Nationwide Plumbers is a NYC Licensed Master Plumber, License #2023, serving the city since 1984. In Chinatown we handle restaurant gas lines and grease jetting, market drains, tenement risers and Local Law 152 inspections, with 24/7 dispatch. Call 718-748-2727.
Manhattan's Chinatown spreads out from Mott, Pell, Doyers and Bayard Streets across Canal Street and east along East Broadway toward the Manhattan Bridge. Columbus Park sits at its southwestern corner. The building stock is mostly tenements and walk-ups from the late 1800s and early 1900s, plus some larger mid-century apartment buildings, with restaurants, bakeries, fish and produce markets and shops filling nearly every ground floor.
That density of food businesses puts heavy demands on old buildings. Restaurants with high-output wok ranges need large gas supplies, kitchens and markets send grease, ice melt and food waste into drains, and many basements are used for storage and prep. Above the stores, residents rely on steam heat, aging gas risers and cast iron stacks shared with the businesses below.
Services we offer in Chinatown
- Commercial gas piping for wok ranges, ovens and steamers
- Local Law 152 inspections and GPS2 filings
- Drain cleaning and jetting for restaurants and markets
- Floor drain, trench drain and grease interceptor service
- Gas riser replacement and gas restoration
- Commercial water heaters and booster heaters
- Steam boiler repair for apartment buildings
- Backflow preventer testing
Common plumbing issues in Chinatown
Gas supply for high-output cooking
Wok ranges and large stock burners draw a lot of gas, and kitchens are often expanded without upgrading the piping. The result is weak flames when every burner is lit. We calculate the total load, resize the gas line from the meter when needed and file the work. Proper sizing also makes Local Law 152 inspections go more smoothly.
Market drains and floor buildup
Fish and produce markets wash down floors with large volumes of water carrying scales, ice and debris. Floor drains and the lines behind them clog and smell when solids settle. We clear the lines with our own hydro jetter, check them with a camera and recommend strainers or cleanouts that make routine maintenance easier.
Risers shared by stores and apartments
In tenement buildings the same stack may carry a restaurant's waste and the bathrooms of several apartments above. Grease buildup or a cracked section affects everyone. We locate the problem, clear or repair it and coordinate with the landlord and tenants to keep shutdowns short. We put the plan and price in writing before work begins.
Why Chinatown residents choose Nationwide Plumbers
- Commercial gas and drain work under one Licensed Master Plumber
- Own jetter for heavy restaurant and market buildup
- Written estimate before work starts
- 24/7 emergency dispatch
Service area in and around Chinatown
We service all of Chinatown, Manhattan (ZIP 10013, 10002), for emergencies 24/7 and for scheduled work.
Nearby neighborhoods we also serve: Little Italy, Lower East Side, Tribeca, Lower Manhattan and Nolita. For our full coverage, see our Manhattan service area page.
Plumbing in Chinatown: FAQ
Our restaurant's flames are weak when the kitchen is busy. Why?
The most common cause is a gas line that is too small for the total load of the appliances, especially after equipment has been added. A failing regulator can also be at fault. We test pressure under load, find the cause and quote the correction.
Can you jet a market's floor drains after closing?
Yes. We schedule commercial jetting at night or early morning to avoid business hours. Jetting comes with a 45-day guarantee. Call 718-748-2727 to schedule. We bring our own jetter and leave the area clean.
Our building failed its LL152 inspection. What happens next?
Conditions found during the inspection have to be corrected, and some may require an immediate shutoff by Con Edison. We explain each finding, repair the piping, file the work and complete the GPS2 certification. See our gas line repair page.
Do you have technicians who speak languages other than English?
Our technicians speak English, Spanish and French. For other languages, many customers have a family member or manager join the call. We always put the scope and price in a written estimate before any work starts.
