Wilmington joined the City of Los Angeles in 1909, after earlier years as its own city, and ZIP 90744 counted 53,074 residents in the 2020 Census. Harbor City sits northwest of Wilmington, so our crews head southeast when you call.
We are licensed and insured, and our emergency crews are on call around the clock for Wilmington. This page starts with the age and type of local housing, because those two facts decide how a wet building should be opened, dried and put back together.
What the housing numbers say
One caution before the figures. The City Planning Department's American Community Survey report covers a combined Wilmington and Harbor City study area, not Wilmington alone. The numbers below describe that combined area, covering 24,057 housing units.
Tenure and building type shape who calls, who pays and how far a leak travels. Standing water gets emergency water removal first, and the rest follows from the table.
| Measure (combined area) | Figure | What it means in a leak |
|---|---|---|
| Renter-occupied homes | 59.3 percent | The first call often goes to a landlord, so photograph damage and note the time |
| Owner-occupied homes | 40.7 percent | Owners direct the repair and file the claim themselves |
| Single-unit housing | 40.0 percent | Water usually stays within one floor plan, though it can run under flooring |
| Multi-unit housing | 57.1 percent | Shared ceilings and walls carry water between neighbors |
| Built by 1969 | About 58.6 percent | Original pipes and wall materials are more likely, so we test instead of assuming |
The report does not publish a median year built, but with about 58.6 percent of units built by 1969, the median falls in the 1960s. For a building from that era, we check pipe material, wall layers and flooring before we choose a drying plan.
When water is spreading in Wilmington
Older plumbing can fail in more than one place at once. Work fast, and keep notes as you go.
Close the closest valve
Turn off the fixture stop, then the main for the unit or house. In a multi-unit building, tell the manager so the riser can be shut for everyone below.
Power only if safe
Flip breakers for wet rooms only when the panel is dry and easy to reach. If any water touches outlets or the panel, stay away and phone the utility or 911.
Lift and photograph
Take pictures of the water line, then raise books, shoes and electronics. Photos taken before you move anything help your insurer see what happened.
Stay out, then ring us
Keep children and pets away from drain or toilet water. Then call (424) 550-5662, the 24/7 line, so we can plan extraction while the building is still wet.
Renters, landlords and shared walls
With 59.3 percent of homes rented in this combined area, many Wilmington water losses start in a unit where the person on the phone does not own the building. Tell your landlord in writing, keep the message, and ask who will authorize the work.
If water came from upstairs, the neighbor's own plumbing is usually the source, and the ceiling below may need to be opened to dry the cavity. That work falls under water mitigation, and rebuilding the ceiling follows later under water damage repair.
Landmarks you can give dispatch
Wilmington has well-known places that help our crews find you. Name the nearest one and your cross street when you call, and the dispatcher can plot the route faster.
| Landmark | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Avalon Boulevard | Wilmington Post Office at 1008 N Avalon Blvd and the Municipal Building at 544 N Avalon Blvd |
| Los Angeles Harbor College | 1111 Figueroa Place, ZIP 90744 |
| General Phineas Banning Residence Museum | Built in 1864, 23 rooms |
| Drum Barracks | Civil War museum |
| Wilmington Waterfront Park | Opened June 2011 |
| Phillips 66 refinery | Halloween pumpkin tank, since 1952 |
A building like the Banning Residence, built in 1864, is a reminder that this town has structures much older than most of its housing. If you own a historic or very old building, tell us early so we choose gentler drying methods.
Water, sewer and city offices
We have not verified which agency supplies water or sewer service to every Wilmington address, so ask your water utility. LADWP lists a water main break line at 1-800-DIAL-DWP for the City of Los Angeles, and LA Sanitation and Environment lists 1-800-773-CITY and 311 as contact lines.
Wilmington is in Council District 15 and has a Wilmington Neighborhood Council. For permits, the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety lists an office it calls San Pedro, at 638 S. Beacon St, which serves the Harbor area. Permit questions go to LADBS.
Wet electrical or sewage
If water reaches a panel, outlet or gas appliance, or if sewage is involved, stay out. Any electrical or gas concern gets reported to the utility or 911 before anything else.
Call (424) 550-5662. Tell us the year the building went up if you know it, and what material is wet.
Cost drivers and insurance
| Cost factor | How it changes the scope |
|---|---|
| Water category (1, 2 or 3) | A clean supply leak and a drain overflow are priced as different jobs |
| Affected area | Counting wet wall length and floor square footage sets the equipment list |
| Materials involved | Plaster, old drywall, linoleum and carpet pad dry or fail on different timelines |
| Drying days and equipment | Readings, not the calendar, decide when the dehumidifiers come out |
| Rebuild scope | Rebuilding is estimated after drying, once the damage is known |
Many policies address sudden, accidental water events but exclude slow leaks and flood. Your insurer decides coverage, so send it the photos and readings we hand you. Want your real number? Call (424) 550-5662.
An inspection comes first: we read moisture, take thermal photos and measure, then explain scope and price before we start. Same-day response comes when schedules allow, and we never name an arrival time. Standard homeowners insurance does not cover flood, so check the FEMA flood map for your address.
Wilmington details that change the job
The Wilmington Oil Field was discovered in 1932, and the Phillips 66 refinery tank has been painted as a pumpkin since 1952, but neither changes how we dry a wet wall. What does change the job is age and tenure, which is why the figures above lead this page.
Nearby, our San Pedro page covers the hillside and coastal side of the harbor. Carson borders Wilmington to the north, and the Carson page lists that city's own utility numbers.
Sources: City of Los Angeles City Planning ACS report, LADBS, LADWP news site, LA Sanitation, City Council District 15, Wikipedia for identity and landmarks.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency water removal available in Wilmington?
Yes. Call (424) 550-5662 at any hour, and the dispatcher will take your address and a description of the water. A same-day crew is offered when schedules allow. We do not promise an arrival time.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Wilmington?
Street delivery in Wilmington uses ZIP 90744, which includes the Harbor College campus on Figueroa Place. That is the one we list. Mail-only PO Box ZIPs have no street address to send a crew to, so give your street address when you call.
Who do I call for a water main break in Wilmington?
Ask your water utility to confirm it serves your address.
Are the housing figures just for Wilmington?
No. They come from the City Planning report for the combined Wilmington and Harbor City study area. We use them as a guide to likely conditions, not as facts about your building.
My landlord is slow to respond to a leak. What should I do?
Write to your landlord, photograph the damage and keep the message. Stop the source if you can, and call us for extraction. We explain scope and price before work starts.