01Homes in Nassau and their plumbing
| Building type | Where you'll often find it | Typical plumbing concerns |
|---|---|---|
| Post-war single-family houses | Levittown, Hicksville, Massapequa, East Meadow, Franklin Square | Original copper and cast iron at 70+ years, water heaters, slab and basement leaks |
| Older village homes | Garden City, Rockville Centre, Great Neck, Port Washington, Glen Cove | Cast-iron drains, galvanized supply, renovation plumbing |
| South Shore homes | Long Beach, Oceanside, Freeport, Baldwin, Lynbrook | Coastal flooding, corrosion, sump pumps |
| Apartments & co-ops | Mineola, Hempstead, Valley Stream, Great Neck | Risers, central hot water, building rules |
02Common plumbing problems
- Water heater failures and replacements
- Sewer lateral clogs and root intrusion
- Basement water and sump pump failures, especially on the South Shore
- Frozen pipes in garages and crawlspaces
- Aging plumbing in post-war houses
03Licensing & permits
- Who licenses plumbers
- Each village, town or city sets its own plumbing licensing; there is no single countywide license. Some honor each other's licenses through reciprocity
- Permits
- Your village or town building department. Find out first whether your address is in an incorporated village
- Tip
- Ask the plumber which local license covers your address
04Water, sewer & gas
- Water
- Local water districts or a private water company, depending on the town
- Gas
- National Grid
- Sewer
- County and municipal sewer districts across most of the county; some North Shore homes use cesspools
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.
05Towns & villages
- Hempstead
- Garden City
- Mineola
- Great Neck
- Long Beach
- Freeport
- Valley Stream
- Lynbrook
- Rockville Centre
- Hicksville
- Levittown
- Massapequa
- Oceanside
- Glen Cove
- Port Washington
- East Meadow
- Uniondale
- Franklin Square
06Nassau plumbing FAQ
Does a Nassau plumber need a license?
Yes, but from the village, town or city where the work is done. Rules differ, so ask the plumber which license covers your address. See Nassau permits.
My basement floods in heavy rain. Is it the sewer?
It could be groundwater, a sump pump problem or a sewer backup. They look different. See water in the basement.
07Nearby areas
Sources & review
Last reviewed . General information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change and individual buildings differ.