Plumbing repair · Arlington Heights, Illinois
Plumbing repair in Arlington Heights, IL
Leak, backed-up drain, no hot water, or a frozen line? The largest share of Arlington Heights's homes (23%) was built 1970 to 1979[1]. Request a licensed plumber who works here. Arlington Heights, in Cook County — ZIPs 60004, 60005, counts 76,216 residents (2025 estimate)[2].
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Arlington Heights plumbing snapshot: the key figures
- Population (2025 est.)
- 76,216[2]-1.9% since 2020
- County
- Cook[2]
- Land area
- 16.6 sq mi[3]
- Decade the most homes date from
- 1970 to 1979[1]23% of housing units
- Homes built before 1980
- 64%[1]the 5th-highest share of the 15 Chicago-area suburbs we cover
- Homes built 1980–1999
- 27%[1]2020–2024
- Homes built 2010 or later
- 2%[1]the 4th-lowest share of the 15 Chicago-area suburbs we cover
- Winter-storm & freeze days, cook zone
- 20[4]2016–2025
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 47[4]6 flash floods, 2016–2025; flood-prone homes need working drainage and backflow prevention
- FEMA flood-insurance claims, local ZIPs
- 91[5]2 in the last 10 years; 58 paid
- Homes on utility gas heat
- 78%[1]gas piping work usually needs a permit and a licensed installer
What the local data means for plumbing in Arlington Heights
Arlington Heights counts 76,216 residents (2025 estimate), growing at a middle-of-the-pack -1.9% since 2020[2]. The city spans 16.6 square miles at 4,587 residents per square mile (the 5th densest) and sits entirely in Cook County, served by ZIP codes 60004, 60005[3].
With 2% of homes built since 2010 and 64% before 1980[1], Arlington Heights's plumbing runs from brand-new supply lines and fixtures to aging pipe, original valves and water heaters past their rated life.
Mail to Arlington Heights goes through 2 ZIP codes — 60004 (63% of the city's land), 60005 (36% of the city's land)[6].
Nearest of the other suburbs we track: Palatine (3.5 mi W), Des Plaines (6.0 mi SE) and Schaumburg (7.1 mi SW)[3].
64% of Arlington Heights's 33,005 housing units predate 1980 and 2% went up in 2010 or later[1] — the 5th-highest pre-1980 share of the 15 Chicago-area suburbs we cover; nearby, Palatine (58%), Des Plaines (71%), and Schaumburg (53%) predate 1980. Houses that old can still have galvanized supply pipe or cast-iron drains — especially the 19% built before 1960.
The biggest single slice — 23% — was built 1970 to 1979, and the median home dates to 1974[1]. Neighbours from the same era tend to hit the same plumbing problems at the same time.
Freeze risk: the cook forecast zone logged 20 winter-storm, ice or hard-freeze days in 2016–2025; the latest was Dec 4, 2024[4].
Water from the sky is plumbing work too: 47 flood or flash-flood reports within 10 miles over 2016–2025[4], and FEMA logged 91 flood-insurance claims across Arlington Heights's ZIPs[5]. Homes that take water need working drainage, sump pumps and backflow prevention.
78% of homes heat with utility gas, and 26% of households rent[1].
Out of the 15 suburbs on this site, Arlington Heights has the 3rd-lowest gas-heat share (78%)[1].
Arlington Heights storm calendar
Within 10 miles of Arlington Heights, 2016–2025: 6 flash-flood reports and 41 flood or heavy-rain reports[4]. Peak: spread out; May, June, and August held 57%. Busiest year 2018 (16). Busiest month May 2018 (9). Latest: flash-flood report, Aug 17, 2025, 8.7 mi out.
| Month | Flash flood | Flood & heavy rain | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | – | 2 | 2 |
| Mar | – | 3 | 3 |
| Apr | – | 1 | 1 |
| May | 1 | 13 | 14 |
| Jun | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Jul | – | 4 | 4 |
| Aug | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Sep | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Oct | – | 6 | 6 |
Get plumbing help in Arlington Heights
Plumbing repair contractors taking requests around Arlington Heights cover ZIP codes 60004, 60005.
Before you call: before the plumber arrives
The data underneath this Arlington Heights page
| Measure | Arlington Heights | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built 2010 or later | 2% | 6% | 3 pts lower |
| Built before 1960 | 19.5% | 24.5% | 5 pts lower |
| Built before 1980 | 64% | 55% | 9 pts higher |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 47 | 56 | 9 fewer |
| Utility-gas heat | 78% | 84% | 6 pts lower |
| Median year built | 1974 | 1977 | 3 years older |
| Renter-occupied | 26% | 26% | same as median |
Sorted by largest difference. Each median is the middle value across the covered Chicago-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | Flood reports | NFIP claims |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Heights | 47 | 91 |
| Palatine 3.5 mi | 36 | 152 |
| Des Plaines 6.0 mi | 71 | 1,818 |
| Schaumburg 7.1 mi | 44 | 40 |
| Skokie 13.1 mi | 68 | 362 |
| Evanston 15.2 mi | 56 | 25 |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60004 | 50 | $111,031 | 1987 (16) |
| 60005 | 41 | $411,354 | 1987 (20) |
ZIPs extend past city limits.
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 2025 | Flash Flood | 8.7 mi |
| Jan 31, 2025 | Flood | 9.3 mi |
| Jan 31, 2025 | Flood | 4.0 mi |
| Jul 15, 2024 | Flood | 7.4 mi |
| Jun 22, 2024 | Heavy Rain | 8.0 mi |
| Apr 4, 2023 | Flood | 3.6 mi |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Flood | 9.9 mi |
| Mar 31, 2023 | Flood | 9.8 mi |
| Built | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 74 | 0.2% | ±51 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 734 | 2.2% | ±175 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 2,208 | 6.7% | ±373 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 3,042 | 9.2% | ±578 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 5,874 | 17.8% | ±639 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 7,486 | 22.7% | ±658 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 7,164 | 21.7% | ±539 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 4,192 | 12.7% | ±412 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 614 | 1.9% | ±170 |
| 1939 or earlier | 1,617 | 4.9% | ±345 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates; margins of error are the Census Bureau's 90% intervals.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 33,005 |
| Detached single-family | 17,642 (53%) |
| Occupied homes | 31,466 |
| Owner-occupied | 23,288 (74%) |
| Renter-occupied | 8,178 (26%) |
| Median home value | $414,500 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates.
| Main heating fuel | Homes | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 24,687 | 78.5% | ±738 |
| Electricity | 5,908 | 18.8% | ±696 |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane, butane, etc.) | 420 | 1.3% | ±175 |
| No fuel used | 267 | 0.8% | ±113 |
| Other fuel | 159 | 0.5% | ±80 |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 25 | 0.1% | ±29 |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Arlington Heights's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 60004 | 63% | 95% |
| 60005 | 36% | 92% |
Dated heat and freeze records for the COOK forecast zone: see the county list.
Arlington Heights plumbing questions
Are Arlington Heights homes likely to have old galvanized pipes?
Only an inspection can say, but age is the clue: 19% were built before 1960 and 64% before 1980[1].
How often do pipes freeze in Arlington Heights?
The record for Arlington Heights's forecast zone shows 20 winter-storm or freeze days over 2016–2025, in 5 different years[4].
Which ZIP codes are covered in Arlington Heights?
60004 and 60005[6], in Cook County. Nearby suburbs with their own pages: Palatine (3.5 mi), Des Plaines (6.0 mi), and Schaumburg (7.1 mi)[3].
Sources
- Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year (keyless bulk)
- Census population estimates, Vintage 2025
- Census Gazetteer 2025
- NOAA Storm Events Database
- OpenFEMA NFIP claims
- Census 2020 ZCTA–place file
Data pulled Sep 28, 2026. Full citations and method.