Plumbing FAQ's

Plumbing FAQ's

Frequently Asked Plumbing and Drain Questions

As a homeowner, you'll most likely have questions about your homes plumbing system at some point. This is perfectly normal as there are several components involved with your homes plumbing.

Whether its a question regarding a toilet, wet basement, sump pump, faucet, drain, your water pipes, water pressure and much much more, you'll probably find yourself on Google looking for more information. Here are some of the most common questions we come across with regards to your homes plumbing system or working with a plumber in general.

What should I do if I have a plumbing emergency?

If you have a plumbing emergency, it's important to call a professional plumber right away. We know it's not what homeowners want to hear, but by calling in emergency plumbing services near you, you can actually save tons of money in the long run. This is a common problem we see often: Homeowners not addressing plumbing issues in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, this usually leads to more costly plumbing repairs down the road.

What qualifies as a plumbing emergency?

Plumbing emergencies can include burst pipes, severe leaks, and clogs that cannot be removed on your own. In some cases, they can even lead to flooding causing water related damages.

Best practice is to stop water use immediately and shut off the main water supply to the home until a professional plumber arrives. If the water leak is clear you can use rags or a mop to soak up the water and try to contain the issue.

If the water is sewage related it may be best to leave it to the professionals. It is also wise to speak with your home insurance provider to see what services or repairs they cover if you are not aware.

Why should I work with a non-commission plumber?

There are many reasons to work with a 100% commission-free plumber. Perhaps the most important reason is that you can be assured that they are not trying to upsell you on unnecessary services or products. Because they are not on commission, they have no incentive to do so.

Another reason to work with a non-commission plumbing company is that they tend to be more honest and upfront about pricing and what needs to be done to fix your plumbing issue. Without the pressure of making a sale, they can give you an accurate estimate of what it will cost to fix the problem as they don’t rely on your sale to make a living wage. Plus with a non-commission plumber you pay the same price as someone else with the same issue, no price gouging. 

What causes a clogged drain?

Most homeowners have experienced a clogged drain at some point. Clogged drains are a common plumbing problem that can be caused by a variety of things, such as grease, hair, soap scum, and food particles. In some cases, a clogged drain can be caused by tree roots growing into the drain line.

While there are many possible causes of a clogged drain, if it is hair and roots that get tangled in the drain, other debris that goes down is more likely to get caught. As more and more debris accumulates, it can eventually block the drain fully. A tree root removal service or drain snaking service may be required.

To prevent clogged drains, try using a drain hair catcher for showers and bathtubs, use a fat jar in the kitchen to collect cooking oils and grease, and never flushing wipes down the toilet as they do not breakdown the same way toilet paper does. For tree roots, you can hire a plumber for annual maintenance, or upgrade to a plastic pipe that cannot be infiltrated by roots. 

Should I call a plumber for drain cleaning?

If your drain is slow or clogged, you may be wondering if you should call a Toronto plumber for a drain cleaning. While there are some DIY drain cleaning solutions, like using a plunger, in most cases it's best to leave drain cleaning to the professionals.

Here's why:

1. Plumbers have the right tools. Plumbers have access to powerful drain cleaning equipment that can quickly and effectively clear a clog.

2. Plumbers know what they're doing. Plumbers have the training and experience to safely and efficiently clear a drain.

3. Over the counter drain cleaning products are corrosive and can do more harm than good to your plumbing pipes.

4. Plumbers can diagnose larger issues within your drain system if needed by using a plumbing video camera inspection to identify and provide accurate advice on the next steps required to solve the blocked drain issue.

Never, ever use a chemical drain cleaner in an attempt to clear your drains. They could cause damage to your drain pipes and they are not Eco-friendly. 

What should I do if my basement floor drain is backing up?

The last thing you want to see is your basement flooding. If your basement floor drain or sewer is backing up, it's important to take action quickly to prevent further flooding and water damage. The first step is to call a plumber near you, then try to identify the cause of the backup. If you can connect certain water usage to the backup, stop using that plumbing until the professional plumber arrives.

If you are able to identified the issue as a clog in the floor drain, you can try to clear it yourself with a plunger or with your hand, however, if the backup is sewage related and due to a sewage line issue further down the pipe, you'll want to leave it to the best plumbers around to resolve the problem with an emergency drain cleaning service.

If you attempt to rent drain cleaning equipment to tackle a sewer problem like this yourself, you could make the issue worse, or get the equipment stuck in the drain pipe. This will mean paying more for the rental and then having to pay on top of that for a plumbers drain service or drain repair.

In some instances the backup could be related to a broken drain pipe, and the only solution will be to have a sewer line replacement performed. 

Should I repair or replace my leaking faucet?

The answer on whether it is beneficial to replace or have a faucet repaired is dependent on many factors.

The age of the plumbing fixture, in particular, because older faucets may no longer have parts available, and even if parts can be sourced, replacing a part in an existing old fixture may not work, or if it is successful, there is no telling for how long.

Another factor to consider is the model of the fixture, specialty models may require special order parts which can delay the potential repair or the availability of parts, and again no longevity can be guaranteed.

Replacing or upgrading a leaking faucet may cost more on the front end but it comes with more security that you aren’t spending multiple times on the same repairs that don’t stick vs a replacement with a warranty.

What is the best way to waterproof a basement?

There are a few different ways to waterproof a basement, and the best method will depend on whether the home is a semi or detached and whether the specific basement is finished or unfinished and the exact waterproofing needs. In general, however, the best ways to waterproof a basement is either from the exterior or the interior. Exterior waterproofing involves excavating the area around the basement, installing a drainage system, and then applying a waterproof coating and membrane to the exterior of the basement foundation walls.

Internal waterproofing a basement is to install an interior drainage system that will collect the water that seeps through the walls and floor and channel it to a sump pump, which will then pump the water out of the basement.

In the event of a wet basement it is always advised to start with a waterproofing consultation by waterproofing companies in Toronto to determine the best course of action.

How to fix low water pressure in my home?

Increasing your homes water pressure can actually be done (especially in Toronto), however you need the assistance of a licensed plumber. They can replace your homes main water line to current standards which should increase both your cold water and hot water levels and pressure, although it should be mentioned that the hot water is also regulated from your hot water tank/water heater as well.

The service is usually called a Water Service Upgrade, in case you're talking to a plumbing company like DrainWorks Plumbing and looking for the technical term.

Should I DIY plumbing repairs or should I hire a plumber?

Your home is filled with plumbing, from toilets to faucets to pipes. If your plumbing is acting up, it is recommended to leave it to a plumbing professional.

Although DIY plumbing solutions may seem to save you time and money, the opposite is usually the case. If you don’t have the right tools you’ll need to buy or rent them, and if you don’t know exactly what you need to go about fixing the problem, the projected time frame balloons. Now you’ve invested time and money, you aren’t any closer to a solution, and you need plumbing services done pronto.

More times than not if attempting plumbing repairs on your own, things can get out of hand, which can make the plumbing issue worse, extend high water bills or causes additional damages to the home, in some instances you may have to shut the water off to the house to stop the escalated issue and then you’ll be without running water.

A licensed plumber comes equipped with the right tools and experienced know-how to solve your plumbing problems quickly and safely; this in the long run saves you time and money and headaches.