Before you call
- 1Find the main shut-offtypically at the spot where the service pipe comes in wall, often near the front of the house
- 2Note what you seeclear water, grey water or sewage tells us very different stories
- 3Check other fixturesone slow drain or every drain in the house points to different causes
- 4Keep power safestay out of standing water near outlets, the furnace or the panel
- 5Then callhave your address and a phone you can answer handy
01Emergencies
Water coming through a ceiling, a pipe spraying in the basement or sewage rising through a floor drain all count. So does a water heater pouring water from the bottom. Turn off the main, or the cold supply to the heater, and phone right away.
02Drains and sewers
One slow fixture usually means a local clog in its trap or branch. When several fixtures back up at the lowest point of the house, normally the basement floor drain, point to the main sewer line. In older Scarborough streets that line is often clay or cast iron and can be cracked or full of roots.
03Water heaters and fixtures
Tank heaters in Ontario are very often rentals. If yours is, the rental company may need to handle the swap, and we will tell you that before touching it. For owned units we repair, replace or convert to tankless.
Questions and answers
What is step one after a pipe splits?
Shut the main water valve, open a low faucet to drain pressure, keep clear of wet electrical equipment and then phone a plumber.
How come rain makes my floor drain overflow?
Heavy storms can overload the municipal sewer and force water back up the lateral toward the house. The usual cure is a check valve on the main drain line, which Toronto has helped fund in some years; check what the program offers today.
Is a rented water heater my responsibility?
Generally the rental company owns and services a rented tank. Check your agreement before paying anyone else to replace it.
Are chemical drain cleaners safe for old pipes?
They can damage old cast iron and plastic traps and they make the job more hazardous for the plumber who follows. A snake or auger is the safer fix.
Does Scarborough plumbing work need a permit?
Scarborough is part of the City of Toronto, which requires plumbing permits for many jobs such as new drains, new fixtures in new locations and backwater valves. Simple repairs and like-for-like swaps usually do not.
Why do my pipes bang when a tap closes?
That bang is water hammer, set off by the quick-shutting valves in washing machines and dishwashers, and an arrestor near the appliance or a pressure-reducing valve usually cures it.