Commercial · Pipes, leaks & valves
Markham condo towers and rental buildings
In a condo or rental building one leak can reach three suites. We isolate the riser or suite valve, find the source, repair it and leave notes the property manager or condo board can file.
- Suite and riser valves located and exercised
- Leaks traced between floors with meters and thermal cameras
- Shared stack backups cleared from the cleanout
- Written tickets for property managers and boards
- Licensed plumbers (details on request)
- Price agreed before work
- Call-only, no forms
- Tested before we leave
Problems we see in shared buildings
- Water dripping into a suite from the unit above
- Lower-floor sinks filling with another suite's kitchen waste
- Suite isolation valves seized open
- Upper-floor taps that run cold for minutes before warming
- Corroded riser fittings in mechanical rooms and closets
How a leak between units is handled
- Find the closest valve that stops the water, suite first, riser second.
- Agree with the superintendent on which suites go dry, and for roughly how many minutes.
- Pin down the source with a moisture meter and thermal camera before opening drywall.
- Cut a clean access opening, repair the fitting or pipe, and pressure-test it.
- Leave the opening ready for the drywall trade and note it on the ticket.
Shared stack backups
- Locate the stack cleanout on the lowest affected floor or in the garage.
- Cable up or down the stack to the blockage.
- Run water from upper units to confirm the stack is clear.
- Camera the stack where grease or scale keeps returning.
For property managers and boards
- One number for superintendents, managers and owners
- Valve exercising and labelling during routine visits
- Plain reports describing cause, location and repair
Markham condo buildings
Markham's mid-rise and high-rise buildings cluster around Downtown Markham, Markville, Unionville and the Highway 7 corridor, and many stacked townhouse blocks were built in the 2000s and 2010s. These buildings typically run copper or PEX risers with suite shut-offs behind an access panel, and the panel is often hidden behind furniture or a closet shelf. Which party covers the bill is set by the declaration and the unit boundary; check with the condominium corporation before work starts.
Cut a clean access opening, repair the fitting or pipe, and pressure-test it.
From the job notes of Plumbers in Markham
Job card · Pipes, leaks & valves
On the van for this job
- Pipe cutters, propane torch and press tools for copper
- Gauges for static and flow pressure tests
Signs you need this
- The meter dial turns with every tap off
- Flow that falls off when a second tap opens
What we check before we pack up
- Read static pressure at a hose bib
- Pressure-test new pipe before closing walls
| Pipe | Era | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Galvanized steel | Pre-1960s | Rust narrows the bore |
| Poly-b (grey) | About 1978 to 1995 | Fitting failures, brittle pipe |
How the job runs, start to finish
- 1
On the phone
Explain what the water is doing and where. We ask the age of the house and which valve or breaker to shut while we drive over.
- 2
Drop cloths down
Floors and cabinets get covered, the water or gas is isolated and the work area is lit.
- 3
Find the failed part
We open the trap, cleanout, access panel or wall where the fault is, and show you what we found.
- 4
Quote, then work
We explain what failed and what the fix costs; no cutting starts until you say yes.
- 5
Cut, fit, seal
Old parts come out, new pipe, valves or fixtures go in, and joints are soldered, pressed, crimped or glued.
- 6
Test and ticket
We run water, pressure-test or fire the heater, check for drips, clean up and leave a written ticket of what was done.