Order of a house call

On the phone we note what is leaking or plugged, where, and since when.
We ask whether the main is shut and give you a time window.
On site, the plumber looks first: meter, shut-off, cleanout, heater plate.
The cause is explained without jargon, and the price is set before any cutting.
After the repair we run water, test the joint or drain and clean up.

Residential services by type

Drains and sewers

Water heaters

Leaks and pipes

Basements and flooding

Fixtures and rooms

Water quality and wells

What a house call covers

Sinks, tubs and laundry standpipes that drain sluggishly or burp air
The main building drain and the lateral out to the street or septic tank
Copper, galvanized and PEX supply lines, from the meter to every fixture
Tank and tankless water heaters, rented or owned
Sump pumps, battery backups and mainline backwater valves
Toilets, faucets, shower valves and outdoor hose bibs
Well pumps, pressure tanks, softeners and filters on rural lots

South of the 401, Bay Ridges and West Shore hold plenty of 1960s and 1970s houses: cast iron soil stacks, vitrified clay or early ABS service laterals, and basement floors only a short way above groundwater.

Housing stock we work in

South of the 401, Bay Ridges and West Shore hold plenty of 1960s and 1970s houses: cast iron soil stacks, vitrified clay or early ABS service laterals, and basement floors only a short way above groundwater. Liverpool, Amberlea and Dunbarton add a lot of 1980s copper that is now growing pinholes. North of Highway 7, Seaton and Duffin Heights are PEX manifolds and ABS drains, and the hamlets of Claremont, Brougham and Whitevale lean on private wells and septic beds.

Each of those means a different first look. A lakeside basement call starts at the floor drain and the sump pit. A Seaton call often starts at the manifold closet. A Claremont call usually starts at the pressure tank.

Signs it is time to phone

Water on the basement floor after a storm or a load of laundry
Lukewarm showers or a heater that rumbles and ticks
A water meter that turns with every tap closed
More than one drain slowing at the same time
Rusty or cloudy water from a well or older galvanized lines

Where to go next

Browse the full list of plumbing services, look up your neighbourhood, or read the homeowner guides before you call. Running a restaurant, plaza or rental building instead? Our commercial plumbing page covers that side of the work.

Questions callers ask

Do you work on rented water heaters?

We can diagnose a rented tank and tell you what is wrong, but repairs on a rental usually belong to the rental company under your agreement. Check your contract before we replace anything.

Do you handle homes on wells and septic?

Yes. Claremont, Brougham, Whitevale and Greenwood homes are regular calls: well pumps, pressure switches, tanks and the drain lines heading to the septic tank.

Residential plumbing for Pickering houses