Plumbing repair · Upper Arlington, Ohio
Plumbing repair in Upper Arlington, OH
Leak, backed-up drain, no hot water, or a frozen line? The largest share of Upper Arlington's homes (35%) was built 1950 to 1959[1]. Request a licensed plumber who works here. Upper Arlington, in Franklin County — ZIPs 43221, 43220, counts 35,893 residents (2025 estimate)[2].
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Upper Arlington at a glance for plumbing
- Population (2025 est.)
- 35,893[2]-2.4% since 2020
- County
- Franklin[2]
- Land area
- 9.8 sq mi[3]
- Decade the most homes date from
- 1950 to 1959[1]35% of housing units
- Homes built before 1980
- 84%[1]the highest share of the 15 Columbus-area suburbs we cover
- Homes built 1980–1999
- 9%[1]2020–2024
- Homes built 2010 or later
- 5%[1]the 3rd-lowest share of the 15 Columbus-area suburbs we cover
- Winter-storm & freeze days, franklin zone
- 68[4]2016–2025
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 46[4]12 flash floods, 2016–2025; flood-prone homes need working drainage and backflow prevention
- FEMA flood-insurance claims, local ZIPs
- 76[5]5 in the last 10 years; 57 paid
- Homes on utility gas heat
- 81%[1]gas piping work usually needs a permit and a licensed installer
What Upper Arlington's numbers say about plumbing
Upper Arlington is one of the most established suburbs tracked here — 35,893 people (2025 estimate), down just 2.4% since 2020[2]. The city spans 9.8 square miles at 3,660 residents per square mile (the 3rd densest) and sits entirely in Franklin County, served by ZIP codes 43221, 43220[3].
With 5% of homes built since 2010 and 84% before 1980[1], Upper Arlington's plumbing runs from brand-new supply lines and fixtures to aging pipe, original valves and water heaters past their rated life.
2 ZIP codes cover Upper Arlington — 43221 (53% of the city's land), 43220 (42% of the city's land)[6].
The closest tracked neighbours are Hilliard (4.6 mi W), Worthington (5.5 mi NE) and Dublin (7.1 mi NW)[3].
84% of Upper Arlington's 14,936 housing units predate 1980 and 5% went up in 2010 or later[1] — the highest pre-1980 share of the 15 Columbus-area suburbs we cover; nearby, Hilliard (21%), Worthington (83%), and Dublin (11%) predate 1980. Houses that old can still have galvanized supply pipe or cast-iron drains — especially the 55% built before 1960.
The biggest single slice — 35% — was built 1950 to 1959, and the median home dates to 1959[1]. Neighbours from the same era tend to hit the same plumbing problems at the same time.
Freeze risk: the franklin forecast zone logged 68 winter-storm, ice or hard-freeze days in 2016–2025, including February 2021; the latest was Dec 13, 2025[4].
Water from the sky is plumbing work too: 46 flood or flash-flood reports within 10 miles over 2016–2025[4], and FEMA logged 76 flood-insurance claims across Upper Arlington's ZIPs[5]. Homes that take water need working drainage, sump pumps and backflow prevention.
81% of homes heat with utility gas, and 21% of households rent[1].
Measured against the 15 suburbs on this site, Upper Arlington records the highest pre-1980 housing share (84%)[1], the oldest housing (by median year built) (1959)[1], the highest gas-heat share (81%)[1], and the 3rd-lowest share of homes built since 2010 (5%)[1].
Upper Arlington storm calendar
Within 10 miles of Upper Arlington, 2016–2025: 12 flash-flood reports and 34 flood or heavy-rain reports[4]. Peak: 76% in May, July, and August. Busiest year 2020 (9); 1 of 10 years had none. Busiest month May 2020 (7). Latest: flood or heavy-rain report, Apr 2, 2024, 8.9 mi out.
| Month | Flash flood | Flood & heavy rain | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb | – | 1 | 1 |
| Mar | 1 | – | 1 |
| Apr | – | 3 | 3 |
| May | 2 | 9 | 11 |
| Jun | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Jul | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| Aug | 2 | 12 | 14 |
plumbing help in Upper Arlington: what to do next
Requests go to Plumbing repair contractors serving the Upper Arlington area — ZIP codes 43221, 43220.
Before reaching out: before the plumber arrives
The data underneath this Upper Arlington page
| Measure | Upper Arlington | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built before 1960 | 54.9% | 14.4% | 41 pts higher |
| Built before 1980 | 84% | 42% | 42 pts higher |
| Built 2010 or later | 5% | 10% | 5 pts lower |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 46 | 35 | 11 more |
| Renter-occupied | 21% | 29% | 9 pts lower |
| Utility-gas heat | 81% | 75% | 6 pts higher |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1985 | 26 years older |
Biggest gaps first. Medians are middle values across the Columbus-area suburbs we cover, drawn from the same sources.
| City | Flood reports | NFIP claims | Freeze days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Arlington | 46 | 76 | 68 |
| Hilliard 4.6 mi | 29 | 7 | 68 |
| Worthington 5.5 mi | 43 | 60 | 68 |
| Dublin 7.1 mi | 19 | 26 | 68 |
| Powell 9.7 mi | 32 | 32 | 55 |
| Gahanna 10.1 mi | 58 | 68 | 68 |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43221 | 39 | $46,115 | 1979 (33) |
| 43220 | 37 | $144,043 | 1979 (13) |
ZIPs extend past city limits.
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2, 2024 | Flood | 5.6 mi |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Flood | 8.9 mi |
| Jul 24, 2023 | Flood | 10.0 mi |
| May 12, 2023 | Flood | 8.6 mi |
| Aug 21, 2022 | Flood | 9.4 mi |
| Aug 21, 2022 | Flood | 6.0 mi |
| Aug 21, 2022 | Flood | 2.8 mi |
| Aug 21, 2022 | Flood | 8.4 mi |
| Built | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 279 | 1.9% | ±149 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 485 | 3.2% | ±173 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 244 | 1.6% | ±78 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 380 | 2.5% | ±165 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 957 | 6.4% | ±297 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 1,763 | 11.8% | ±310 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 2,627 | 17.6% | ±271 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 5,239 | 35.1% | ±508 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 1,189 | 8.0% | ±195 |
| 1939 or earlier | 1,773 | 11.9% | ±276 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates; margins of error are the Census Bureau's 90% intervals.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 14,936 |
| Detached single-family | 11,010 (74%) |
| Occupied homes | 14,330 |
| Owner-occupied | 11,384 (79%) |
| Renter-occupied | 2,946 (21%) |
| Median home value | $595,600 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates.
| Main heating fuel | Homes | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility gas | 11,640 | 81.2% | ±529 |
| Electricity | 2,438 | 17.0% | ±333 |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane, butane, etc.) | 138 | 1.0% | ±104 |
| No fuel used | 87 | 0.6% | ±127 |
| Other fuel | 21 | 0.1% | ±22 |
| Solar energy | 6 | 0.0% | ±11 |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Upper Arlington's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 43221 | 53% | 55% |
| 43220 | 42% | 62% |
Dated heat and freeze records for the FRANKLIN forecast zone: see the county list.
plumbing questions from Upper Arlington homeowners
Are Upper Arlington homes likely to have old galvanized pipes?
Only an inspection can say, but age is the clue: 55% were built before 1960 and 84% before 1980[1].
How often do pipes freeze in Upper Arlington?
The record for Upper Arlington's forecast zone shows 68 winter-storm or freeze days over 2016–2025, in 10 different years[4].
Which ZIP codes are covered in Upper Arlington?
43221 and 43220[6], in Franklin County. Nearby suburbs with their own pages: Hilliard (4.6 mi), Worthington (5.5 mi), and Dublin (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.