Tracing a leak between suites
- Check the ceiling below with a moisture meter to map the wet area.
- Run fixtures in the suite above one at a time: tub, shower, toilet, sink.
- If it only leaks with use, it is a drain or seal; if it never stops, it is supply.
- Open the smallest access point and repair at the source.
- Leave a written finding the board and insurers can use.
What we work on in a building
- Domestic water risers and the isolation valves on each floor
- Suite shut-offs, often seized after years of never being turned
- Drain stacks, especially older cast iron in mid-rise buildings
- Booster pumps and hot-water recirculation loops
- Parking garage drains, trench drains and sump systems
Under Ontario's condo framework, the declaration usually sets which pipes belong to the corporation and which belong to the owner.
Planned shut-downs
Changing a riser valve means draining part of the building. We work with the manager to set the date, the window and the notice to residents, close the valves in order, drain from the lowest point and refill slowly so air and sediment do not end up in every aerator. Hot-water loops get bled and the recirculation pump checked before we leave.
Signs the building plumbing needs work
- Suite valves that will not close fully during a repair
- Pressure that drops on upper floors at peak times
- Hot water taking minutes to reach far suites
- Repeated stains on the same stack line, floor after floor
- Rust-coloured water after any shut-down
Condo and rental notes
Under Ontario's condo framework, the declaration usually sets which pipes belong to the corporation and which belong to the owner. Landlords of rental buildings have their own repair duties under provincial tenancy rules. We do not decide who pays; we document what failed and where so the people who do decide have the facts.
For managers with several sites, see service for property managers. Backflow assemblies on the building entry are covered under backflow testing.
Questions callers ask
Can you work with our condo manager directly?
Yes. Most building work is booked through the manager, who handles resident notices and access to mechanical rooms.
Do you replace riser valves without shutting the whole building?
Where the riser has its own isolation valves, only that riser is drained. Older buildings without them may need a wider shut-down, which we plan in advance.