Ottawa Drain Repair

A close-up view of a plumber using a wrench to tighten the connection between two drain pipes during an appointment for drain repair in Ottawa

Most people enjoy having a nice, long, hot shower—but it’s a lot less pleasant when you find yourself standing ankle-deep in dirty, scummy water by the time you’re finished bathing. It certainly doesn’t give you that fresh, clean feeling. A typical reaction to this problem is to basically just hope it will go away on its own, but that rarely happens. This is a classic sign that indicates the need for an Ottawa drain repair service. Local homeowners often don’t realize that avoiding or ignoring less serious signs of trouble, such as a slow shower drain, can lead to much bigger problems with their plumbing systems.

While clogged drains are obviously not anyone’s idea of a good time, whether they’re in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or other parts of your house, they can usually be solved with a few simple tools like a plunger and a good dose of elbow grease. But sometimes you come across a real drainage problem that isn’t going to budge no matter how hard you plunge—or it could be lurking much deeper in your plumbing system and masquerading as a minor issue for drain repair. Ottawa residents don’t have to struggle alone when they can call a local, qualified plumber for expert drain service.

Suspect it’s time for professional drain repair? Ottawa plumbers from Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa are at your service! We bring decades of combined experience with residential and commercial drain repair issues in Ottawa and nearby communities. We know exactly what to do to get your wastewater disposal lines back in perfect working order. Count on us for excellent customer service and reliable services done right. We’ll repair your drains in no time!

Our Expert Ottawa Drain Repair Services

There may be components or areas of your house that you don’t use on a regular basis, but your plumbing system is certainly not one of them. We all need to use plumbing multiple times per day, and in some households, that could add up to hundreds of uses per day. But despite the fact that we rely so heavily on our plumbing systems to keep us and our homes comfortable and sanitary, we don’t tend to give much thought to their care and maintenance. The wastewater disposal part of your system is complex, with a lot of twists and turns hidden away behind your walls. It’s built to last, but it can’t keep operating forever without the occasional Ottawa drain repair. You can get effective, efficient services from a professional plumber by calling the experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa.

Drain Inspection

Dealing with Ottawa drain repair issues can be really frustrating because almost everything is hidden away inside pipes that are buried underground or in the walls of your house. Homeowners sometimes tell us they wish they could see exactly what’s causing the gurgling noise, leak, or backup, and with video camera inspection, they actually can. Video inspections are done by attaching a small camera and an LED light to a flexible cable. Your Ottawa plumber then maneuvers the drain camera through your wastewater disposal line as it records video footage. When it has been retrieved, your plumber can play it back and interpret what the camera “saw” to figure out the location and nature of the blockage and offer their professional recommendation on the best course of action for drain repair.

What exactly will we see? We may spot a blockage, cracks, or possibly roots from trees. You can rely on us to explain our recommendations clearly and answer any questions they may have so they fully understand the problem and the proposed solution.

HydroScrub® Jetting

When it comes time to repair drains that are clogged, plumbers on our team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing use the highly effective and efficient method called hydro jetting. It’s a revolutionary method of removing clogs and debris by blasting high-pressure jets of water through wastewater disposal lines and pushing clog-causing substances through your system into the city sanitary sewer. Unlike drain snakes, which only pull up the main mass of a blockage, hydro jetting prevents clogs from forming up again right away by removing sticky materials such as solidified grease from pipe walls so there’s nothing for debris to cling to and form a blockage. The other big advantage to hydro jetting is it helps your system stay in great shape for longer than it would otherwise, which means you can go longer without having to worry about drain line replacement.

Trenchless Sewer Repair and Replacement

If someone is under the impression that their system is only suffering from a stubborn clogged pipe that needs drain repair, Ottawa plumbers are well aware that they’re none too pleased when they get the news that they actually need a sewer line repair or replacement. Frankly, that’s understandable—especially if they imagine a drawn-out, damaging process that involves digging a long, deep trench across their property and destroying the landscaping or hardscaping in the process. That was indeed how sewer repair or replacement was handled in years gone by; our experienced plumbers are now able to complete most sewer line projects with trenchless drain repair methods that are far faster, more effective and less destructive because they eliminate the need for a major, time-consuming, costly excavation. There are a few different trenchless techniques that may be called for, including pipe relining and hydraulic bursting, and they only require two small holes to be dug at either end of the line being worked on.

Why You Need Ottawa Drain Repair Services

When our professional plumbers arrive to deliver services such as drain repair, Ottawa homeowners often ask us what we think caused the problem in the first place. Of course, we won’t know the answer until we’ve inspected your particular drainage system, but in our experience, there are some very common causes that depend on where in your house the problem is occurring.

Here are some of the causes of drain issues that we encounter most often:

  • Kitchen Drain Repair: If the problem is related to the kitchen sink, there’s a very good chance it is being caused, at least in part, by solidified fat, oil and grease (in the plumbing industry, this trio is sometimes referred to as FOG for short). While the grease may be liquid when you pour it into the fixture, grease buildup quickly solidifies inside the sewer pipe and creates a sticky trap for other debris, like food scraps.
  • Bathroom Drain Repair: The bathroom has an array of drain types, so it’s not surprising so many sewer backup problems originate there. For the bathroom sink and bathtub drain, the problem is often big tangles of hair that block the flow of wastewater. But, when it comes to the cause of a clogged toilet, the issue is usually related to foreign objects inside of pipes that were accidentally (or not-so-accidentally) flushed.
  • Floor Drain Repair: Floor drains in laundry rooms and other utility rooms usually suffer blockages from dirt and other debris like dryer lint that gets kicked into them or sometimes directly swept into them with a broom.
  • Sewer Line Damage and Blockages: Problems deeper down in your wastewater lines, particularly the portion that is buried underground, are often related to broken pipes that have been cracked by tree roots. Once roots get inside the line, they grow very fast and can fill an entire length of sewer pipe. Needless to say, this causes major issues that require trenchless sewer line repair or replacement.

When you need us to repair your drains, schedule a service appointment today!

Mr. Rooter Plumbing is Your Local Expert for Ottawa Drain Repair

When your system is due (or possibly very overdue) for Ottawa drain repair, experts at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa are standing by to deliver reliable, long-lasting plumbing repairs. We also provide a wide range of other plumbing services for your entire system, including drain cleaning service, pressure-reducing valve installation, water heater installation, sump pump installation and much more. When you call us for scheduled or emergency service, you can rest assured that we’ll send out an experienced, licensed plumber who knows how to work safely, adhere to all applicable building codes, and get the work done correctly so you can get back to your daily routines.

Are your drain pipe issues getting the best of you? It’s high time you did something about them, and our expert plumbers can help.

Here are a few additional reasons Ottawa locals love what we provide:

  • Upfront, flat-rate pricing: Knowing all of the repair costs before your service starts is important. We charge by the job, not the hour and all potential costs are laid out before we begin. We’ll never charge you overtime fees if you call us on nights or weekends either.
  • Convenient appointment times: Whether you’re calling for water line repair, a plumbing installation, or because you have a clog caused by too much toilet paper, we will be there to help. What’s more, we’ll arrive at your home on time and in uniform, ready to get to work. We know your time is precious, and we work diligently to get your system back up and running.
  • Workmanship and parts guaranteed: When choosing a service provider for your Ottawa drain repair, you want to know that the parts they used when the pipe burst are going to last. With Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa, you will. We back our workmanship and parts with a 1-year warranty.
  • Locally owned and operated: We care about helping our community, and that means providing fast service for a reasonable cost. As a locally owned business part of a national franchise, we provide the best of both worlds, merging professional service and high standards with a courteous attitude and friendly smile.

Need more information about Ottawa drain repair before you book? Read our most frequently asked questions below. We aim for total transparency in all that we do, and that means keeping you informed every step of the way.

Frequently Asked Questions About Ottawa Drain Repair

Do you have some questions on your mind about Ottawa drain repair? Give us a call any time to speak with our friendly customer service representatives and get those queries answered in a timely manner. Or check out our replies to some frequently asked questions that we often hear from local home and business owners when repairing drains.

What Are the Indications That I Need Ottawa Drain Repair?

It’s quite common for an issue with a wastewater disposal system to be nearly unnoticeable when it first starts, then slowly get more and more serious and cause more problems for the household until it’s a major headache that is threatening to cause moisture damage or even structural issues from wood rot and other moisture-related disasters. It’s much less stressful, expensive and time-consuming to get problems dealt with early on to avoid the possibility of a plumbing catastrophe. Here are some indications that you should consider calling an Ottawa plumber for drain repair sooner rather than later:

  • Water stays in plumbing fixtures for a long time due to slow drains
  • Grinding, banging, gurgling, squeaking or sucking noises from wastewater lines
  • A foul odour from wastewater lines, such as sewage smells, or rotting food smells
  • A fixture keeps clogging very frequently for no clear reason
  • Visible sewage backing up in low-lying fixtures such as toilets, showers, bathtubs and floor grates
  • Obvious leaks or puddles forming near plumbing fixtures
  • Small insects hovering near drainage openings
  • Problems with your lawn, such as sudden lush patches or soggy grass at low points

More extreme signs of drain issues include sewage backups and obvious broken drains. However, not every symptom you need pipe drain repair is that obvious. Sometimes it’s your home’s sewer lateral that’s in trouble—an issue that may require drain relining or bursting. A great way to avoid issues, both big and small, is to get your sewer drains inspected regularly. Having a qualified plumber repair your drains early could prevent expensive future repairs.

How Often Do My Drains Need Cleaning?

Slow or clogged drains aren't something that you should ignore. That's why you need to make drain cleanings part of your regular routine of home maintenance. You should be calling your Ottawa drain cleaning service to schedule a professional cleaning service at least once per year.

The service helps to to maintain clean lines over time, while eliminating debris buildup that can cause clogs if left to grow. Even if you don't notice any signs that your drains need a cleaning, you should still schedule an annual drain cleaning annually.

You can also maintain your drains between professional cleanings on a monthly or weekly basis. You can do this by utilizing the following methods:

  • Plunge any clogged drains to boost the pressure, allowing blockages to move through the drain pipes. Be aware that different fixtures require different plungers. For example, a cup plunger can be used on sink or shower drains, while a flanged plunger is designed for toilets.
  • If you notice any blockages or minor clogs, running a plumber's auger or snake down the drain to catch any material that might be obstructing drainage flow. Doing so will either remove them or break them up enough that they can easily pass through your drainage plumbing.
  • Once every week, you should pour boiling water into your drains. The heat from the hot water will work to soften matter and force it through pipes.
  • Use a mixture of a cup of a baking soda and vinegar to help with cleaning them out and remove blockages without the need for harsh drain cleaners or chemicals.

Why Should I Avoid Chemical Drain Cleaners?

Whatever you decide to to do to maintain your drains, you should not be pouring chemical cleaners down your home's drains. These products are well-known for causing more harm to your plumbing than the good that they do. Here are the main reasons why you should be avoiding using chemical drain cleaners:

  • Chemical drain cleaning products can eat away at pipes, causing corrosion that will lead to leaks and cause enough problems over time that you'll need to replace your plumbing lines before their time.
  • If you have a septic tank, then a chemical drain cleaner can interrupt the bacterial breakdown that goes on in your septic tank, which can lead to problems with your septic system.
  • The toxins in drain cleaners pollute water sources and natural habitats, while their bottles are disposed in landfills, causing more pollution.
  • The chemicals used aren't appropriate for removing all the types of blockages that can occur inside your home's drain lines.

What is a Stack in a Plumbing System?

In simple terms, a plumbing stack is a large vertical pipe that connects to smaller branches (wastewater lines) that deposit wastewater into it. There are two key types of stacks in your wastewater system: a drain stack that is used to move wastewater out of your building and a vent stack that controls air pressure in your system. An issue or blockage in either one of them is a serious problem that needs the attention of a qualified drain technician for Ottawa drain repair right away.

Is Trenchless Sewer Repair Faster Than Conventional Methods?

It’s actually much faster than traditional drain repair methods because trenchless techniques eliminate the requirement to spend multiple days of hard labour digging a large, deep trench and closing it up afterward. It also saves the time that would need to be spent restoring your landscaping after the damage was done. In fact, our plumbing professionals can typically complete trenchless sewer line methods such as pipe lining in a single day, so there’s no need for your household to relocate overnight.

How Can I Prevent the Need for Ottawa Drain Repair in the Future?

Never again want to deal with needing drain repair? You can avoid major issues with their wastewater lines by making sure they get the regular drain maintenance services they need. Routine maintenance is critically important to not only avoiding stressful problems but keeping your wastewater disposal system in excellent shape for a long time so you don’t need frequent replacements. That could involve annual hydro jetting, for example, to remove buildup before it has a chance to cause any problems for your family.

Do I Need a Plumbing Expert For Ottawa Drain Repair?

One of the many benefits of choosing a professional plumber for your Ottawa drain repair is that you can have peace of mind knowing all the plumbing issues in your home are addressed. Whether you call us during a plumbing emergency or for a scheduled repair, we will take the stress off your shoulders and handle it efficiently. Worried about the cost? At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we provide upfront, flat-rate prices for all of our customers. What’s more, we provide a warranty on our parts and labor to deliver total customer satisfaction.

How Long Do Drain Lines Last?

Generally, you're going to find that the majority of sewer lines last between 50 up to 100 years. So, you shouldn't need to do a sewer line replacement during your lifetime, especially if your home is new construction. However, you should watch out for signs that signal that your drain lines and sewer line need replacement—just in case something has gone terribly wrong.

Revive Your Household Pipes With Drain Repair! Ottawa’s Favourite Plumber is Mr. Rooter Plumbing

A plumber in Ottawa explaining drain repair services to a customer.

When it comes to expert Ottawa drain repair, you can turn to the team of professional plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa to deliver outstanding plumbing service combined with attention to detail and customer care that goes the extra mile. Whether you live in Nepean, Barrhaven, Kanata or Orleans, we’re only a call away.

Get in contact with your preferred Ottawa plumbing company today by calling to schedule an appointment for service at a time that works best for you. When you do, you can rest assured we will arrive promptly, in uniform, to get your plumbing system back in perfect working order. Don’t put off your drain repair another day! Getting the service you need now will help prevent larger issues from occurring in the future.

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