Kaidan Kaidan
3 months ago

North York grew fastest after the Second World War, so much of its housing is now 60 to 75 years old: brick bungalows and side-splits in Don Mills, Bathurst Manor and Victoria Village, larger rebuilt homes in York Mills and Lawrence Park, and dense condo towers along the Yonge-Sheppard and Yonge-Finch corridor. Each brings its own plumbing problems.
POM Plumbing serves North York homeowners, condo boards and businesses with drain, sewer, water heater and repiping work, plus 24/7 emergency calls. You get a written price before we start.
Post-war North York homes commonly have cast iron drain stacks under the basement floor, clay or early plastic sewer laterals, and copper supply lines that are now developing pinhole leaks. Many have weeping tile connected to the sanitary sewer, which increases the risk of basement flooding during heavy storms, especially in low-lying areas near the Don River branches.
Newer condo towers along Yonge Street depend on booster pumps, pressure reducing valves and shared kitchen stacks, while custom rebuilds in York Mills and Hoggs Hollow often need high-capacity water heaters, softeners and backflow devices for irrigation.
Root-damaged clay laterals and cast iron under the slab cause sewage to back up during storms.
Older copper lines in 1960s homes develop small leaks, often hidden in walls and ceilings.
Rebuilt and expanded homes need larger tanks, tankless units or boilers.
Towers along Yonge see kitchen stack backups and pressure problems on upper floors.
North York has everything from 1950s bungalows to new infill houses and Yonge Street condo towers. These are the services our customers there ask for most.
Many 1950s and 1960s North York homes still have galvanized steel supply pipes. They rust from the inside, so pressure drops and the water turns brown. We repipe with copper or PEX, room by room, and keep wall openings small.
Learn moreBungalows in Don Mills, Bayview Village and Bathurst Manor often have the original clay sewer lateral. Roots get into the joints. We cut them out, camera the line and give you options from relining to replacement.
Learn moreWhen an older Willowdale or Lawrence Park bungalow is replaced by a larger house, the old 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch water service is often too small. We install a new service sized for the extra bathrooms, with the permit and City coordination.
Learn moreHomes along the West Don and East Don ravines and Black Creek get more water during big storms. We install backwater valves and sump pumps and help you claim the City subsidy.
Learn moreFrom Sheppard Centre to Finch, condo towers built in the 2000s can have Kitec piping, failing mixing valves and leaking appliance lines. We work within building rules and coordinate shut-offs with management.
Learn moreLarge new homes in Willowdale and York Mills often run several showers at once. We replace and upgrade tanks, install tankless systems and add recirculation lines so hot water arrives quickly.
Learn moreA burst pipe in a finished basement or a leak into a condo below needs a fast shut-off. Our emergency line is open 24/7 and we can isolate, repair and arrange drying.
Learn moreWe service restaurants, medical offices and plazas along Yonge, Sheppard and Bathurst, including grease lines and annual backflow testing.
Learn moreResidential, condo and commercial plumbing, drain and sewer work for North 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 North York.
Ravine lots along the Don valleys get the most runoff. Test the sump pump and alarm, and clear window wells and catch basins.
Summer storms cause most sewer backups. Make sure the backwater valve is accessible and the flap is clean.
Book a camera inspection if you have mature trees over the sewer line, and disconnect garden hoses before the first frost.
Keep heat in garages over rooms and in crawl spaces. If you leave for a trip, turn off the main water valve.
North 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.
A large part of North York was built in the post-war boom. These bungalows and split-levels are now 60 to 75 years old, and several systems reach the end of their life at the same time: galvanized supply pipes, clay sewer laterals, cast iron stacks and the original copper water service. Fixing them one emergency at a time costs more than planning the work.
When we visit an older North York home we look at the whole system: water pressure at the main, the age and material of the supply pipes, the condition of the lateral on camera, and whether the basement has a backwater valve. You get a clear list of what needs doing now and what can wait.
Many lots in Willowdale, Lansing and Lawrence Park now have new custom homes with four or more bathrooms. These homes need a larger water service, a correctly sized water heater or tankless system, and a sewer connection checked before the new house is built. We work with builders and homeowners on the rough-in, the water service upgrade and the final connection, and we pull the plumbing permit.
If your neighbours also have no water, or water is coming up from the road, call 311: it is a City problem. If only your house has a problem, start with a plumber. When a basement backup happens, we run a camera to find out whether the blockage is on your side of the property line or in the City section. If it is City side, we give you the video and the distance from the cleanout so you can report it to 311.
The Yonge corridor from York Mills to Steeles is lined with condo towers, many built in the late 1990s and 2000s. Common issues there are Kitec supply lines, shower mixing valves that lose temperature control, leaking dishwasher and washer hoses, and kitchen stack backups on lower floors. We handle suite work for owners and building-wide work for property managers, including kitchen stack cleaning, PRV maintenance and riser valve replacement.
A few minutes of the right action can save thousands in water damage.
In a house, the main valve is usually on the basement wall facing the street, next to the water meter. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
Keep away from water near outlets and appliances. If you can reach the electrical panel safely, switch off power to the wet area. If the water heater is leaking, turn its gas valve to pilot or switch off its breaker.
If a floor drain is backing up, stop using water in the house. Move valuables, rugs and boxes off the floor and open cabinet doors under leaking sinks.
Take photos and video for your insurer, then call (905) 625-8777. Our emergency line is answered 24/7 and we tell you when to expect us.
We cover every part of North York. Here is how the area breaks down by neighbourhood and postal code.
| Area | Neighbourhoods | Postal codes |
|---|---|---|
| Willowdale and Yonge corridor | Willowdale East and West, Newtonbrook, Lansing, Yonge and Sheppard | M2M, M2N, M2R |
| Central and Bayview | Bayview Village, Bayview Woods, York Mills, Hoggs Hollow, Lawrence Park | M2K, M2L, M2P, M4N, M5M |
| Don Mills and East | Don Mills, Parkwoods, Victoria Village, Flemingdon Park, Don Valley Village | M2H, M2J, M3A, M3B, M3C, M4A |
| West | Bathurst Manor, Clanton Park, Downsview, Wilson Heights, Bedford Park | M3H, M3K, M3M, M5M |
| Northwest | York University Heights, Jane and Finch, Humber Summit, Black Creek | M3J, M3N, M9L, M9M |
Tell us what is happening and where in North 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.