- Area
- Gorham-College Manor
- Local focus
- Postwar Streets Around Gorham Street
- Common calls
- Drains, supply pipe, heaters, sumps
- Booking
- By telephone
Homes and plumbing in Gorham-College Manor
This is an established part of Newmarket, with wide lots, mature trees and homes that have been cared for by long-time owners. Many were built in the 1960s and 1970s. They typically have copper supply lines, drains of cast iron or early ABS, and a sewer lateral of clay, concrete or early plastic under the front lawn.
Several generations of renovation have usually passed through. Kitchens have moved, basements have been finished, and an extra bathroom may have been added in the lower level. Each change left its mark on the pipes.
Trouble spots in these houses
- Roots in older sewer laterals beneath big front-yard trees.
- Original two-handle shower valves without scald protection.
- Pinhole leaks in older copper, often in the basement ceiling.
- Main shut-off valves that refuse to close fully.
- Tired floor drains that smell in dry months.
Services most asked for
We often start with the shut-off. A gate valve that has not been turned for forty years can crumble when finally needed, so many owners ask us to fit a lever-handle ball valve in its place before anything goes wrong.
From there, the usual list is shower valve replacement, leak detection for small drips above finished ceilings, and camera inspections of the lateral. When the camera shows a broken section, a targeted sewer repair usually follows.
Bench note
A floor drain that smells in summer usually has a dry trap. Tip a litre of water into it every month or two to keep the seal.
Upgrading an older bathroom
Owners here often update a bathroom at the same time as the plumbing. If you are planning a renovation, call us early so new valves, drains and supply lines are planned before walls are opened. Our renovation planning circular has tips.
Ringing us from Gorham-College Manor
Ring us to set up a visit. Telling us the home's approximate age, and any past repiping, helps us pack the right parts.
Phoned-in questions
Should I replace my old main shut-off?
If yours is an old gate valve that is stiff or does not close fully, yes. A new ball valve is a small job that can save a lot in an emergency.
Why do older shower valves cause temperature swings?
They lack the pressure-balancing feature that keeps the mix steady when another fixture is used.