Leaks and emergencies
Burst pipes, frozen pipes and water where it should not be. What to do before anything else.
Plumbing tips for Haverstraw, NY homes
The Village of Haverstraw has some of the oldest housing on the Hudson, from brick rowhouses to Victorians, while the town around it is mostly post-war. Here is what each means for plumbing, and how to find a licensed plumber.
Haverstraw made the bricks that built New York, and its village is built of them: rowhouses, two-families and Victorians on steep streets that run down to the Hudson, many from the 1800s. Around the village, the Town of Haverstraw, with Garnerville, Thiells and West Haverstraw, filled in after the war with capes, ranches and splits, and more recently with townhouses along the waterfront.
What the village houses have
- Every kind of pipe. Galvanized steel, copper of several vintages, and plastic, often all in the same house. Where the flow is weak at one fixture, the galvanized section is usually close to it.
- Cast iron stacks and clay laterals. Rowhouses may share a lateral, or have one that crosses a neighbor's property. A backup can be a joint problem, and a camera inspection tells you where the pipe goes.
- Steam heat in many, with old radiators and a boiler that has probably been replaced more than once. If radiators are cold, start with the vents.
- Masonry walls that hide pipe and hold moisture. A damp patch on a brick wall can be a leak, a rising-damp problem or condensation, and they need different fixes.
- Steep lots with basements cut into the hill, wet on the uphill side and prone to water coming in at the floor-to-wall joint.
What the town houses have
The post-war houses of Garnerville and Thiells have copper supply, cast iron drains that are now due for trouble, and finished basements that turn a small leak into a large repair. The newer townhouses have plastic supply and drain pipe and few problems yet, but a shared wall means a leak can travel, and the association rules say who pays for what.
Drainage
Public sewer throughout the village and most of the town, handled by a regional plant. The old laterals under the village streets are the weak point, with roots and offsets the usual findings.
Water
Public water. Pressure varies more here than almost anywhere in the county because of the slope. Low houses need a pressure-reducing valve; high ones may need a booster or simply patience at the top-floor shower.
When you need a professional
Plumbers in Haverstraw are licensed by Rockland County. The Find a plumber page opens a search near Haverstraw and explains the license check. For a village house, look for a plumber comfortable with old pipe and steam.
Plumbing topics for Haverstraw
Drains and toilets
Slow sinks, blocked tubs and toilets that run all night. Most of these you can fix yourself.
Water heaters
How long they last, how to look after one, and the warning signs that it is about to fail.
Boilers and radiators
Hot water and steam heating is common in Rockland homes. A little routine care goes a long way.
Faucets and fixtures
Dripping faucets, weak showers and the small jobs that are well within reach of a careful beginner.
Seasonal care and hiring a plumber
A short checklist for each season, and how to choose and check a plumber when the job is beyond you.
Common questions
The water pressure in my Haverstraw house is very high. Is that a problem?
It can be. Houses low on the hill, close to the river, often see pressure well above the 80 psi that fixtures are designed for. The signs are banging pipes, a dripping water heater relief valve and fill valves that fail early. A pressure-reducing valve on the main solves it. Measure first with a gauge on an outside spigot.
Does the village or the town handle my permit?
The Village of Haverstraw has its own building department; the rest of the town, including Garnerville and Thiells, goes through the Town of Haverstraw. Either way, plumbers are licensed by Rockland County, and the county can confirm a license.
Need a professional?
Some jobs are not for a weekend. Here is how to find a plumber near you in Rockland County and check the license before work starts.