Plumber in The Annex

Old houses, new loads

Over the decades, many Annex houses were divided into several units. That usually means extra bathrooms and kitchens tied into original drain stacks, long runs of supply pipe, and several households relying on one water heater. What we typically find:

• Weak pressure on upper floors from narrow, aging supply lines
• Cast iron stacks with cracks or rusted-through sections
• Water heaters too small for the number of units
• Basement apartments with floor drains exposed to sewer backup

For landlords and owners

Tenants expect prompt repairs, and a plumbing problem in one unit often affects the others. We work with landlords to schedule repairs, give tenants notice through you, and plan upgrades like a new water service or water heater so they’re done once and done properly.

Lead and galvanized pipes

Given the age of the houses, many Annex homes still have, or recently had, a lead water service. If yours hasn’t been replaced, it’s worth checking. See our page on lead water pipe replacement.

Respecting heritage interiors

Original plaster, mouldings and wood floors are hard to replace. We route new piping through closets and service spaces where we can and keep openings as small as possible.

Hot water for several units

One standard tank rarely keeps up with three or four households showering in the same morning hour. The options are a larger high-recovery heater, a tankless system sized for the whole building, or separate heaters for each unit. Separate units cost more up front but end most hot water complaints between tenants. We’ll compare them for your building.

Most requested in The Annex