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Drain Repair Thornhill

Four smiling plumbers wearing Mr. Rooter Plumbing uniforms and standing in front of a branded van.

It’s not uncommon for residents of Newmarket and the surrounding communities, including Thornhill, to live in buildings that are a century old. While historical properties are brimming with vintage charm, the issues that arise along with older pipes and fixtures are considerably less endearing. It’s no wonder that drain repair is one of the most common reasons that people need a Thornhill plumber.

Since the first Mr. Rooter was founded in 1970, we've established a reputation for ourselves as leaders in professional plumbing repairs and maintenance, as well as in providing exceptional customer service. After choosing our team for Thornhill drain repair service, we wouldn't be surprised if you become a Mr. Rooter customer for life.

To book an appointment for Thornhill drain repair today, give us a call at 905-895-6966, or keep reading to learn more about all we offer with our pipe cleaning and repair services. As your local, full-service plumbing company, we're ready to meet all your needs and fix all your long-standing plumbing problems.

Common Causes of Thornhill Drain Problems

Unless you’re the original owner of your home, plumbing problems are to be expected. From broken pipes to clogged sinks, there are many potential causes of pipe problems that require drain repair in Thornhill. For all the signs you need drain replacement service, the most common causes include:

Tree Root Invasion

As stunning as large old trees are, they can present major problems for your sewer pipes. Tree roots generally grow horizontally just beneath the surface of the earth, up to two to three times the length of their canopy. When pipes in older homes begin to age and crack, tree roots can find their way into these pipes, where they continue to grow, resulting in a slow-functioning drain.

Pipe Scale

Water in Thornhill is considered to be moderately hard, meaning there is a moderate amount of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water supply. Over time, as water passes through your pipes, calcium and magnesium deposits can begin to form. If allowed to continue to grow, these deposits can block the flow of water through your pipes.

Corrosion

The older your home—and therefore your plumbing system—is, the more likely it is that corrosion will cause your pipes to leak and sag. Newer pipes are less prone to this, making this an issue that is more likely to plague older homes. That is unless you dump a corrosive solution down your drain that you shouldn't. Sudden spikes in your water bill can indicate that you have a leak caused by corrosion.

Clogs

The most common reason that Thornhill residents call a local plumber is to address clogs. Food, grease, hair, "flushable" wipes (hint: these aren't actually flushable!), feminine hygiene products, and most other kinds of debris or garbage should never be rinsed or flushed down your pipes. If water drains slowly, or worse, backs up, you likely have a clogged drain.

Our Thornhill Drain Repair Services

Troubleshooting common drain problems without the help of an experienced plumber isn’t just challenging—it can also make the problem worse. We sometimes receive calls from customers who have poured harsh cleaners down their sink in an effort to disintegrate clogs, only to find out that their drain was clogged by tree roots that are impervious to chemical cleaners.

When you hire us for drain repair in Thornhill, we’ll take the following professional steps during your service:

  • Drain Inspection: By feeding a specialized CCTV drain camera down your pipes, we'll be able to identify the cause of your drain issues right away. Once we know exactly what the problem is, we can take the necessary steps to fix it.
  • Drain Cleaning Services: If the source of your problem is a clog, we’ll conduct drain cleaning to get your pipes flowing freely again. To do this, we may use an auger to break up the center of the clog. We also highly recommend our HydroScrub® jetting service, which will not just partially break up clogs, but years and years of debris. After shooting highly pressurized water through your drainage system, you’ll be left with pipes that are as clean as they were on the day they were installed.
  • Drain Line Repairs and Replacement: If the cause of your drain issues is damage or corrosion, you may require repairs or a complete drain replacement.

In addition to Thornhill drain pipe repair, we offer a wide range of services for all kinds of plumbing repair, replacement, and maintenance needs, including everything from toilet repairs and fixing water heaters to kitchen sink grease trap installation. Whether you need minor drain repairs done or need help with a plumbing emergency, we'll be on your doorstep as soon as we possibly can.

Avoid Drain Repair With These Drain Cleaning Tips

Many Thornhill residents think that clogged drains are inevitable, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. While you can’t control what the previous owners put down the drain, you can certainly control your own actions.

To avoid clogging and corroding drains, we encourage you to take the following steps:

Avoid Putting These Down The Drain:

You know that it’s really only water and soap that should ever go down your kitchen and bathroom drains, but in practice, it doesn’t always happen this way. It may seem harmless to wash coffee grounds down your sink, but doing so could actually have expensive consequences. By preventing these items from going down your drains, you should have no problem avoiding needing drain repair:

  • Hair: There are few things worse than pulling decomposing hair out of your shower drain. Place a hair trap over top of your drain, and clean it out after every shower.
  • Food: Any kind of food debris—especially grease—should not go down the drain. Dispose of these in a compost bin instead.
  • Garbage: The only thing that should ever be flushed down your toilet is toilet paper. Not feminine hygiene products, not paper towels, not flushable wipes, and not your child’s dead fish. Ignoring this advice could cause a sewer backup, which is pretty much the last thing any homeowner wants to deal with.
  • Traditional Bar Soap: It may surprise you to learn that there's a high-fat content in natural bar soap. We won't tell you to stop using soap but try not to use more than you need, and ensure lots of hot water follows it down the drain.

Invest In Drain Cleaning Service

Mineral deposits and soap scum naturally build up in your pipes over time. One thing you can do to combat some mineral deposits is to install a water softener, but even with this, drain issues can still arise. One of the best solutions to invest in is regular drain cleaning. HydroScrub® jetting is effective, good for the planet, and good for your pipes. By getting your drains cleaned once a year, you can avoid having to pay the much higher price of pipe repairs and replacements.

Conduct Annual Plumbing Inspections

While annual inspections can benefit all homeowners, Thornhill residents who live in older properties can especially benefit from getting regular inspections done. If you find yourself dealing with a tree root invasion, chances are pretty high that you’ll get another in the near future. The same goes for a corroded pipe. Hiring us for inspections and routine drain repair in Thornhill will help you to identify small water leaks and other issues before they are big enough to cause significant water damage to your home.

Why Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Newmarket?

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Newmarket, our drain repair services are founded on two main principles: excellent workmanship and customer satisfaction. When you choose us for your plumbing needs, you’re guaranteed to receive professional service that will leave you satisfied.

On the day of your service appointment, we'll arrive at the agreed-upon time of day discussed at your appointment booking, and be sure to answer any questions you may have before we begin about Thornhill drain repair or any of our other residential plumbing services.

Our licensed plumbers stand behind their work. If you’re dissatisfied with the quality of workmanship you received during your appointment for Thornhill drain repair service, simply give us a call, and we’ll be more than happy to make things right. Very few of our customers need to act on this guarantee, but we hope it will give you peace of mind all the same.

Drain Repair Thornhill FAQs

How Often Should Drains Be Cleaned?

Though many homeowners only see their local plumber during an emergency, it’s beneficial to schedule regular appointments for maintenance. Our plumbers are passionate about preventative maintenance because it is one of the most cost-effective solutions for avoiding future repairs in Thornhill.

One of the most important aspects of plumbing maintenance is regular drain cleaning, which we recommend our clients invest in approximately once per year. No matter how careful you are with your drains, debris is sure to build up over time. You never know what your visitors may have put down the drain, and there’s no avoiding the gradual build-up of soap scum and mineral scale.

How Do You Clean Underground Drain Pipes?

Clogs that are close to the opening of a drain can usually be cleared with the use of an auger, but for clogs located in underground drain pipes, our skilled plumbers will likely use a different strategy. There are two commonly used methods.

The first method involves attaching a specialized head to the end of the auger. These heads are designed to break up a clog and scrape away any other debris clinging to the wall of the pipe.

The second method is our number-one choice—HydroScrub® jetting. Essentially like power washing, but for your drains, hydro jetting is not just one of the easiest ways to remove clogs but also one of the most effective.

What Is The Best Chemical Drain Cleaner To Use?

If we had it our way, we’d say there isn't one. Though some are better than others, chemical drain cleaners can be incredibly harsh on your pipes and fixtures. While they sometimes effectively dissolve clogs, they can also dissolve your pipes. We can assure you that hydro jetting service is much less costly than total plumbing system replacement. No matter when you notice a clog, we’d rather you use our 24-hour emergency plumbing services than try to unclog it yourself with a chemical drain cleaner.

If you do want to try tackling your clog on your own first, use a bio drain cleaner instead. These cleaners work by introducing enzymes and helpful bacteria into your drains. These organisms will effectively break down any organic material they encounter while leaving your pipes intact. Just bear in mind that it could take some time for it to work its magic.

Can I Repair My Drain By Myself?

Common plumbing issues that are relatively mild may be able to be fixed without the help of a professional plumber. For example, inexpensive hair removal tools can be purchased from your local hardware store and used to remove hair buildup in your shower drain.

Other drain issues, such as deeper clogs and corrosion, must be repaired by a licensed plumber, as they’ll have the tools, training, and expertise to safely fix the issue while also taking steps to prevent it from occurring in the near future.

How Do I Fix Tree Root Invasions In My Drain Line?

Tree roots in your pipes aren’t usually a DIY fix, but some homeowners swear by rock salt. Flushing a couple pounds of rock salt down your drain will dry out any tree roots in your pipe and kill them. However, this is only a temporary solution, as there’s nothing to stop new roots from growing and invading your pipes.

To effectively eliminate tree roots in your drain line, a master plumber will remove the existing invading tree roots with an auger or hydro jetting. Then, they’ll replace your old, cracked pipes with new ones. Contrary to popular belief, tree roots don’t puncture your pipes, but rather exploit weaknesses that are already present, such as loose joints or hairline fractures.

Ready To Schedule An Appointment For Thornhill Drain Repair?

Simply give our customer support team a call at 905-895-6966 or fill out our online job estimate request form. We’re ready to serve you with convenient, prompt plumbing and drainage solutions for all kinds of problems.