1st Ave Plumbing and Heating

New York City Licensed Master Plumbing Contractor

Call (212) 293-0494
A renovated bathroom vanity: cream stone basin with a black waterfall faucet and soap dispensers on the shelf.
Sinks & faucets

Every pipe in the house, one stop away.

An established neighborhood plumber at 153 1st Ave, here around the clock, every day of the year. Find your problem on the line, then call.

Call any time, day or night (212) 293-0494

Everything that runs on water and heat

From a dripping faucet to a new boiler, one local plumber for the whole home. Each line below lists the kind of work it covers; if your problem isn't listed, call and ask.

See every service in detail

Boilers & hot water

A water heater tank with copper pipework, valves and an expansion tank.

Repair, maintenance and installation of boilers and water heaters, with tidy copper runs that are easy to reach later.

  • No hot water, or hot water that runs out too fast
  • Boiler maintenance and repair
  • New boiler and water heater installation
  • Pressure, expansion tanks and relief valves
  • Copper pipework, valves and controls around the boiler

Baths & showers

An older bathroom with a bath, shower riser, curtain and window.

Shower valves and pressure, fitting and replacement of baths and showers.

  • Low or uneven shower pressure
  • Shower valves that drip, stick or run too hot or cold
  • Bathtub and shower installation and replacement
  • Bath and shower drains that are slow to empty

Toilets

A modern toilet beside a white vanity unit on dark tiles.

Running toilets, leaks, clogs and new toilets.

  • Toilets that keep running or refill on their own
  • Leaks at the base or from the tank
  • Clogs that a plunger won't clear
  • New toilet supply and installation
Sinks & faucetsDrips, leaks, new faucets and sinks.
  • Dripping or loose faucets
  • Leaks under the sink
  • New faucets and sinks installed
  • Shut-off valves that won't turn
Leaks & drainsFinding the source, repairing it, clearing slow or clogged drains.
  • Water stains on ceilings or walls
  • Pipe leaks and burst pipes
  • Slow and clogged drains
  • Noisy or banging pipes
HeatingHot-water heating pipework and the system that keeps every room warm.
  • Radiators that stay cold
  • Bleeding and balancing radiators
  • Heating pipework repairs
  • Heating controls and valves

Signs it's time to call

Small problems with water and heat rarely fix themselves. If you notice one of these at home, it's worth a call.

  1. No hot water, or it runs out quicklyBoilers lineOften the boiler, the water heater or its controls. Note any error lights before you call.
  2. Shower pressure has droppedBaths lineCan be the shower valve, a partly closed valve, or a buildup in the line.
  3. A faucet that won't stop drippingSinks lineA small drip wastes more water than it looks like, and usually means a worn part.
  4. The toilet keeps runningToilets lineUsually a part inside the tank. Worth fixing before it fills your water bill.
  5. A new stain on the ceilingLeaks & drains lineWater from above is traveling somewhere. Turn off the supply if you can and call.
  6. A drain that empties slowlyLeaks & drains lineSlow today often means clogged later. Avoid pouring chemical cleaners down it.
  7. A radiator cold at the topHeating lineIn a hot-water system, often trapped air. If bleeding it doesn't help, the system needs a look.

How a visit runs

Four stops from the first call to a closed-up wall or cabinet.

  1. 1

    Call

    Any hour, any day. Tell us what you see, where it is in your home, and when it started.

  2. 2

    We take a look

    We come by, look at the problem in place, and find the cause rather than just the symptom.

  3. 3

    Fixed

    We explain what needs doing, then do the repair or install carefully.

  4. 4

    Closed up neatly

    Access panels and cabinets put back, the area cleaned up, so you can get on with your day.

Before we arrive

  • Find your shut-off valveIf water is escaping, turning off the supply to the fixture or the home limits the damage.
  • Clear the spaceEmpty the cabinet under the sink, or clear a path to the boiler or radiator.
  • Note what you've seenWhen it started, whether it comes and goes, and any sounds or error lights.
  • Tell your buildingIn an apartment, it can help to let your super or neighbors below know.

Our service area

Based at 153 1st Ave in the East Village, we work in homes in the neighborhoods around us.

All service areas

  1. NoHo
  2. Union Square
  3. Gramercy
  4. East Village153 1st Ave
  5. Alphabet City
  6. Lower East Side

Just outside these stops? Call and ask, day or night. If the job is close by, there's a good chance we can help.

(212) 293-0494

Plumbing in older buildings

Much of the housing around 1st Ave is older: walk-ups, tenements and brownstones, many with renovated kitchens and baths on top of original pipework. That mix shapes how plumbing work gets done.

Shared risers
In many buildings, water and heat travel up shared vertical pipes, so a problem in one apartment can show up in another.
Old meets new
A new faucet or shower valve often connects to pipework that is decades older. Good joins between the two matter.
Tight spaces
Boilers, valves and pipes are often tucked into closets, cabinets and basements, where careful access saves walls.
Keeping what works
Original fixtures can often be repaired rather than replaced, keeping the character of an older home.

Questions

Quick answers to things people often ask about plumbing and heating at home.

What should I do if water is leaking right now?

Turn off the water at the nearest shut-off valve, or at the main valve for your home if you can't find one. Move valuables away from the water, then call us. We answer around the clock, nights, weekends and holidays included.

Where is my shut-off valve?

Most sinks and toilets have a small valve on the pipe underneath or behind them. The main valve is often near where the water line enters the home, in a basement, utility closet or under the kitchen sink.

Is a dripping faucet worth fixing?

Yes. A steady drip adds up to a lot of water over time, and the worn part causing it usually gets worse rather than better.

Why is only one radiator cold?

In a hot-water heating system, trapped air is a common cause, especially if it's cold at the top. Bleeding the radiator often helps; if it doesn't, the valve or the system may need attention.

Should I use chemical drain cleaners?

It's best to avoid them. They can be hard on older pipes and rarely clear the real blockage. A slow drain is easier to fix early.

Boiler or water heater: what's the difference?

A boiler heats water for your radiators and often your faucets too, sometimes with a separate hot-water tank. A water heater only heats water for faucets and showers. We work on boilers, water heaters and the pipework around them.

153 1st Ave

East Village, New York

Open 24 hours · 7 days
Business
1st Ave Plumbing and Heating
Owner
James Hancock
Address
153 1ST AVE NEW YORK NY 10003
Hours
24 hours, 7 days a week
Something not running right? Call any time. (212) 293-0494

About 1st Ave Plumbing and Heating

1st Ave Plumbing and Heating is an established neighborhood plumbing and heating business at 153 1st Ave, owned by James Hancock, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The work covers the water and heat in the homes around us: boilers and hot water, baths and showers, sinks and faucets, toilets, leaks and drains, and hot-water heating. Whatever the job, the aim is the same: find the real cause, fix it properly, and leave your home as tidy as we found it.