- Area
- Central Newmarket and Davis Drive
- Local focus
- Davis Drive and the Hospital District
- Common calls
- Drains, supply pipe, heaters, sumps
- Booking
- By telephone
Homes and plumbing in Central Newmarket and Davis Drive
Few parts of town mix building ages as tightly as the blocks around Davis Drive. A 1950s storey-and-a-half may sit two doors from a 1990s townhouse, and the Viva rapidway corridor has brought mid-rise condos close to Southlake Regional Health Centre. Each type comes with different plumbing and different rules about who fixes what.
In older detached homes we still meet copper supply lines, cast iron stacks and occasionally a clay lateral to the street. Townhouses tend to share walls and sometimes share drain runs. Condo suites rely on building risers, with the corporation responsible for the common pipes and the owner looking after fixtures inside the unit.
Trouble spots in these houses
- Slow tub and shower drains in older bathrooms where the trap and drain pipe have narrowed with years of buildup.
- Leaking shower valves and worn cartridges in townhouse ensuites.
- Water stains on a condo ceiling, which raise the question of whether the source is your unit, the one above, or a building riser.
- Taste and odour complaints from residents who want filtered drinking water at the kitchen tap.
Bench note
If you live in a condominium, let property management know before we open a wall or touch a riser. Many buildings need notice so the right valve can be shut and the work recorded.
Services most asked for
Bathroom work leads the list here. Owners updating a dated tub surround often book tub and shower installation, and we handle the valve and drain side while the tile trade does the finish. Under-sink and whole-home water filtration is the other frequent request, especially from people who work shifts at the hospital and simply want better-tasting water at home.
When a renovation moves fixtures or adds a bathroom, a permit from the Town may be needed. Our circular on plumbing permits in Newmarket lays out when that applies.
Older homes off the main road
Behind the busy corridor, quieter streets keep their original houses. Here we often trace a slow drain back to a cast iron line that has scaled inside, or find a shut-off valve so stiff it will not turn. Replacing that main valve is a modest job, and it means you can stop water quickly when it matters. We also see laundry hookups added in basements that were never planned for them, which calls for a proper standpipe and trap rather than a hose into the floor drain.
Ringing us from Central Newmarket and Davis Drive
Parking near Davis Drive can be tight during construction, so mention your building or the nearest cross street when you call (365) 990-3021. For condo jobs, have your unit number and the management office's contact handy. Neighbours just east in Huron Heights are part of the same regular rounds.
Phoned-in questions
Who fixes a leak in my condo unit?
Fixtures and pipes that serve only your unit are usually the owner's job, while risers and common lines belong to the corporation. Your declaration settles the question, and management can confirm it.
Can you install a filter on just the kitchen tap?
Yes. An under-sink system with its own small faucet is a common, tidy choice for apartments and townhouses.
Is a permit required to replace a bathtub?
A like-for-like swap often does not, but moving drains or adding fixtures usually does. Check with the Town building department before the work begins.