Trouble most often logged here
- Aging drain lines. Cast iron and clay pipes beneath older homes crack, collect scale or let roots in. Main drain clearing and a camera look are often the first step.
- Kitchen grease clogs. Long, flat kitchen drain runs in older basements; kitchen drain cleaning handles most cases.
- Hard water scale. Mineral buildup in fixtures and tanks; a water softener installation is a common choice.
- Older supply pipe. Galvanized remnants and undersized lines in the oldest houses.
- Commercial conversions. Older homes now used as offices or shops sometimes need updated fixtures or backflow protection.
Homes and streets in Pickering Village
The core along Kingston Road East and Church Street North has nineteenth-century buildings, some now shops, alongside early twentieth-century homes. Around them are post-war bungalows and later subdivisions. Older houses here may have stone or brick foundations, basements with low ceilings and plumbing that has been changed many times. Newer homes in the surrounding streets follow standard 1970s to 2000s construction.
Pickering Village is part of the Town of Ajax, so building permits come from Ajax rather than the City of Pickering.
Water, sewer and local rules
Pickering Village is part of the Town of Ajax, so building permits come from Ajax rather than the City of Pickering. Water and sanitary sewer service is provided by Durham Region, the same as in Pickering. Some properties in the historic core may carry heritage designation, which can affect exterior work; plumbing inside a building usually follows the normal permit process. The permits note gives general guidance that applies across Durham municipalities, though the specific office differs.
Working in older buildings
Low basement ceilings, rubble foundations and floors that have settled over a century all shape how plumbing is run in the village core. We take time to trace where existing pipes go before cutting anything, since past repairs can leave dead ends and abandoned lines. Where an old cast iron stack is cracked, replacing only the damaged section with modern pipe and proper couplings is often enough. Where a floor drain runs directly to the sanitary sewer without protection, a backwater valve is worth considering, especially if the basement has been finished.
Getting a plumber out to you
Pickering Village is a short drive east along Kingston Road or Highway 401 from our side of the boundary. Phone and describe the trouble; we can then give a sense of timing. For a flooded basement or a sewer backup, stop using water, keep clear of the floor drain and call us. For renovation work in an older home, a site visit helps us see the existing pipes and plan the best approach. Neighbouring Ajax and Whitby are also on our route.
Questions callers ask
Is Pickering Village part of Pickering?
No. Despite the name, it is the historic core of the Town of Ajax. It predates Ajax and kept its original name.
Who issues plumbing permits in Pickering Village?
The Town of Ajax building department, since the village is within Ajax.