The Plumber Waterloo Homeowners Trust for Expert Service

It depends on where the problem is. If the issue is coming from the City side of the system, you should call the City of Waterloo's 24/7 line at 519-886-2310 for water or sewer problems. The City also notes that property owners may be charged if City Utilities are dispatched and the problem turns out to be internal plumbing in your home. A good rule of thumb is this: if one fixture is acting up, it is usually inside your home. If the whole home has trouble or the street has pooling water, it may be a City-side issue.

Pro Tip: Check whether your neighbours are seeing the same problem before you call.

If you have a sewer backup or your drains are suddenly slow, the City of Waterloo recommends contacting Ontario One Call first for a sewer safety inspection and utility locates, then calling the City at 519-886-2310. The City is responsible for the sewer line up to the property line, so they will check the location of the blockage and advise you on the next steps.

Our plumber tip is to stop running water right away, especially laundry and dishwasher cycles, because extra flow can push a partial blockage into a full backup. If sewage is entering the living space, that is an emergency.

Contact us so we can contain the mess, protect your home, and coordinate with the City process.

Discoloured water is usually caused by minerals in groundwater or disturbance in watermains from flushing, maintenance, or a watermain break, and it often clears with flushing. The City of Waterloo advises you not to drink discoloured water and to run a cold water tap for a few minutes until it runs clear. If it does not clear after 5 minutes, wait an hour and try again, and if the problem persists, you should call 519-886-2310. Avoid running hot water until the cold water runs clear, as sediment can be pulled into your water heater and into screens, cartridges, and appliance valves.

Low water pressure can be a city-side issue, but it is often caused by something inside your home, such as a clogged faucet aerator, a water softener problem, or scale buildup in valves and fixtures. The City of Waterloo suggests comparing soft-water and hard-water taps and putting the softener on bypass to see if pressure improves, then checking whether the issue affects all taps or just one. If it is only one faucet, cleaning the aerator is a good first step. If the pressure issue continues or you suspect a water main break, the City advises calling 519-886-2310. If only hot water is weak, your water heater or a clogged hot-side shut-off is often the culprit.

Yes, hard water is common in the Waterloo region because most drinking water comes from groundwater wells. This egion notes that the minerals in hard water cause scale buildup in pipes and appliances. Health Canada explains that very hard water is often defined as over 300 mg/L as calcium carbonate, and while hardness is not a health concern by itself, it is tough on plumbing. My tip is to watch for early signs like cloudy glassware, white crust on showerheads, and a water heater that seems to run out of hot water faster than it used to. If you already have a water softener, set it correctly for your area and check for silent leaks or excessive regeneration.

Sump pump discharge is considered stormwater. The Region of Waterloo states that basement sump pumps and foundation drains should not be connected to the sanitary sewer system. When stormwater goes into sanitary sewers, it increases treatment costs and can contribute to sewer backups during heavy rain. We recommend routing your sump pump discharge to an approved outdoor location on your own property where water can flow away from the foundation. Please also make sure the discharge line is protected from freezing. If you see water cycling frequently on dry days, that is a sign that the float, check valve, or groundwater inflow needs attention.

Sometimes, yes. The City of Waterloo notes that if a sewer line on private property needs repair or replacement, you should check whether a building permit is required by contacting the City's building services team at [email protected] or 519-747-8712. This matters because sewer work can involve excavation, pipe replacement, and cleanout changes that need to meet local requirements. We recommend first locating the problem with a camera inspection, so you are not guessing where the failure is. A clear diagnosis also helps you compare repair options fairly, since different fixes apply to different pipe materials and failure types.

First, shut off the nearest water shuttoff you can reach. If that does not stop the flow, shut off your main water valve. Then protect your home by moving valuables away from the leak and using towels or a wet vac to control the spread. If water is near electrical outlets or a panel, keep your distance and call a professional. Once the immediate danger is controlled, contact your local plumber to ensure the repair is done safely and the underlying cause is addressed. When we arrive for a burst pipe call, the first thing we do is determine whether the break is due to freezing, corrosion, or water hammer (pressure shock). A freeze break typically shows a split along the pipe length and occurs at exterior walls or in unheated spaces. A corrosion failure often manifests as a pinhole or crack at a fitting, and you'll see green staining on copper or rust on galvanized steel. Water hammer cracks tend to happen at elbows and tees where pressure changes direction. Knowing the cause matters because it indicates whether this is an isolated issue or a sign that other sections are vulnerable.

Pro Tip: In winter, do not assume the problem is over once the water stops. Frozen pipes can split and only reveal the leak once they thaw, so a proper inspection is worthwhile.

Professional drain cleaning is designed to clear blockages without harming your plumbing when it is done correctly for your pipe type and condition. A plumber typically starts by asking where the clog shows up, then checks the easiest access points and may recommend a camera inspection if the pattern suggests a deeper issue. For stubborn buildup, hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to scour the inside of the pipe, and it is especially effective on grease and sludge when the pipe is structurally sound.

One pattern we see repeatedly in Waterloo homes: a kitchen sink that drains slowly for months, then suddenly backs up completely the night before a holiday. What's happening is that grease and soap scum build a coating inside the drain line, and the opening gets narrower each week until one coffee ground or piece of rice is enough to block it entirely. By the time you call, the clog is often 8 to 12 feet down the line, past the trap and into the horizontal run, which means a cable or jetting service instead of a simple trap cleaning.

Pro Tip: If your drain gurgles, smells, or takes more than 5 seconds to empty a full sink, that's the time to call, not when water is pooling at your feet.

When you call with a main line backup or repeated slow drains throughout the house, the first question is whether the blockage is in your line or the city main. We start by checking cleanouts and running a camera through the line to see exactly what we're dealing with. The camera shows us whether it's roots, you'll see hair-like tendrils or thick masses, a bellied section where water pools, a separated joint, or a full collapse. If it's roots, we can often clear them with a cutting head or hydro jetting, but the roots will return unless we line or replace that section. If the pipe has separated or collapsed, we use the camera footage to pinpoint the location so we're only excavating where needed, not digging up the whole line. In Waterloo, we also check whether the connection to the city main is accessible, because older homes sometimes have a shallow trap at the property line that's prone to freezing or root intrusion.

Water heaters don't usually fail without warning. They give you signs. The most common is rust-coloured hot water, which means the anode rod is depleted and the tank is starting to corrode. You might also hear popping or rumbling sounds when it heats, which is sediment buildup on the bottom of the tank. If you're running out of hot water faster than you used to, that's often sediment taking up space in the tank or scale coating the heating elements. A small puddle under the tank is a sign that the tank itself is leaking, and that means replacement, not repair. In Waterloo, hard water shortens tank life, so a standard 40 to 50-gallon tank might last 8 to 12 years instead of the 15 you'd see in a soft-water area. If your tank is over 10 years old and showing any of these signs, it's worth getting a quote for water heater installation before you're stuck with no hot water in January.

Upfront, flat-rate pricing means you see the price before work begins, so you are not watching an hourly clock and hoping the job stays small. A plumber assesses the problem, explains what is going on, and then gives you plumbing solutions with a clear scope and a flat price for the work you choose. That approach is especially helpful for drain and leak issues, where the underlying problem may not be obvious until a proper diagnosis is made. The primary factors affecting cost are access, scope, and materials. A leaking shut-off valve under a kitchen sink in an open cabinet is a straightforward repair. The same valve under a bathroom sink, packed with cleaning supplies, with a rusted compression nut that won't budge, takes longer and may require cutting the line and re-soldering.

Pro Tip: When comparing estimates, ensure you're comparing the same scope. One plumber might quote to clear the immediate clog, while another might quote to clear the clog and camera-inspect the line to determine why it keeps happening.

Three things make the biggest difference. First, flush your water heater annually to remove sediment, especially in Waterloo, where hard water accelerates buildup. You'll notice the difference in how long your hot water lasts. Second, test your sump pump before the spring melt and heavy rain season by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. The float should trigger the pump, and water should discharge outside, not into a floor drain. Third, know where your main water shut-off is and test it once a year to make sure it still turns. Valves that sit untouched for years can seize, and you don't want to discover that during a leak. If the valve is stiff or won't close completely, have it replaced before you need it in an emergency.