Nationwide Plumbers is a NYC Licensed Master Plumber (License #2023), in business since 1984 with 24/7 emergency dispatch. In New Brighton we repipe and update historic houses, service old radiator heating, repair sewers and handle gas piping. Call 718-748-2727.
New Brighton stretches along Richmond Terrace and the Kill Van Kull on the North Shore, just west of St. George, with Snug Harbor Cultural Center nearby on the Terrace. Behind the waterfront, streets climb a steep hill lined with some of Staten Island's oldest houses: Victorian, Italianate and Greek Revival frame homes, many from the 1800s, along with later row houses and apartment buildings. Several of the old houses have been divided into apartments.
Plumbing in houses this old is rarely original, but it is rarely modern either. Most have been updated in layers, so a single house can hold cast iron, galvanized, brass, copper and plastic. Owners restoring these homes want work done carefully, without needless damage to plaster, trim and floors. We take that approach, and New Brighton is covered by our 24/7 dispatch for emergencies.
Services we offer in New Brighton
- Repiping of 19th century houses, planned around original finishes
- Leak detection in plaster walls and ceilings
- Radiator and boiler service for gravity hot water and steam systems
- Boiler replacement sized to the house
- Cast iron and clay sewer repair on hillside lots
- Gas line repair and pressure testing in converted houses
- Fixture installation for period bathrooms
- Sump pumps for low basements near Richmond Terrace
Common plumbing issues in New Brighton
Layers of old piping
A house built in the 1800s may have had indoor plumbing added decades later, then reworked several times. Galvanized supply joined to brass, cast iron drains with plastic repairs, and abandoned pipes left in walls are all common. Before quoting a repair in a house like this, we trace what actually serves each fixture, so the work fixes the problem instead of adding another layer.
Old gravity and steam heating
Some New Brighton houses still have very large cast iron radiators on gravity hot water or steam systems, often with a newer boiler fitted to old piping. These systems can work well when set up properly, but mismatched boilers short-cycle and waste fuel. We service the system, correct the controls and near-boiler piping, and size any replacement to the house rather than the old equipment.
Converted houses and gas
When a large house is divided into apartments, each unit usually gets a range and sometimes its own heater, and the gas piping is extended in pieces. Old pipe and fittings can leak. If you smell gas, leave and call National Grid. Afterward, we locate the leak, correct the piping and pressure test the system before service is restored.
Why New Brighton residents choose Nationwide Plumbers
- Licensed Master Plumber, License #2023, insured, since 1984
- Careful work in historic houses, with a written estimate before we open any wall
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
- Free estimates on repiping and boiler replacement
Service area in and around New Brighton
We service all of New Brighton, Staten Island (ZIP 10301), for emergencies 24/7 and for scheduled work.
Nearby neighborhoods we also serve: St. George, West Brighton, Randall Manor and Tompkinsville. For our full coverage, see our Staten Island service area page.
Plumbing in New Brighton: FAQ
Can you repipe an old house without ruining the plaster?
We plan routes through closets, floors and existing chases to keep openings small, and work floor by floor. Some openings are unavoidable, and we tell you where they will be before starting. The written estimate spells out what we will open and what you will need patched.
Should I keep my old radiators?
Often yes. Cast iron radiators hold heat well and last a very long time. The usual problems are in the boiler, controls or valves, not the radiators themselves. We can inspect the system and give you an honest opinion. Call 718-748-2727.
My basement near Richmond Terrace gets wet. What helps?
Low blocks near the water can see groundwater and storm seepage. A sump pump with battery backup handles seepage, and a backwater valve stops sewer water from coming up through floor drains. We inspect and recommend what fits your basement.
