These 15 short videos show the plumbing jobs our team handles every week in Brooklyn and across NYC: clogged floor drains, kitchen sinks and toilets, pinhole leaks and corroded water lines, low water pressure, outdoor faucets, shower valves and water heater valves. Most are under a minute and a half. If a repair needs a torch, involves gas, or the problem keeps coming back, call a licensed plumber at 718-748-2727, 24/7.
Jump to:
- Clogged drains, sinks and toilets (6 videos)
- Leaks, water lines and valves (7 videos)
- Plumber tips and techniques (2 videos)
Clogged drains, sinks and toilets
Clogged Basement Floor Drain? Watch Us Clear It with a RIDGID Drain Machine
Water coming up through a basement floor drain usually means a blockage between that drain and the street sewer. Here our plumber opens the drain, feeds a RIDGID drain machine cable with a cutting head through the line, clears the blockage, and runs the laundry sink to prove the water now flows away fast.
What you will see
- Opening the floor drain cover and the cleanout
- Running the RIDGID cable and cutter head through the line
- Watching the standing water drain away once the clog breaks
- Testing with the laundry sink to confirm the line is fully open
When to call a plumber: If several drains back up at once, sewage comes up in the basement, or the clog comes back within weeks, the problem is usually in the main sewer line. A camera inspection shows roots, grease or a broken pipe so it gets fixed once. See our drain cleaning page, or call 718-748-2727.
What Was in This Drain? Clearing a Badly Clogged Floor Drain
This floor drain was packed with black sludge and debris that years of runoff had pushed into it. Our plumber pulls the strainer, digs out the solids, runs a drain cable through the trap and line, and flushes it until the drain takes water freely again.
What you will see
- Removing the strainer and pulling out the packed debris by hand
- Running a drain cable through the trap and into the line
- Pulling back the cable to see what was blocking the drain
- Flushing the drain clean and confirming it flows
When to call a plumber: Floor drains that keep filling with dirt or smell like sewer gas often have a dry or broken trap, or a problem further down the line. We can camera the line and tell you exactly what is going on. See our drain cleaning page, or call 718-748-2727.
Clogged Kitchen Sink? How We Clear the Drain Inside the Wall
Grease and food waste build up inside the kitchen drain line in the wall, not just under the sink. Here our plumber opens access to the line, feeds a drain cable through the pipe behind the wall, and checks the result with a drain camera so the sink drains like new.
What you will see
- Accessing the kitchen drain line behind the cabinet wall
- Running the drain cable through the grease buildup
- Checking the inside of the line with a camera
- Running the sink to confirm it drains fast
When to call a plumber: If more than one fixture backs up, or the kitchen sink clogs every few months, the line likely needs hydro jetting to strip the grease off the pipe walls, not just a cable through the middle. See our hydro jetting page, or call 718-748-2727.
How to Fix a Leaking Kitchen Sink Drain in Under a Minute
A slow drip under the kitchen sink usually comes from the basket strainer or a worn slip joint, and over time it rots the cabinet floor. Here our plumber takes apart the leaking drain connection under the sink, replaces the worn parts, tightens everything back up, and runs water to prove it is dry.
What you will see
- Finding the exact joint that is leaking
- Taking apart the sink drain connection
- Fitting new parts and tightening the joint
- Running water and checking that everything stays dry
When to call a plumber: If water is leaking from the pipe inside the wall, the cabinet floor is soft, or there is a stain on the ceiling below, the leak is bigger than a loose fitting. Call us before it spreads. See our leak detection and repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Toilet Won’t Flush? Clearing the Line and Resetting the Toilet
When a plunger does not work, the blockage is often past the toilet itself. Here our plumber pulls the toilet, runs a drain machine straight down the closet flange to clear the line, sets a new wax ring, and resets the toilet so it flushes strong again.
What you will see
- Removing the toilet from the floor
- Running a drain machine cable down the toilet drain
- Setting a new wax ring on the flange
- Resetting the toilet and test flushing
When to call a plumber: If the toilet clogs again soon after, or other drains in the house gurgle when you flush, the main line needs attention. A sewer camera inspection finds the real cause. See our toilet repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
How to Replace a Bathtub Drain Strainer (Step by Step)
A rusted or loose bathtub drain strainer lets hair and grime build up, drains slowly and can leak into the ceiling below. In this video our plumber removes the old strainer with a drain removal tool, cleans the threads, sets the new strainer in fresh plumber’s putty, and tightens it down for a watertight seal.
What you will see
- Unscrewing the old strainer with a drain key, without damaging the tub finish
- Cleaning old putty and buildup off the drain opening
- Seating the new strainer on fresh plumber’s putty and threading it in
- Running water to confirm the tub drains fast and the seal holds
When to call a plumber: If the strainer will not turn, the drain shoe under the tub is cracked, or you see a stain on the ceiling under the bathroom, the leak is below the tub. That needs a licensed plumber with access from below. See our bathtub and fixture repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Leaks, water lines and valves
Pinhole Leak Spraying from a Copper Water Line: Fast Repair
Old copper pipe can wear a pinhole from the inside and start spraying without warning. Here our plumber stops the leak, cuts out the damaged section of copper in the basement ceiling, and solders in new pipe so the line is solid again.
What you will see
- Finding the pinhole that is spraying water
- Shutting the water and cutting out the bad section
- Fitting and soldering new copper pipe
- Turning the water back on and checking for leaks
When to call a plumber: One pinhole often means the pipe is thin in other places too. If you have had more than one leak, ask us about repiping that run before the next one floods the ceiling. See our leak detection and repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Repiping a Leaking, Corroded Water Line
Green and blue crust on a copper fitting means it has been weeping for a long time. Here our plumber cuts out a corroded, leaking section of water line, cleans the pipe, solders in new copper fittings and pipe, and leaves a clean, leak-free run.
What you will see
- The corroded fitting that was leaking
- Cutting out the old pipe and fittings
- Soldering in new copper with a torch
- The finished new section of water line
When to call a plumber: Corrosion like this rarely stops at one fitting. In older Brooklyn buildings we often recommend replacing the whole run instead of patching it piece by piece. See our repiping page, or call 718-748-2727.
Low Water Pressure Fixed: Replacing a Pressure Reducing Valve
If every faucet in the house suddenly lost pressure, a failed pressure reducing valve on the main line is a common cause. Here our plumber cuts out the old valve near the water main, installs a new pressure reducing valve with new copper, and sets it so the house gets strong, steady pressure again.
What you will see
- The old valve on the incoming water line
- Cutting the pipe and fitting the new pressure reducing valve
- Connecting it with new copper pipe
- The finished install, ready to set the pressure
When to call a plumber: Low pressure in only one fixture is usually a clogged aerator or cartridge. Low pressure everywhere can be the valve, the water main or old galvanized pipe, and that needs a plumber to diagnose. See our water line repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Installing a Frost-Free Outdoor Faucet (Hose Bib) in Under a Minute
A regular outdoor faucet can freeze and split inside the wall over a New York winter, and you only find out in spring. Here our plumber removes an old outdoor faucet and installs a frost-free hose bib that shuts off the water inside the warm part of the wall, then tests it.
What you will see
- Removing the old outdoor faucet from the wall
- Sliding in the new frost-free hose bib
- Connecting it to the water line inside
- Opening it up and testing the flow
When to call a plumber: If your outdoor faucet drips inside the basement after the first freeze, the pipe has likely split. Shut the water to it and call us. See our plumbing fixture installation page, or call 718-748-2727.
Replace a Leaking Toilet Shut-Off Valve in Under a Minute
The small valve behind your toilet is the first thing you reach for when the tank overflows. Old multi-turn valves corrode, seize and drip. Here our plumber removes a corroded shut-off valve, cleans the copper stub, installs a new chrome angle stop with a fresh escutcheon, and connects a braided stainless supply line to the toilet.
What you will see
- Removing the old corroded valve from the copper pipe
- Preparing the pipe and sliding on a new escutcheon
- Installing the new angle stop valve and tightening it
- Connecting a braided stainless supply line and testing for leaks
When to call a plumber: Call a plumber if the pipe coming out of the wall is galvanized steel, if it is corroded thin, or if your building’s main or riser valve has to be shut to do the work. In co-ops and condos the super usually has to be involved. See our toilet repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
How to Replace a Water Heater Shut-Off Valve Like a Pro
Every water heater needs a working cold water shut-off valve above it, so you can stop the water fast if the tank leaks. In this video our plumber cuts out an old valve on the cold supply, cleans and preps the copper, solders in new fittings with a torch, and installs a new ball valve, the same clean way we do it in Brooklyn basements every week.
What you will see
- Shutting off the water and cutting out the old valve
- Cleaning the copper and fittings so the solder joint takes
- Soldering the new copper and fittings with a torch
- Installing the new ball valve and checking every joint for leaks
When to call a plumber: Torch work next to a gas water heater and its flue is not a DIY job. If your valve will not close, the tank is leaking, or you smell gas near the heater, leave the area and call 911 from outside for gas, then call us at 718-748-2727. See our water heater repair and replacement page, or call 718-748-2727.
Replacing an Old Shower Valve Behind the Tile
An old shower valve that drips, runs too hot or will not shut off fully usually has to be replaced in the wall. Here our plumber opens the tile, cuts out the old valve, solders in a new shower valve body with copper, installs the cartridge, and gets it ready for the trim and tile repair.
What you will see
- Opening the tile wall to reach the old valve
- Cutting out the old shower valve
- Soldering the new valve body into the copper lines
- Installing the cartridge and testing the new valve
When to call a plumber: Shower valve work means shutting the water and opening the wall, and in an apartment building it may mean the riser. Let a licensed plumber handle it so the new valve is set at the right depth and nothing leaks behind the tile. See our shower and fixture repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Plumber tips and techniques
Copper Pipe Cleaner vs. Thick Old Paint: Prepping Pipe for Solder
Solder will not stick to painted or dirty copper, and that is how bad joints and future leaks start. Here our plumber uses a drill-driven copper pipe cleaner to strip thick old paint off a pipe in seconds, down to bright, clean copper ready for a solid joint.
What you will see
- The painted copper pipe before cleaning
- The pipe cleaner bit on a drill working through the paint
- Bright, clean copper ready for soldering
When to call a plumber: Clean prep is the difference between a joint that lasts decades and one that drips next month. It is one of the details we never skip. See our repiping page, or call 718-748-2727.
Should You Use Pipe Dope on a Compression Fitting? A Plumber Shows
A compression fitting seals with a brass ring (the olive or ferrule) squeezed onto the pipe, and plumbers argue about whether to add jointing compound. Here our plumber shows how he assembles and tightens a compression fitting on a valve, with a light coat of compound on the ring, for a joint that seals the first time.
What you will see
- Fitting the compression ring and nut onto the copper
- Applying a light coat of jointing compound
- Tightening the fitting with two wrenches
- The finished, sealed joint
When to call a plumber: This video shows a fitting technique. Any work on a gas valve or gas line in NYC must be done by a licensed plumber with the right qualifications. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 from outside. See our plumbing fixture repair page, or call 718-748-2727.
Need it done for you?
Nationwide Plumbers has worked on Brooklyn’s brownstones, pre-war co-ops and walk-ups since 1984. Every job is done by our own crews under NYC Licensed Master Plumber #2023, with a written estimate before work starts. See more of our jobs on our work page.
Call Nationwide Plumbers at 718-748-2727, we answer 24/7.
