providers vary by street and town. Your bill shows which one serves your address. Smell gas? Leave and call 911 or your gas utility from outside.
05Counties
06the NY suburbs plumbing FAQ
Is a NYC plumbing license valid on Long Island?
Not automatically. Long Island and Westchester have their own county, town or village licensing. Ask the plumber which license covers your address.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.