Plumbing repair · Surprise, Arizona
Plumbing repair in Surprise, AZ
Leak, backed-up drain, no hot water, or a frozen line? The largest share of Surprise's homes (53%) was built 2000 to 2009[1]. Request a licensed plumber who works here. Surprise, in Maricopa County — ZIPs 85387, 85361, 85374, 85388, 85379, 85378, counts 175,304 residents (2025 estimate)[2].
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Surprise plumbing snapshot: the key figures
- Population (2025 est.)
- 175,304[2]+22.5% since 2020
- County
- Maricopa[2]
- Land area
- 110.5 sq mi[3]
- Decade the most homes date from
- 2000 to 2009[1]53% of housing units
- Homes built before 1980
- 3%[1]the 2nd-lowest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
- Homes built 1980–1999
- 22%[1]2020–2024
- Homes built 2010 or later
- 22%[1]the 6th-highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 30[4]26 flash floods, 2016–2025; flood-prone homes need working drainage and backflow prevention
- FEMA flood-insurance claims, local ZIPs
- 5[5]0 in the last 10 years; 2 paid
- Homes on utility gas heat
- 45%[1]gas piping work usually needs a permit and a licensed installer
Reading the Surprise data for plumbing
Surprise counts 175,304 residents (2025 estimate), growing at a middle-of-the-pack 22.5% since 2020[2]. It covers 110.5 square miles (1,586 residents per square mile, the 9th densest), sits entirely in Maricopa County, in ZIP codes 85387, 85361, 85374, 85388, 85379, 85378[3].
With 22% of homes built since 2010 and 3% before 1980[1], Surprise's plumbing runs from brand-new supply lines and fixtures to aging pipe, original valves and water heaters past their rated life.
Mail to Surprise goes through 6 ZIP codes — 85387 (36% of the city's land), 85361 (12% of the city's land), 85374 (12% of the city's land), 85388 (11% of the city's land), 85379 (10% of the city's land), 85378 (3% of the city's land)[6].
The closest tracked neighbours are Peoria (11.5 mi NE), Glendale (17.9 mi SE) and Buckeye (19.8 mi SW)[3].
3% of Surprise's 62,098 housing units predate 1980 and 22% went up in 2010 or later[1] — the 2nd-lowest pre-1980 share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover; nearby, Peoria (10%), Glendale (35%), and Buckeye (4%) predate 1980. The 22% built in 1980–1999 are at the age where original water heaters and valves get replaced.
The biggest single slice — 53% — was built 2000 to 2009, and the median home dates to 2005[1]. Neighbours from the same era tend to hit the same plumbing problems at the same time.
Water from the sky is plumbing work too: 30 flood or flash-flood reports within 10 miles over 2016–2025[4], and FEMA logged 5 flood-insurance claims across Surprise's ZIPs[5]. Homes that take water need working drainage, sump pumps and backflow prevention.
45% of homes heat with utility gas, and 21% of households rent[1].
Out of the 15 suburbs on this site, Surprise has the 2nd-lowest pre-1980 housing share (3%)[1].
Surprise storm calendar
Within 10 miles of Surprise, 2016–2025: 26 flash-flood reports and 4 flood or heavy-rain reports[4]. Peak: 73% in July, August, and September. Busiest year 2021 (8); 3 of 10 years had none. Busiest month July 2021 (6). Latest: flash-flood report, Nov 18, 2025, 5.4 mi out.
| Month | Flash flood | Flood & heavy rain | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Jul | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Sep | 5 | – | 5 |
| Oct | 3 | – | 3 |
| Nov | 2 | – | 2 |
Finding plumbing help around Surprise
Your request reaches Plumbing repair contractors who serve Surprise (ZIP codes 85387, 85361, 85374, 85388, 85379, 85378).
Before reaching out: before the plumber arrives
Surprise by the numbers
| Measure | Surprise | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built before 1980 | 3% | 10% | 7 pts lower |
| Built before 1960 | 0.8% | 1.6% | 1 pts lower |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 30 | 22 | 8 more |
| Utility-gas heat | 45% | 36% | 9 pts higher |
| Renter-occupied | 21% | 27% | 6 pts lower |
| Built 2010 or later | 22% | 19% | 3 pts higher |
| Median year built | 2005 | 2002 | 3 years newer |
Largest differences first. Medians are the middle value across the covered Phoenix-area suburbs, from the same sources.
| City | Flood reports | NFIP claims |
|---|---|---|
| Surprise | 30 | 5 |
| Peoria 11.5 mi | 16 | 33 |
| Glendale 17.9 mi | 77 | 80 |
| Buckeye 19.8 mi | 16 | 104 |
| Avondale 25.7 mi | 24 | 20 |
| Goodyear 29.2 mi | 21 | 113 |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85387 | 3 | $19,432 | 2014 (2) |
| 85361 | 2 | $0 | 2000 (1) |
| 85374 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 85388 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 85379 | 0 | $0 | — |
| 85378 | 0 | $0 | — |
ZIPs extend past city limits.
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 18, 2025 | Flash Flood | 2.7 mi |
| Nov 18, 2025 | Flash Flood | 5.4 mi |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Flash Flood | 2.7 mi |
| Sep 26, 2025 | Flash Flood | 7.4 mi |
| Sep 21, 2022 | Flash Flood | 3.7 mi |
| Aug 20, 2022 | Flash Flood | 5.0 mi |
| Aug 7, 2022 | Flash Flood | 2.6 mi |
| Aug 13, 2021 | Flash Flood | 5.7 mi |
| Built | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 4,641 | 7.5% | ±460 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 8,976 | 14.5% | ±568 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 33,151 | 53.4% | ±984 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 11,201 | 18.0% | ±620 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 2,382 | 3.8% | ±383 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 820 | 1.3% | ±219 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 401 | 0.6% | ±140 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 373 | 0.6% | ±195 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 122 | 0.2% | ±161 |
| 1939 or earlier | 31 | 0.0% | ±29 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates; margins of error are the Census Bureau's 90% intervals.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 62,098 |
| Detached single-family | 53,229 (86%) |
| Occupied homes | 56,506 |
| Owner-occupied | 44,683 (79%) |
| Renter-occupied | 11,823 (21%) |
| Median home value | $435,100 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates.
| Main heating fuel | Homes | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 28,496 | 50.4% | ±1,191 |
| Utility gas | 25,320 | 44.8% | ±1,195 |
| Solar energy | 1,361 | 2.4% | ±281 |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane, butane, etc.) | 867 | 1.5% | ±267 |
| No fuel used | 408 | 0.7% | ±153 |
| Wood | 23 | 0.0% | ±40 |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 22 | 0.0% | ±26 |
| Other fuel | 9 | 0.0% | ±14 |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Surprise's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 85387 | 36% | 65% |
| 85361 | 12% | 12% |
| 85374 | 12% | 100% |
| 85388 | 11% | 94% |
| 85379 | 10% | 100% |
| 85378 | 3% | 75% |
plumbing questions from Surprise homeowners
Are Surprise homes likely to have old galvanized pipes?
Only an inspection can say, but age is the clue: 1% were built before 1960 and 3% before 1980[1].
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.