Plumbing and HVAC, diagnosed under one roof
5Star Plumbing Air works on water and air across New York City — leaks, drains, water heaters, bathrooms, air conditioning, radiators, mini-splits, and ventilation. We find the cause first, then quote the fix.
1496 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10031 · Call to check current availability
Water and air, handled properly
We split everything we do into two sides. Most jobs sit clearly in one; the interesting ones sit between them.
Water side
Everything that carries water in or waste out — and the leaks, blockages, and fixture problems that come with pre-war plumbing.
- Leak detection with minimal opening
- Drain, stack, and building sewer clearing
- Water heaters: tank, tankless, and indirect
- Fixture replacement and renovation rough-in
Air side
Heating, cooling, and ventilation — including the century-old steam systems that heat much of this city.
- AC diagnosis, repair, and correct sizing
- Steam and hot water heating, radiators and valves
- Ductless mini-splits where ducts aren't possible
- Exhaust, humidity, and air quality problems
The overlap is where money gets wasted
The two trades overlap constantly in New York apartments, and that overlap is where money gets wasted. A wet ceiling can be a supply leak, a waste line, a failed shower pan, or an air conditioning condensate line that's backed up. A cold apartment can be a boiler problem or a distribution problem, and only one of those needs a boiler.
When a plumbing company diagnoses those, the answer tends to be plumbing. When an HVAC company does, the answer tends to be HVAC. We do both, so we can test for what it actually is — including reaching the conclusion that it isn't ours and telling you so.
How we workWhat you can expect
- A price quoted after diagnosis, not from a phone description
- Both trades under one roof, so no finger-pointing between them
- Certificate of insurance issued to your building before we start
- A written summary you can hand to your managing agent or insurer
Eight services, two trades
We run plumbing and HVAC under one roof, which matters more than it sounds — a lot of NYC complaints sit on the boundary between them.
Plumbing Plumbing
Leak Detection & Pipe Repair
Ceiling stains, a spiking bill, or a neighbour complaining downstairs. We find it before the building does.
Read more →Drain Cleaning & Sewer Line Service
Cabling, jetting, and camera work for kitchen lines, stacks, and building sewers that keep backing up.
Read more →Water Heater Repair & Installation
Tank, tankless, and indirect units — including the walk-up and clearance problems specific to NYC buildings.
Read more →Bathroom & Kitchen Plumbing
Fixture replacement, valve work, and renovation rough-in coordinated with your building's rules and schedule.
Read more →Heating & Cooling Heating & Cooling
Air Conditioning Repair & Installation
Central systems, condensers, and through-wall units diagnosed properly — refrigerant leaks included.
Read more →Heating, Boiler & Radiator Service
Steam and hot water systems, radiator valves, and the banging, cold-room complaints that come with pre-war heat.
Read more →Ductless Mini-Split Installation
Cooling and heating for apartments and brownstones with no ductwork — and honest talk about approvals.
Read more →Indoor Air Quality & Ventilation
Bath and kitchen exhaust, filtration, and humidity problems in apartments that were never built to breathe.
Read more →How a job runs
Describe the symptom
Water, heat, or air. What's happening, since when, and whether anything is actively leaking.
We diagnose on site
Pressure test, camera, or full HVAC diagnostic, depending on what the symptom points to.
One price, agreed first
A firm number for a scope you've seen, plus alternatives where they genuinely exist.
Fix, test, document
We complete the work, verify it, and give you a written summary for your building if you need one.
What to do before you call us
| Situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Water actively running or flooding | Shut the valve if you can reach it, then call | Damage compounds by the minute, and in a building it becomes several people's problem |
| No heat in cold weather | Call. If you rent, contact your landlord or 311 first | Heat is a legal obligation of the owner during heat season |
| No hot water | Call, and mention whether it's a tank or an indirect off the boiler | Those are different diagnoses and we bring different parts |
| Ceiling stain, not actively dripping | Photograph it and call to schedule | Worth locating properly rather than urgently opening the wrong wall |
| AC out in a heat wave | Call, and check your filter and breaker first | A dirty filter or tripped breaker is a free fix you can do before we arrive |
| Radiator banging or cold | Schedule it, don't wait for winter | These are usually inexpensive fixes that get worse and cost more once heat season starts |
General guidance, not a substitute for your building's emergency procedure or 911 where there's a safety risk.
Photographs from real jobs
Every image here is from work our own crew carried out. No stock photography.
These are plumbing jobs from our own work. We're building a photo record of our HVAC installations and will publish those here rather than using stock images of equipment we didn't install.
What people usually call about
Plumbing Water side
Heating & Cooling Air side
What customers say
“Ceiling stain that two other plumbers guessed at. They pressure tested first, found it was the AC condensate line, not a pipe. Saved me opening a wall for nothing.”
“One radiator was always freezing. They replaced a vent, rebalanced the system, and it's been fine since. I'd been quoted a new boiler elsewhere.”
“Handled the COI with my managing agent themselves, which is the part I was dreading. Water heater swapped in a walk-up without drama.”
Comments shared by customers about their service visits.
Where we work
We're based at 1496 Amsterdam Avenue in Hamilton Heights and work across Manhattan — Harlem, Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, the Upper West and Upper East Sides, and downtown — with regular service into the Bronx and parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Travel, parking, and building access all affect scheduling more in this city than distance does. If you're at the edge of that range, call and ask before booking and we'll give you a straight answer.
Call (646) 405-3856Frequently asked questions
Do you handle both plumbing and HVAC, or do you subcontract one of them?
Both, in house. That matters more than it sounds in New York, because a lot of complaints sit on the boundary — a wet ceiling that turns out to be an AC condensate line, or a cold apartment that's a heating distribution problem rather than a boiler failure. One company diagnosing both means fewer visits and no finger-pointing between trades.
Is there a charge for the diagnostic visit?
For most repair calls, yes, and we tell you the amount when you book rather than after. Quotes that come from a walkthrough rather than diagnostics — a mini-split installation or a fixture replacement, for example — are typically free to assess. We'll be specific about which applies to your job on the phone.
Can you provide a certificate of insurance for my building?
Yes. Most co-ops and condos require a COI naming the building and managing agent before a contractor can start work, and we can have one issued. Give us those details at booking — insurance paperwork is very often what delays a repair, not the repair itself.
Which neighbourhoods do you cover?
We're on Amsterdam Avenue in Hamilton Heights and work across Manhattan, with regular service into the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, and parts of Brooklyn and Queens. If you're outside that, call and ask before booking rather than after.
Do you work with tenants, owners, or buildings?
All three, though the authorisation differs. Owners and shareholders can book work inside their own unit directly. Building systems — risers, stacks, common exhaust, building boilers — need the managing agent or super to authorise. If you're a tenant in a rental with a heat or hot water problem, that's your landlord's legal obligation and 311 is often the faster route; we'll say so rather than taking a booking that isn't yours to make.
What if the problem turns out to be the building's responsibility, not mine?
We'll tell you, document what we found, and stop. Diagnosing that clearly is genuinely useful — it's what you need to hand to your board or managing agent. We'd rather charge you for a diagnostic that saves you a repair bill than do work that wasn't yours to pay for.
Do you offer emergency service?
We prioritise active leaks, no-heat calls in cold weather, and no-hot-water situations. Availability depends on the day and what's already scheduled, so call and we'll give you a realistic window rather than a promise we might miss.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you what it means
Describe the symptom — water, heat, or air. You'll get an honest read on urgency, what diagnosis involves, and what it costs before anyone comes out.