Morningside checks
- 1Copper jointslook for green crust and pinholes
- 2ABS drainscheck old glued joints under sinks and tubs
- 3Water heaterconfirm age and ownership
- 4Townhouse shut-offsfind the unit shut-off and test it
- 5Toiletsfill valves and flappers
01Townhouse complexes
Townhouse complexes often have shared services and a condominium corporation. Before we work on anything past the unit shut-off, we check who is responsible. Inside the unit, the work is familiar: toilets, faucets, water heaters and drains.
Locating your unit valve, and confirming it closes, is the first thing to check.
| Typical housing | Detached houses and townhouse complexes from the 1960s and 1970s |
|---|---|
| Supply and drains | Mostly copper supply lines feeding ABS or cast-iron drains |
| Nearby | Morningside Park, Ellesmere Road, Centennial College |
02Detached homes
Detached houses from the seventies switched to copper supply and plastic drains. They have fewer of the problems of older homes, but water heaters, shower valves and fixtures are reaching their limits.
03Near the green space
Homes close to Morningside Park and the creek can see higher groundwater; sump pumps need testing.
04Common calls
Water heater replacements, toilet repairs, shower cartridge swaps and kitchen drain clearing make up most of the visits. In detached homes, aging copper near the heater and the occasional cracked ABS fitting under a sink round it out.