Plumbing repair · Tempe, Arizona
Plumbing repair in Tempe, AZ
Leak, backed-up drain, no hot water, or a frozen line? The largest share of Tempe's homes (24%) was built 1970 to 1979[1]. Request a licensed plumber who works here. Tempe, in Maricopa County — ZIPs 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, counts 190,571 residents (2025 estimate)[2].
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Tempe at a glance for plumbing
- Population (2025 est.)
- 190,571[2]+3.5% since 2020
- County
- Maricopa[2]
- Land area
- 40.0 sq mi[3]
- Decade the most homes date from
- 1970 to 1979[1]24% of housing units
- Homes built before 1980
- 41%[1]the highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
- Homes built 1980–1999
- 34%[1]2020–2024
- Homes built 2010 or later
- 14%[1]the 5th-lowest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover
- Flood & flash-flood reports within 10 mi
- 46[4]31 flash floods, 2016–2025; flood-prone homes need working drainage and backflow prevention
- FEMA flood-insurance claims, local ZIPs
- 37[5]4 in the last 10 years; 21 paid
- Homes on utility gas heat
- 19%[1]gas piping work usually needs a permit and a licensed installer
Reading the Tempe data for plumbing
Tempe is one of the most established suburbs tracked here — 190,571 people (2025 estimate), up just 3.5% since 2020[2]. It covers 40.0 square miles (4,768 residents per square mile, the 1st densest), sits entirely in Maricopa County, in ZIP codes 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284[3].
With 14% of homes built since 2010 and 41% before 1980[1], Tempe's plumbing runs from brand-new supply lines and fixtures to aging pipe, original valves and water heaters past their rated life.
Mail to Tempe goes through 4 ZIP codes — 85281 (33% of the city's land), 85282 (28% of the city's land), 85283 (20% of the city's land), 85284 (19% of the city's land)[6].
Nearest of the other suburbs we track: Chandler (8.6 mi SE), Gilbert (12.2 mi SE) and Mesa (12.5 mi E)[3].
41% of Tempe's 86,182 housing units predate 1980 and 14% went up in 2010 or later[1] — the highest pre-1980 share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover; nearby, Chandler (10%), Gilbert (4%), and Mesa (29%) predate 1980. Houses that old can still have galvanized supply pipe or cast-iron drains — especially the 5% built before 1960.
The biggest single slice — 24% — was built 1970 to 1979, and the median home dates to 1984[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: 46 flood or flash-flood reports within 10 miles over 2016–2025[4], and FEMA logged 37 flood-insurance claims across Tempe's ZIPs[5]. Homes that take water need working drainage, sump pumps and backflow prevention.
19% of homes heat with utility gas, and 58% of households rent[1]. Tenants: report plumbing failures to the landlord in writing.
Measured against the 15 suburbs on this site, Tempe records the highest pre-1980 housing share (41%)[1], the oldest housing (by median year built) (1984)[1], the highest renter share (58%)[1], and the 2nd-lowest gas-heat share (19%)[1].
Tempe storm calendar
Within 10 miles of Tempe, 2016–2025: 31 flash-flood reports and 15 flood or heavy-rain reports[4]. Peak: 78% in August, September, and October. Busiest year 2025 (15); 1 of 10 years had none. Busiest month September 2025 (7). Latest: flash-flood report, Nov 19, 2025, 6.4 mi out.
| Month | Flash flood | Flood & heavy rain | All |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar | – | 1 | 1 |
| Apr | – | 2 | 2 |
| Jul | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Aug | 10 | 6 | 16 |
| Sep | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Oct | 11 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov | 1 | – | 1 |
Finding plumbing help around Tempe
Requests go to Plumbing repair contractors serving the Tempe area — ZIP codes 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284.
Before you call: before the plumber arrives
The data underneath this Tempe page
| Measure | Tempe | Median of 15 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built before 1980 | 41% | 10% | 31 pts higher |
| Built before 1960 | 5.5% | 1.6% | 4 pts higher |
| Renter-occupied | 58% | 27% | 31 pts higher |
| Flood reports (10 mi) | 46 | 22 | 24 more |
| Utility-gas heat | 19% | 36% | 17 pts lower |
| Built 2010 or later | 14% | 19% | 5 pts lower |
| Median year built | 1984 | 2002 | 18 years older |
Biggest gaps first. Medians are middle values across the Phoenix-area suburbs we cover, drawn from the same sources.
| City | Flood reports | NFIP claims |
|---|---|---|
| Tempe | 46 | 37 |
| Chandler 8.6 mi | 20 | 11 |
| Gilbert 12.2 mi | 21 | 21 |
| Mesa 12.5 mi | 28 | 74 |
| Glendale 17.9 mi | 77 | 80 |
| Fountain Hills 18.8 mi | 25 | 5 |
| ZIP | Claims | Paid | Busiest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 85281 | 23 | $157,980 | 1978 (7) |
| 85282 | 5 | $1,254 | 1978 (1) |
| 85283 | 8 | $97,162 | 2018 (2) |
| 85284 | 1 | $0 | 2013 (1) |
ZIPs extend past city limits.
| Date | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 19, 2025 | Flash Flood | 6.4 mi |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Heavy Rain | 0.6 mi |
| Oct 13, 2025 | Flash Flood | 0.6 mi |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Flash Flood | 9.7 mi |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Flash Flood | 7.2 mi |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Flash Flood | 3.0 mi |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Flash Flood | 9.8 mi |
| Oct 12, 2025 | Flash Flood | 8.2 mi |
| Built | Units | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 or later | 1,170 | 1.4% | ±325 |
| 2010 to 2019 | 11,053 | 12.8% | ±1,026 |
| 2000 to 2009 | 9,366 | 10.9% | ±894 |
| 1990 to 1999 | 10,212 | 11.8% | ±989 |
| 1980 to 1989 | 18,846 | 21.9% | ±1,206 |
| 1970 to 1979 | 20,891 | 24.2% | ±1,330 |
| 1960 to 1969 | 9,947 | 11.5% | ±876 |
| 1950 to 1959 | 3,643 | 4.2% | ±520 |
| 1940 to 1949 | 737 | 0.9% | ±243 |
| 1939 or earlier | 317 | 0.4% | ±122 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates; margins of error are the Census Bureau's 90% intervals.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Housing units | 86,182 |
| Detached single-family | 32,845 (38%) |
| Occupied homes | 78,279 |
| Owner-occupied | 33,127 (42%) |
| Renter-occupied | 45,152 (58%) |
| Median home value | $455,400 |
ACS 2020–2024 estimates.
| Main heating fuel | Homes | Share | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 61,367 | 78.4% | ±1,380 |
| Utility gas | 14,518 | 18.5% | ±1,270 |
| No fuel used | 1,465 | 1.9% | ±462 |
| Bottled or tank gas (propane, butane, etc.) | 492 | 0.6% | ±224 |
| Solar energy | 166 | 0.2% | ±87 |
| Other fuel | 134 | 0.2% | ±90 |
| Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. | 87 | 0.1% | ±57 |
| Wood | 50 | 0.1% | ±59 |
| ZIP (ZCTA) | Share of Tempe's land | Share of the ZIP inside the city |
|---|---|---|
| 85281 | 33% | 98% |
| 85282 | 28% | 100% |
| 85283 | 20% | 90% |
| 85284 | 19% | 99% |
Common Tempe plumbing questions
Are Tempe homes likely to have old galvanized pipes?
Only an inspection can say, but age is the clue: 5% were built before 1960 and 41% before 1980[1].
Which ZIP codes are covered in Tempe?
85281, 85282, 85283, and 85284[6], in Maricopa County. Nearby suburbs with their own pages: Chandler (8.6 mi), Gilbert (12.2 mi), and Mesa (12.5 mi)[3].
I rent in Tempe. Who arranges the repair?
58% of occupied Tempe homes are rented[1], the highest share of the 15 Phoenix-area suburbs we cover. Tell your landlord or property manager in writing first; your lease says who arranges repairs.
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.