13 Best Plumbers in Durham for 2026

Durham's housing stock is genuinely varied, and that matters more than people realize when hiring a plumber. You've got century-old mill houses in Watts-Hillandale and Old North Durham with original cast iron drain lines and galvanized supply pipes that have been patching themselves together for decades. Then there are the mid-century ranch homes in Hope Valley and Lakewood, the newer builds out near South Square, and everything in between. Mineral buildup from the local water supply is a real issue here, and it's hard on water heaters, faucets, and dishwasher lines alike. A plumber who works Durham regularly knows that older slab foundations in some neighborhoods make re-piping a different job than it would be in a crawl-space home off Guess Road.

The businesses on this page were drawn from third-party public business listings and ranked by review rating and review count, with a small lift given to businesses that show a working website and a reachable phone number. Before anything appears here, we check each business's homepage to confirm plumbing is what they primarily do. That step keeps general handymen or unrelated contractors off the list. Any listing flagged as permanently closed is removed automatically. Where you see a Trust Verified badge on a business, that means they've gone through our full verification process covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. You can see exactly what that involves on our How We Verify page. For any business that doesn't carry that badge, those checks haven't been done by us, and you should do them yourself before you book.

Before you call anyone, it's worth knowing what to ask. Request a written quote that breaks out parts and labor separately, not just a single total. Ask whether they charge a flat rate or by the hour, and confirm what the call-out fee covers if no work is done. For anything involving gas lines or major water heater replacements, verify the plumber holds the appropriate state license for North Carolina. If you're dealing with a full re-pipe or a big job, get at least two or three quotes because pricing varies significantly between contractors in Durham. Ask who actually shows up to do the work, since some companies subcontract, and check that whoever's on the job carries liability insurance.

How We Select & Rate The Best Plumbers in Durham, NC

Rankings on this page are driven by public review rating and review count pulled from third-party business listings, with a small lift applied to businesses that have a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm that plumbing is what they primarily offer, which is how unrelated trades stay off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses marked Trust Verified have additionally passed our full verification covering trade qualifications, insurance, trading history, customer review history, and registered company information. See our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses here have not been independently verified by us, and inclusion on this page is not an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring.

Positions 1–5 (Recommended and Featured) may be paid placements. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →

Quick Comparison — Plumbers in Durham, NC

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Phone
1	Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical Recommended	⭐ 4.9	4,441	(919) 234-5438	View →
2	Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating Featured	⭐ 4.9	1,427	(919) 220-2554	View →
3	Bar D Plumbing Featured	⭐ 4.9	780	(984) 339-1491	View →
4	Joseph Rose Plumbing Featured	⭐ 5.0	190	(919) 259-8821	View →
5	Shelton Plumbing Co Featured	⭐ 4.9	200	(919) 599-1437	View →
6	Acme Plumbing Co.	⭐ 4.7	289	(919) 688-1348	View →
7	Jordan Plumbing and Maintenance, LLC	⭐ 4.8	165	(919) 220-6996	View →
8	Bull City Plumbing	⭐ 4.8	86	(919) 530-0087	View →
9	Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Durham North	⭐ 4.9	46	(984) 203-6026	View →
10	Kyngdom Plumbing,LLC	⭐ 4.9	28	(919) 244-7769	View →
11	Champion Plumbing and Drain Services	⭐ 5.0	14	(919) 423-6999	View →
12	Nova Durham Plumbing Experts	⭐ 5.0	8	(919) 655-5864	View →
13	A Y L Plumber service llc	⭐ 5.0	3	(984) 444-1574	View →

Our Top Picks

Streamline Services Plumbing, HVAC & Electrical

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★★★★★ 4.9 (4,441 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 234-5438

Covering Durham and the surrounding area, Streamline Services handles plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work under one roof, making it a practical choice for homeowners who want to avoid coordinating multiple contractors. The business holds a 4.9-star rating across more than 4,400 Google reviews, a volume that points to consistent performance rather than a handful of favorable opinions.

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Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating

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★★★★★ 4.9 (1,427 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 220-2554

Rated 4.9 stars across more than 1,400 Google reviews, Brown Brothers Plumbing & Heating has built a consistent track record serving homes and businesses in Durham. The company handles plumbing and heating work in the 27704 area, with a volume of customer feedback that reflects reliability over time rather than isolated good experiences.

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Bar D Plumbing

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★★★★★ 4.9 (780 reviews)

Durham, NC (984) 339-1491

Homeowners and businesses across Durham rely on Bar D Plumbing for repairs, installations, and routine maintenance. The company holds a 4.9-star rating across nearly 800 Google reviews, reflecting consistent work throughout the 27704 area and beyond. Bar D Plumbing covers the plumbing needs of the local community without the oversell.

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Joseph Rose Plumbing

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★★★★★ 5.0 (190 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 259-8821

Plumbing work in Durham is the focus of Joseph Rose Plumbing, a local outfit covering residential repairs and installations across the area. With a 5-star rating across 190 Google reviews, the company has built a consistent record among Durham neighbors. Their website at josephroseplumbing.com outlines the services on offer.

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Shelton Plumbing Co

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★★★★★ 4.9 (200 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 599-1437

Fixture installation and water heater replacement are core specialisms at Shelton Plumbing Co, a Durham-based plumbing outfit serving the 27713 area. With a 4.9-star rating across 200 Google reviews, the company has built a consistent record among local homeowners. Shelton Plumbing Co operates as a straightforward, no-frills service for residential plumbing needs in the southern Durham corridor.

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Acme Plumbing Co.

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★★★★★ 4.7 (289 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 688-1348

Rated 4.7 stars across 289 Google reviews, Acme Plumbing Co. serves residents and businesses in Durham with a consistent record of customer satisfaction. The company handles plumbing repairs, installations, and maintenance across the area. That volume of reviews points to steady, repeat demand from Durham neighbors rather than a one-off spike in ratings.

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Jordan Plumbing and Maintenance, LLC

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★★★★★ 4.8 (165 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 220-6996

Plumbing repair and maintenance services in Durham, North Carolina, with Jordan Plumbing and Maintenance, LLC covering residential and commercial needs in the 27704 area and surrounding communities. The company holds a 4.8-star rating across 165 Google reviews, reflecting consistent work across a broad customer base. Services follow the scope typical of a full-service plumbing contractor, from fixture installation to pipe repair.

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Bull City Plumbing

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★★★★★ 4.8 (86 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 530-0087

Residential and commercial plumbing in Durham, Bull City Plumbing holds a 4.8-star rating across 86 Google reviews, a consistent signal of reliable work in the local area. The company covers standard installations, repairs, and fixture work for neighbors across the 27701 zip code and surrounding communities.

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Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Durham North

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★★★★★ 4.9 (46 reviews)

Durham, NC (984) 203-6026

Homeowners and businesses in Durham rely on Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Durham North for drain cleaning, pipe repairs, and general plumbing service. With a 4.9-star rating across 46 Google reviews, the company has built a consistent record with local customers. Service covers the 27704 area and surrounding communities.

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Kyngdom Plumbing,LLC

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★★★★★ 4.9 (28 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 244-7769

Fixture installations, leak repairs, and water heater work are among the core services offered by Kyngdom Plumbing, LLC, a plumbing outfit serving Durham, NC 27704. With a 4.9-star Google rating across 28 reviews, the company has built a consistent record among local residents. Details on scheduling and service scope are available at kyngdomplumbingnc.com.

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Champion Plumbing and Drain Services

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★★★★★ 5.0 (14 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 423-6999

Residential and commercial customers in Durham turn to Champion Plumbing and Drain Services for pipe, drain, and water heater work across the 27704 area. The company holds a five-star Google rating across 14 reviews, reflecting consistent results for local neighbors. Champion Plumbing operates without the overhead of a large franchise, keeping service straightforward and direct.

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Nova Durham Plumbing Experts

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★★★★★ 5.0 (8 reviews)

Durham, NC (919) 655-5864

Nova Durham Plumbing Experts is a plumbing service operating out of Durham, NC, in the 27707 area. The company carries a 5-star Google rating across its early reviews, suggesting consistent work quality from the outset. Services cover the range of residential plumbing needs, from fixture installation to water heater repairs and shut-off valve work.

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A Y L Plumber service llc

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★★★★★ 5.0 (3 reviews)

Durham, NC (984) 444-1574

A Y L Plumber Service LLC handles residential plumbing work across Durham, with a focus on repairs and installations for local homeowners. The company covers common service calls including fixture replacement, pipe repairs, and shut-off valve work. Its straightforward approach keeps the scope practical and the service area close to home.

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Transparency notice: Recommended (#1) and Featured (positions 2-5) listings may be paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears in those positions. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a plumber cost in Durham?

For a straightforward service call, most Durham plumbers charge a call-out fee somewhere between $75 and $150, which sometimes gets applied toward the work if you proceed. Hourly rates typically run $90 to $150 per hour depending on the company and the type of job. A standard faucet replacement might come in around $150 to $300 all in. Replacing a water heater, which is one of the most common calls in Durham given the area's hard water wearing them out faster, usually runs $900 to $1,800 installed depending on tank size and whether the unit is gas or electric. Drain clearing is generally $150 to $400. Bigger jobs like re-piping an older home in Watts-Hillandale can run $4,000 to $15,000 depending on square footage and pipe access. Getting two or three quotes is completely normal and usually worth doing for anything over a few hundred dollars.

Do plumbers in Durham need to be licensed?

Yes. North Carolina requires plumbers to hold a state-issued license, and different license levels cover different scopes of work. A Limited Plumbing Contractor license covers smaller jobs, while a full Plumbing Contractor license is required for larger residential and commercial projects. You can ask a plumber directly for their license number and verify it through the North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. Don't skip this step for anything beyond a minor repair, especially for jobs touching the main water line, sewer connections, or gas supply.

How do I know if I need a plumber urgently versus scheduling routine service?

A burst pipe, a sewage backup inside your home, no water pressure at all, or a water heater actively leaking onto the floor all need same-day attention. Don't wait on those. A dripping faucet, slow drain, or a running toilet are annoying but won't cause immediate structural damage, so you can schedule those in advance and often save money by avoiding emergency call-out rates. Mineral buildup reducing your shower pressure is another one that's worth fixing soon but isn't an emergency. One thing Durham homeowners in older properties should watch for is discolored water from galvanized pipes, which means the pipe wall is corroding and a re-pipe conversation is coming sooner rather than later.

What's the typical water heater lifespan in Durham, and when should I replace it?

Standard tank water heaters last around 8 to 12 years in typical conditions. Durham's water supply has enough mineral content that sediment builds up at the bottom of tanks and shortens that lifespan, so 8 to 10 years is a realistic target before you start watching closely. Signs it's time to replace include rusty or discolored hot water, a rumbling or popping sound when it heats up, water pooling around the base, or noticeably less hot water than you used to get. Tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan, often 15 to 20 years, and handle mineral buildup somewhat better, though they still need descaling periodically. Replacement costs in Durham generally run $900 to $1,800 for a standard tank unit installed.

What causes frequent drain clogs in Durham homes?

In older Durham homes, especially in neighborhoods like Old West Durham or Northgate Park, aging cast iron or clay sewer lines are a common culprit. Tree roots are particularly aggressive in this area given the mature tree canopy, and they find their way into any small crack in a sewer lateral. Kitchen drain clogs are almost always grease and food debris, and bathroom clogs are hair and soap scum. If you're getting repeated slow drains in multiple fixtures at once, that usually points to a main line issue rather than individual blockages. A camera inspection of the line, which most Durham plumbers can do for $150 to $350, will tell you exactly what you're dealing with before you spend money on repeated clearing.

How do I choose between plumbers in Durham and avoid a bad experience?

Start by checking their state license number against the North Carolina licensing board's public database. Ask specifically whether the person doing the work is licensed or just the company. Request proof of liability insurance before anyone starts, not after. Read recent reviews on public platforms, and pay attention to how the company responds to negative ones. Ask for a written estimate before work starts, and make sure it itemizes labor and materials separately. If a quote seems unusually low, ask what it excludes. For bigger jobs, get at least two or three quotes so you have a reference point. Avoid paying the full amount upfront. A deposit is normal, but full payment before completion gives you less leverage if something goes wrong.

13 Best Plumbers in Durham for 2026

Quick Comparison — Plumbers in Durham, NC

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