Homeowner guides
Plumbing Guides for Ontario Homeowners
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most often: what things cost, how often work needs doing, and who to call when something stops working.
- How Much Does Drain Cleaning Cost in Ontario?Drain cleaning cost depends on which drain is blocked, how the line is accessed, whether the clog is grease, hair or tree roots, and whether a camera inspection is included.Read the guide
- Water Heater Replacement Cost in OntarioReplacement cost is driven by the type and size of the unit, gas or electric, the venting arrangement, and whether the existing water, gas and drainage connections need bringing up to current code.Read the guide
- Sewer Line Repair in Ontario: Trenchless vs ExcavationRepair cost depends on the length and depth of the run, the pipe material, whether the damage is a crack, a root intrusion or a collapse, and whether the line can be lined from inside or has to be dug up.Read the guide
- How to Stop Your Ontario Basement FloodingMost Ontario basement flooding comes from one of three sources: a failed or undersized sump pump, a sewer backup through the floor drain, or surface water finding its way in. Each has a different fix.Read the guide
- Frozen and Burst Pipes: What to Do FirstShut the water off at the main first, then open a tap to drain the system, then call. Everything else, including finding the exact break, comes after the water stops.Read the guide
- Hard Water in Ontario: Testing, Softeners and FiltrationMost of southern Ontario sits on limestone, so the water carries dissolved calcium and magnesium. That scale shortens the life of water heaters, tankless units, fixtures and appliances unless it is treated.Read the guide
- Is It a Plumbing Emergency? What to Do Before the Plumber ArrivesIt is an emergency if water is actively escaping, sewage is backing up, you have no water at all, or a water heater is leaking. Shut off the water first, then call.Read the guide
- Signs of a Hidden Water Leak and How Plumbers Find ItA rising water bill, a meter that moves with every tap off, damp patches, musty smells or warm spots on the floor all point to a hidden leak. A plumber can usually find it without opening walls at random.Read the guide
- Low Water Pressure in Your Home: Causes and FixesLow pressure at one fixture is usually a clogged aerator or cartridge. Low pressure everywhere points to a partly closed valve, a failing pressure-reducing valve, corroded pipes or a leak on the service line.Read the guide
- Sump Pump Not Working? Signs, Causes and When to Replace ItTest your sump pump by pouring a bucket of water into the pit: it should start, empty the pit and stop. If it hums, runs nonstop, cycles constantly or is over about ten years old, have it checked before the next storm.Read the guide
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