Plumbing & Water Heater Service in Wilmington, DE
Faucets · Drains · Leak Repair · Water Heater Installation · Polybutylene Pipe Replacement · Rheem · A.O. Smith · Moen · Delta · American Standard · InSinkErator · Shut-Off Valves Replaced Standard · Frozen-Pipe Same-Day Response
Plumbing service at Precision Home Worx covers the residential work most Wilmington homeowners actually need — faucet replacements, clogged drain clearing, pipe leak repair, garbage disposal swap, and water heater installation. Plus the work most plumbers either ignore or overcharge for: polybutylene supply line replacement on 1985–1995 builds, shut-off valve replacement at every connection (the line Jimmy will not budge on), and frozen-pipe emergency response in the dead of winter.
We don't do everything. Sewer main replacement, septic systems, well systems, and tankless water heater installs are out of scope — for those, we'll refer you to a licensed Delaware specialty plumber.
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For everything in handyman-scope residential plumbing, Jimmy has been doing this work for 35 years across every type of Northern Delaware home, from pre-1978 Wilmington row houses to 2010s Hockessin custom builds.
Free in-home estimate within about a week. Frozen-pipe emergencies are handled the same day when we can. Call (302) 321-3577 or use the contact form.
When Wilmington Homeowners Call About Plumbing
Most plumbing service calls fit one of these patterns:
Clogged drain — sink, tub, shower, or toilet
Slow drain becoming a complete stop. Sink and bathtub clogs are usually hair and soap scum near the trap — $250 to clear. Toilet clogs are sometimes a foreign object, sometimes a blockage in the closet bend further down — $500. Floor drains in basements often signal a bigger issue — $500–$750 to diagnose and clear. We clear what we can clear; if the problem is in the sewer main or city tap, we tell you and refer out.
Faucet that drips, leaks, or won't shut off
Kitchen faucet ($150–$300 published) or bath faucet ($150 single hole, $350 widespread) replacement. The most common cause is a worn cartridge inside the faucet body. Sometimes a cartridge replacement is enough; sometimes the faucet is past its service life and a full replacement is the right call.
Water heater on its last legs — or already dead
Standard residential tank water heaters last 8–12 years in Northern Delaware's water conditions. Signs the tank is at end-of-life: rust-colored water from the hot tap, rumbling sounds during heating cycle, hot water running out faster than it used to, visible corrosion at the tank base. Replacement runs $1,200 (40-gal electric) to $2,000 (50-gal gas). We install Rheem and A.O. Smith.
Frozen pipe — emergency, same-day when we can
Northern Delaware sees multiple hard cold snaps each winter. Pipes on exterior walls, in crawl spaces, or in unheated basements freeze first. Visible signs: no water from one or more fixtures during a cold snap, sometimes a bulging pipe wall, sometimes a hissing sound. This is the one service where we move same-day when we can — call (302) 321-3577 for frozen pipe response.
Pipe leak — under sink, in wall, or in basement
Minor leaks (single joint, fitting, or short pipe section): $250 repair. Major leaks (multiple joints, longer pipe section, or hidden behind a wall): $500–$1,000. Polybutylene supply lines are a special case.
Garbage disposal that's stopped working or jammed
Most disposals last 8–10 years. Symptoms: humming without grinding (jammed), no sound at all (motor failure), or visible leak from the bottom (housing failure). Replacement with InSinkErator: $500 (1/3 HP Badger entry tier), $550 (1/2 HP mid tier), $650 (3/4 HP premium sound-shield).
Polybutylene supply lines in a 1985–1995 home
If your home was built between 1985 and 1995 in Bear, Newark, Hockessin, or parts of newer Wilmington — and especially if you've had unexplained leaks at fittings — you may have polybutylene supply pipes. Polybutylene degrades over time and fails at fittings without warning. We replace polybutylene runs as part of bath, kitchen, and water-heater work, or as a standalone scope.
Local Conditions That Affect Plumbing in Northern Delaware
Northern Delaware's plumbing problems are heavily shaped by housing era, water hardness, and freeze-thaw exposure. Knowing what era your home was built in tells us a lot before we even open a wall.
Pre-1978 Wilmington — galvanized steel supply lines
Wilmington homes built before 1978 — Brandywine, Trolley Square, the Highlands, Forty Acres, older Claymont — typically have galvanized steel supply lines. Galvanized corrodes internally over decades. The internal diameter shrinks, water pressure drops, and the corrosion eventually flakes off creating rust in the water. By the 80-year mark most galvanized lines are running at half their original flow. Replacing the kitchen faucet doesn't help when the supply pipe behind it is the actual restriction. We test water pressure at the estimate visit and quote pipe replacement separately when the supply is the real issue.
Cast-iron drain stacks in older Wilmington row homes
Original Wilmington row homes typically have cast-iron drain stacks running from basement up through three floors. Cast iron lasts 80–100 years before it starts cracking — most are still functional, but they don't tolerate disturbance well. Drilling into a cast-iron stack to add a new fixture often cracks the pipe. We avoid disturbing existing cast-iron when we can; when a stack needs work, we recommend a licensed plumber with cast-iron experience.
Polybutylene supply lines — 1985 to 1995 builds
Per Jimmy's — homes built between 1985 and 1995 sometimes have polybutylene (often abbreviated PB) supply pipes. Polybutylene was an inexpensive, easy-to-install alternative to copper that turned out to degrade over time, especially at chlorinated municipal water. Failures happen at fittings without warning. About 30% of homes from this era in Bear, Hockessin, and Newark have polybutylene; we find it by checking under sinks, at the water heater, and in basement utility areas during the estimate.
Brandywine fieldstone foundation drainage
Older homes in Greenville, Centreville, Montchanin, Chadds Ford, and parts of Hockessin sit on fieldstone or local-stone foundations. Drain pipes through these foundations sometimes route differently than modern slab construction — concrete-encased outflows, sloped runs through stone walls, or unusual drain placements. We verify the existing drain configuration before scoping any plumbing work that affects waste lines.
Frozen-pipe season — Northern DE winter realities
Northern Delaware sees average January lows around 25°F and multiple deeper cold snaps each winter (single-digit nights are common). Pipes on exterior walls — kitchen sink supply lines along an outside wall, second-floor bathroom on a north-facing wall, basement laundry against the foundation — freeze first. Older homes with marginal insulation behind the walls see this more often. When we replace supply lines as part of any project, we add proper insulation behind the new lines if they're on exterior walls.
Our Reviews
What's Covered
Faucet Installation & Replacement
Kitchen faucet replacement ($150–$300 published). Bath faucet replacement: $150 single-hole, $350 widespread or wall-mount. Brands we install: Kohler, American Standard, Moen, and Delta. Shut-off valves replaced on every install — standard practice.
Pipe Leak Repair
Minor leak (single joint or fitting): $250. Major leak (section replacement): $500–$1,000. We diagnose at the visit — sometimes a fitting tighten is the fix; sometimes the pipe is past its service life and section replacement is the only honest answer.
Garbage Disposal Installation
InSinkErator across three tiers. Badger 1/3 HP: $500. 1/2 HP mid: $550. 3/4 HP premium sound-shield: $650. All installations include shut-off valve replacement at the dishwasher and disposal connections.
Shut-Off Valve Replacement (Standalone Service)
If you have a failing or stuck shut-off valve under a sink or behind a toilet that hasn't been replaced during other work, we replace it as a standalone job: $500. Most homeowners don't notice their shut-off valves until they need to use one in an emergency and find it frozen open. Replacing them proactively saves real headaches later.
Clogged Drain Service
Sink, bathtub, or shower drain: $250. Toilet drain: $500. Floor drain: $500–$750 (more diagnostic work). We clear drains with snaking and hydro-jetting where applicable. We don't do sewer main work — if the clog is in the main line or city tap, we'll diagnose and refer to a licensed sewer plumber.
Water Heater Installation
40-gallon electric: $1,200. 50-gallon electric: $1,500 (most common). 40-gallon gas: $1,800. 50-gallon gas: $2,000. Brands: A.O. Smith and Rheem. Shut-off valves replaced on supply lines. Delaware doesn't typically require a permit for residential water heater replacement; if your home does require one, we'll coordinate.
Toilet Replacement
Standard round-bowl toilet: $150–$300 published. Comfort-height elongated toilet (the aging-in-place upgrade): $850. Smart or bidet-combo toilet: $1,200. Shut-off valve at the supply line replaced standard.
Polybutylene Supply-Line Replacement
Replacing polybutylene supply runs feeding individual fixtures or the entire bathroom/kitchen. Adds a few hundred dollars to fixture replacement work; standalone polybutylene replacement quoted at the visit based on accessibility.
What's NOT included: NO septic systems. NO well system work. NO tankless water heater installation. For any of these, we'll refer you to a licensed Delaware specialty plumber.
Pricing
Per-service published pricing from. Every estimate is written and good for 30 days.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bath faucet — single hole | $150 | Per fixture |
| Kitchen faucet replacement | $150–$300 | Restrictions apply |
| Toilet replacement — standard | $150–$300 | Restrictions apply |
| Clogged drain — sink / tub / shower | $250 | Per visit |
| Minor pipe leak repair | $250 | Single joint |
| Bath faucet — widespread / wall-mount | $350 | Per fixture |
| Garbage disposal — 1/3 HP (Badger) | $500 | InSinkErator entry |
| Standalone shut-off valve replacement | $500 | Per valve |
| Clogged drain — toilet or floor | $500–$750 | More diagnostic |
| Garbage disposal — 1/2 HP | $550 | Mid tier |
| Garbage disposal — 3/4 HP sound-shield | $650 | Premium |
| Toilet — comfort height / elongated | $850 | Aging-in-place upgrade |
| Major pipe leak — section replacement | $500–$1,000 | Per section |
| Toilet — smart / bidet-combo | $1,200 | Premium |
| Water heater — 40-gal electric | $1,200 | A.O. Smith / Rheem |
| Water heater — 50-gal electric | $1,500 | Most common |
| Water heater — 40-gal gas | $1,800 | A.O. Smith / Rheem |
| Water heater — 50-gal gas | $2,000 | A.O. Smith / Rheem |
| Discount stack: 10% off first $1,000 labor (new customers, military, seniors 65+) + multi-service bundle pricing | — | Applied on eligible jobs |
How a Plumbing Service Call Actually Goes
Triage on the phone
Before scheduling, we ask a few questions. Active leak with water flowing? We treat that as urgent and adjust scheduling. Frozen pipe in a cold snap? Same-day response when we can. Routine fixture replacement, drain clear, or water heater swap? Standard 24–48 hour estimate window.
Free in-home estimate or upfront diagnostic
Larger jobs like water heater replacement, polybutylene replacement, or full bathroom plumbing get the standard free in-home estimate. Service calls like clogged drains or leak repair are diagnosed on the dispatched visit — flat-rate or hourly, your choice. Booties on. Drop cloths down.
Written estimate or approval before work
Larger jobs get a written estimate by email within a week, good for 30 days. Service calls get a verbal estimate before we start, which requires your written approval (signed work order or text confirmation) before we begin.
Shut off the water at the right valve
Before any pipe gets cut or any fitting comes off, we isolate the water supply at the nearest functional shut-off — usually under the sink, behind the toilet, or at the main if needed. If the local shut-off doesn't work, we replace it as part of the work.
Do the work — and replace every shut-off valve
This is the standard practice that separates Precision Home Worx from a discount handyman. Every appliance or fixture we install gets new shut-off valves on the supply lines.
Pressure-test and verify
Pressure test on supply lines after any pipe work. Drain test after any drain or fixture work. Run the fixture through normal use — toilet flush cycle, hot and cold water at faucets, garbage disposal grind test.
Walk-through and 1-year warranty
Jimmy walks the work with you. Shows you the new shut-off valves so you know where to find them. Reminds you that a one-year comprehensive warranty backs the work. If anything starts dripping or backing up, you call Jimmy directly at (302) 321-3577 — we handle it.
Why Precision Home Worx for Your Plumbing System
Shut-off valves replaced on every install — Jimmy's verbatim standard
From the current Precision Home Worx site, in Jimmy's actual voice: "It is appalling when other tradesmen will not go the extra mile and install a $25.00 shut-off valve when the existing one is in poor condition." The valve adds 15 minutes and $25 in parts. Skipping it costs you $400 when the old valve fails 5 years later, and a plumber has to cut into your wall. Standard practice on every installation — sink, toilet, water heater, dishwasher, garbage disposal. Every connection.
Real brands, available at every supplier in the region
Faucets: Kohler, American Standard, Moen, Delta. Water heaters: A.O. Smith, Rheem. Garbage disposal: InSinkErator. Replacement parts available at every plumbing supplier in Northern Delaware for the next 15 years. Off-brand fixtures from "a great deal at Home Depot" disappear off the market within 5 years and the homeowner can't find a cartridge.
Polybutylene specialty — what most plumbers won't even quote
Per Jimmy's, homes built between 1985 and 1995 often have polybutylene supply pipes that fail without warning at fittings. Most general plumbers either ignore polybutylene (it's a known liability for them) or quote $15,000+ for a full-home repipe. Jimmy's approach: replace polybutylene runs in the area we're already working (during a bath remodel, kitchen remodel, or water heater swap) for a few hundred dollars added cost.
Frozen-pipe same-day response — the one same-day we promise
Northern Delaware winters bring multiple hard, cold snaps and frozen-pipe emergencies. We move same-day on frozen-pipe calls when we can — the one service where we explicitly promise same-day response. For everything else (faucets, drains, fixture replacement, water heater swaps) we schedule a proper visit because rushed plumbing work creates callbacks.
Honest scope — what we don't do
We don't do sewer main replacement. We don't touch septic systems. We don't work on well systems. We don't install tankless water heaters. These all require licensed Delaware specialty plumbers, and we'll refer you to one. The reason matters: a handyman who claims to do everything well usually doesn't do any of it well. We do residential supply and drain work exceptionally — and we're honest about the limits.
FREE 2nd opinions on outside quotes
Already have a quote from another plumber? Email it to Jimmy. He'll review it for free — flag anything that should be referred to a licensed specialty plumber, check the pricing against Northern Delaware market rates, and tell you whether the price is fair. No pressure either way.
Polybutylene Pipe Replacement: What Most Plumbers Won't Tell You
If your home was built between 1985 and 1995 in Bear, Newark, Hockessin, parts of newer Wilmington, or anywhere else in the Northern Delaware new-construction belt of that era — there's about a 30% chance you have polybutylene supply pipes. Polybutylene (often called PB or by the brand name Quest) was a cheap, flexible plastic supply pipe that promised easy installation and corrosion resistance. It also turned out to degrade over time, especially in contact with chlorinated municipal water, and fail at fittings without warning. That's why the manufacturer settled a class-action lawsuit in the 1990s and why polybutylene is no longer installed in new construction.
The way most plumbers handle polybutylene: ignore it until it fails. The reason is liability — once a plumber touches a polybutylene system, they often inherit responsibility for future failures elsewhere in the system. So most quotes for unrelated work (kitchen faucet replacement, water heater swap) don't mention the polybutylene visible under the sink or at the water heater. The homeowner finds out about polybutylene when a fitting fails behind a wall and floods the kitchen. Then they get the bill for the repair plus the water damage.
The way most plumbers handle polybutylene when forced to: quote a full-home repipe at $15,000–$25,000. A full repipe replaces every supply line in the house with copper or PEX. It's the comprehensive answer; it's also overkill for most homeowners. Most polybutylene systems aren't going to fail all at once — they fail at fittings, usually one or two at a time, and the highest-risk fittings are the ones we can see at fixtures and the water heater.
The way Precision Home Worx handles polybutylene: replace the runs we can see and access during work we're already doing. Replacing the polybutylene feeding a single bathroom adds a few hundred dollars to a bath remodel. Replacing the polybutylene feeding the water heater adds $200–$400 to a water heater install. Over the course of a few projects (bath remodel + water heater + kitchen faucet replacement), most of the high-risk visible polybutylene gets replaced at a fraction of the cost of a full repipe — without forcing the homeowner to commit $20,000 upfront. We explain this calculation at the estimate visit so you can decide what scope makes sense for your home.
How to tell if you have polybutylene. Open the cabinet under your kitchen sink and look at the supply lines feeding the faucet — polybutylene is gray (sometimes blue or black) flexible plastic, about 1/2 inch diameter, often with copper crimp rings at the fittings. Open the water heater closet or utility area and check the supply lines feeding the tank — same gray plastic. If you see it, mention it on the call when you book the estimate. We'll bring it up at the visit regardless, but knowing in advance helps us scope appropriately.
Brands We Install
Our published brand list:
Kohler — kitchen, bath, and accessory full line.
American Standard — reliable mid-tier toilets and faucets.
Moen — popular finish options across chrome, brushed nickel, matte black.
Delta — Touch2O models for kitchens; standard valves for bath.
A.O. Smith — full line of standard residential tank water heaters.
Rheem — strong reliability record, parts available everywhere.
Garbage Disposals
InSinkErator — Badger entry tier, mid-tier 1/2 HP, premium sound-shield 3/4 HP.
FAQ’s
For frozen-pipe emergencies in the winter — yes, when we can. For everything else (faucet replacement, drain clearing, water heater swap, leak repair) we schedule a proper visit, typically within 24–48 hours. We don't promote same-day service for non-emergency plumbing because rushed work creates callbacks.
Per Jimmy's standard customer answer: "no longer than necessary." Most fixture replacements (faucet, toilet, garbage disposal) shut off water only to the specific fixture — the rest of the house stays running. Water heater replacement shuts off the hot water for 3–4 hours; cold water keeps running. Whole-house work requires main shut-off, typically 1–2 hours.
Jimmy holds the Delaware Department of Revenue contractor license (#223872998) and does residential handyman-scope plumbing work — fixture replacement, water heater install, supply-line work, drain clearing, leak repair. For sewer main, septic, well, or tankless water heater installation, a licensed Delaware specialty plumber is required — we refer to a partner for that work.
Per Jimmy's standard customer answer: "most likely better." New tanks have better insulation, higher recovery rates, and updated heating elements. If your old tank was past its service life (8–12 years for most residential tanks), the difference is noticeable — faster recovery, hotter at the tap, and lower energy use.
Not currently — tankless installation is out of scope. Tankless installations require dedicated venting, gas-line sizing (or upgraded electrical service for electric tankless), and a licensed Delaware specialty plumber. We'll refer you to one.
No — sewer main replacement and main line repair are out of scope. Same for septic systems and well systems. These all require licensed Delaware specialty plumbers.
Not currently. We accept major credit cards, Zelle, checks, and cash. For larger jobs over $5,000, standard terms are 50% on order, balance at completion.
Our work is backed by a one-year comprehensive warranty dated at the end of the project completion. The warranty covers workmanship — the install, the connections, the seal at every fitting we touch. Manufacturer warranties on Kohler, Moen, Delta, American Standard, A.O. Smith, Rheem, and InSinkErator pass through directly to you (typically 6–12 years on water heater tanks, 1–5 years on fixtures).
Where We Do Plumbing Work
Precision Home Worx serves Northern Delaware and southern Chester County, PA — within roughly a 15-mile radius of Wilmington:
Wilmington (19801–19809)
Pre-1950 wood double-hungs, historic districts, sash cord repair.
Claymont (19703)
Post-war replacements, vinyl seal failures.
Greenville / Centreville / Montchanin
Premium custom-match, Andersen 400 Series, Pella Reserve.
Winterthur / Rockland / Yorklyn
Brandywine Hundred premium tier.
Hockessin
Pike Creek and Hockessin Greens whole-home replacements.
Newark
University area + Pencader Hundred, 1990s vinyl end-of-life replacements.
Bear • New Castle • Delaware City
1990s–2000s builds, seal-failure replacements (Country Gates project here).
Garnet Valley • Glen Mills • Chadds Ford (PA)
Brandywine Valley premium custom.
See Full Service Area
View complete coverage at /service-areas.
Need Plumbing Work? Call Precision Home Worx
Call Jimmy directly at (302) 321-3577, or fill out the contact form. Frozen-pipe emergencies handled same-day when we can. Everything else gets a free in-home estimate within about a week.
Monday – Sunday, 7 AM – 8 PM
221 New York Ave, Claymont, DE 19703
