Pipes we expect to find
Condo suites usually draw water from copper or PEX branches off a vertical riser, with isolation valves for the suite tucked under the kitchen sink, inside a utility closet or behind a small access hatch. Drains tie into shared cast iron or plastic stacks. Many suites also have a fan coil or heat pump with its own condensate drain, which clogs and overflows more often than owners expect.
Faults that bring us out
- Leaks into the suite below from a failed toilet supply or wax ring.
- Kitchen sinks backing up because the branch line is shared with suites above.
- Suite isolation valves left untouched for years, now seized solid.
- Dishwasher and washing machine hoses splitting behind appliances.
- Shower cartridges wearing out and dripping or running scalding hot.
Jobs we do most in condos
We reset toilets with new wax rings and flanges, replace faucets and cartridges, swap seized suite valves, clear kitchen branch lines with a hand auger and replace braided appliance hoses. See toilet repair and faucet repair.
Working with management
Some repairs touch common elements, such as the stack or riser, that belong to the condo corporation. We explain which side of the line a problem sits on, write it up in plain terms you can forward to the property manager, and stick to the suite plumbing you own. Townhouse complexes often follow the same split, with laterals and outdoor lines belonging to the corporation.
What callers want to know
Who pays when my condo leaks into the unit below?
That comes down to your condo declaration and the insurance policies involved. Check with your property manager; we document the cause for you.
Where is my condo shut-off valve?
Look under the kitchen sink first; failing that, try the utility closet or a small wall hatch. We can find and test it.