Gorham-College Manor

Plumbing in Gorham-College Manor

Split-levels, side-splits and solid brick bungalows line the streets off Gorham Street and College Manor Drive. Most are now half a century old, and their plumbing is right on schedule for a second act.

We know the pipe behind the walls in Gorham-College Manor
Drains, heaters, sump pits and leaks handled on one call
Floor protection and clean-up on every visit
Phone answered by a plumber, any hour

Homes and pipes in Gorham-College Manor

Much of this neighbourhood went up in the 1960s and 1970s, when copper supply lines and cast iron or early ABS drains were the norm. Copper from that era is usually still serviceable, though pinhole leaks appear on hot lines near the water heater. Cast iron stacks inside the walls can crack at the hubs, and clay or cast iron laterals out to the street are now old enough to let roots in. Many basements were finished in later decades, which tucked shut-off valves and cleanouts behind drywall.

Mature trees are part of the charm. They are also the most common reason a sewer lateral starts gurgling in the fall.

Pipe you will likely find in Gorham-College Manor

Supply pipe: Type M copper, some Poly-B from the 1980s
Drain and stack: Cast iron in the stack, early ABS in later additions
Usual call: Pinhole leaks in copper, scaled kitchen arms, tired water heaters
First thing to check: Grey Poly-B fittings near the heater and laundry

Jobs we do most on these streets

Slow tubs and vanities. Original pop-up linkages corrode and snag hair; see bathroom drain unclogging.
Root-blocked laterals. Grey water rising in the basement drain on wash day usually points to roots in the line to the street.
Tired water heaters. Many original tank locations are cramped, which matters if you are thinking about an upgrade. Our tankless water heater installation page covers whether a wall-hung unit fits.
Seized valves. Main shut-offs that have not been turned in decades often refuse to close in an emergency.

Freeze, thaw and storm calls here

Spring melt raises the water table, and older sump pits here can be shallow or missing a cover. Test the pump before April. Summer is quiet, but lawn watering shows up leaks in old hose bibs. Fall is root season for laterals. Winter brings the classic freeze in a hose bib or a pipe run along an exterior wall in a cold bump-out. Hardness in Newmarket's water scales up fixtures year round; our page on hard water in Newmarket explains what to expect and what a softener changes.

Getting the van and tools to your door

Gorham-College Manor sits close to the centre of town, east of Yonge Street, so it is an easy drive from anywhere else in Newmarket. Neighbouring Bristol-London shares many of the same housing types and issues. Call (365) 517-0623, describe the trouble, and we will give you an arrival window and a straight answer about what the visit involves.

When we arrive, we will look at the problem you called about and mention anything else we notice that could cause trouble soon, such as a weeping valve or a corroded fitting. You decide what gets done and when. Nothing extra is added without your say.

For new owners, we are happy to walk the basement with you and point out the main shut-off, the cleanout and the water heater controls. Ten minutes of orientation pays off the first time something drips at midnight.

Asked on site

Are the original copper pipes in these homes still good?

Often yes. Copper from that period can last for decades longer, though we sometimes find pinholes near the water heater or on hot lines.

Should I worry about the sewer line to the street?

If you have large trees and the line is original, a camera inspection is worthwhile before you finish a basement or after any backup.