Before you call
Most questions are settled faster by telephone, yet the entries below cover the ground most callers need. For a fuller treatment of a single subject, the library of guides goes further.
Basements and storms
The storm of July 2013 left a lasting mark on parts of the city, and backwater valves and stronger sump arrangements became far more common afterwards. Several entries below concern one or the other.
Answers our Mississauga crew gives most
What counts as a plumbing emergency?
Escaping water you cannot halt, sewage rising through a fixture or floor drain, or a complete loss of supply. Isolate what you can, then phone. A gas odour goes to the gas utility instead.
Where will I find the main shut-off?
Most often low on the basement wall nearest the road, beside the meter. Some newer houses tuck it into a mechanical room or under the stairs.
Is a permit needed for a new water heater?
Provincial rules reserve gas appliance installation for licensed gas technicians. Whether a municipal permit also applies depends on the job; we will tell you which case yours is.
Is there help with the cost of a backwater valve?
The City and the Region have each run subsidy programs at various times. Eligibility and amounts shift, so read the current terms before booking.
Whose responsibility is the sewer lateral?
The owner normally answers for the length on private land; the municipal portion beneath the road allowance belongs to the Region of Peel. Confirm details for your address with the Region.
How should I check my sump pump?
Each spring, each autumn, and before you travel. Remove the lid, fill the pit from a pail until the float lifts, and watch the motor run, drain the pit and stop.
How many years will a storage heater give?
Commonly a decade or a little more; sediment, temperature setting and anode condition all shorten or lengthen it.
Is the water here hard?
Lake Ontario supplies the city through the Region of Peel, and the result is moderately hard. Some households soften it; many simply clean aerators and flush heaters.
May I book on this website?
No. Booking happens by telephone only, which lets us ask the right questions at once.
Will you quote a price over the phone?
We will describe what drives the cost of your sort of job, but a firm figure waits until we have seen it.