
Kaidan Kaidan
3 months ago

East York is known for its streets of small brick bungalows and semi-detached homes built from the 1920s to the 1950s, along with mid-century apartment buildings around Thorncliffe Park and Crescent Town. Many of these homes still have original drains and sewer laterals, and plenty have been extended or given basement apartments over the years.
POM Plumbing serves East York homeowners, landlords and property managers with drain and sewer work, water heaters, repiping and basement flooding protection.
Original East York bungalows often have cast iron drains under the slab, clay sewer laterals with roots from mature street trees, and weeping tile connected directly to the sanitary sewer. Some still have lead or galvanized water services. Renovations frequently uncover undersized drains and venting that need upgrading before new bathrooms are added.
Mid-century apartment buildings in the area need riser valve work, water heater replacement and drain stack cleaning.
Repeated main drain clogs are common on tree-lined streets.
Adds storm water to the sewer and raises the risk of basement flooding.
Adding a second bathroom often requires larger drains and new venting.
Some homes still have lead or galvanized pipes from the street.
East York is mostly post-war bungalows and storey-and-a-half homes, with apartment towers in Thorncliffe Park and Crescent Town. These are the services we do most there.
Most East York homes from the 1940s and 1950s were connected with clay sewer pipe. Roots and shifting soil crack the joints. We camera the line and choose between root cutting, relining or replacement.
Learn moreHomes built before the mid-1950s may still have a lead water service. We replace the private section and can coordinate with the City replacing its part.
Learn moreStreets near Taylor-Massey Creek and the Don Valley get heavy runoff. A backwater valve and a working sump pump protect a finished basement, and the City subsidy covers most of the cost.
Learn moreOriginal galvanized supply pipes cause low pressure and rusty water. We repipe with copper or PEX and keep openings small in plaster walls.
Learn moreMany East York owners add a basement bathroom or move the laundry. We plan drains, venting and a backwater valve as part of the same job.
Learn moreWe replace tank and tankless water heaters and help you decide whether to keep renting or buy your own.
Learn moreWe service apartment buildings in Thorncliffe Park and Crescent Town, including stack cleaning, riser valves and emergency repairs.
Learn moreBurst pipes, sewer backups and no hot water: our emergency line is open day and night.
Learn moreResidential, condo and commercial plumbing, drain and sewer work for East York homes and businesses.
Typical ranges before tax. You get an exact written price before any work starts. See the full plumbing price guide.
| Service | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Drain clog (sink, tub or toilet) | $180 – $350 |
| Main sewer line cleaning | $250 – $650 |
| Sewer camera inspection | $250 – $450 |
| Water heater replacement (tank) | $1,400 – $3,000 |
| Backwater valve installation | $1,800 – $3,500 |
| Sump pump replacement | $800 – $2,000 |
What to check through the year, based on the homes and weather we see in East York.
Snowmelt runs off the ravines towards lower streets. Test the sump pump and clear window wells.
Storms bring sewer backups. Check the backwater valve and keep floor drains clear.
Street trees send roots into clay laterals. Book root cutting and a camera check before winter.
Storey-and-a-half homes often have pipes in knee walls and unheated corners. Insulate them and keep the heat on.
East York homeowners can use the City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. It reimburses 80% of eligible costs, up to $6,650 per property. The work must be done by a City-licensed plumbing contractor, and a backwater valve needs a building permit.
Homes built before the mid-1950s may still have a lead water service. Under the City's Priority Lead Water Service Replacement Program, the City replaces the public section up to the property line. Replacing your private section at the same time removes the lead completely. See lead pipe replacement.
| Eligible work | Maximum subsidy |
|---|---|
| Backwater valve (per valve, up to two) | $1,600 |
| Sump pump and alarm | $2,250 |
| Sump pump battery backup | $300 |
| Home plumbing assessment | $500 |
| Total per property | $6,650 |
80% of eligible costs, up to the limits shown. We handle the permit and inspection, and give you the paperwork you need to apply.
| Problem | Who to call |
|---|---|
| No water on the whole street, or a water main break | City of Toronto: call 311 |
| Water service or sewer pipe between the property line and the main | City of Toronto (public side) |
| Sewer backup that a camera shows is in the City section | City of Toronto: we give you the video for your 311 report |
| Pipes, drains and the sewer lateral from the property line into the house | Homeowner: call a licensed plumber |
| Fixtures, water heater, sump pump, backwater valve | Homeowner: call a licensed plumber |
Not sure which side the problem is on? A sewer camera inspection shows the exact location and depth, so you only pay for work on your section.
East York grew quickly in the 1940s and 1950s, with streets of brick bungalows and storey-and-a-half houses on narrow lots. Many still have the original clay sewer lateral, a cast iron stack and, in some cases, a lead water service. Basements were not designed to be finished, so when they are turned into living space, a backwater valve and properly sized drains become important.
When we work in an East York home we check the whole system and tell you which upgrades make sense now, especially if you are planning a basement renovation.
Finishing the basement or adding a second storey is common in East York. It is the right moment to replace the clay lateral or reline it, install a backwater valve, replace galvanized supply pipes and size the water heater for the extra bathrooms. Doing it during the renovation saves breaking open new walls and floors later. We plan the plumbing with you or your contractor and pull the permits.
We cover every part of East York. Here is how the area breaks down by neighbourhood and postal code.
| Area | Neighbourhoods | Postal codes |
|---|---|---|
| West | Broadview North, Pape Village, Old East York | M4J, M4K |
| Central | Woodbine Heights, Danforth Village, East York centre | M4C, M4J |
| East | O'Connor-Parkview, Crescent Town, Taylor-Massey | M4B, M4C |
| North | Thorncliffe Park, Leaside border, Governor's Bridge | M4G, M4H |
Tell us what is happening and where in East York you are.
A licensed plumber finds the cause, using a camera where needed.
You approve the price before any work starts.
We fix the problem, test it and leave the area clean.
Licensed plumbers, written prices and a 24/7 emergency line.