Plumbing guides
What to do when something goes wrong, what causes it, and when it’s time to call a plumber. Written for homeowners and building managers in the Lower Mainland.
Drains and sewers
Clogs, sewer backups, tree roots, camera inspections and the drains around your foundation.
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Heavy rain in the Lower Mainland: how to keep water out of the basement
A rainy season checklist for Lower Mainland homes: gutters, downspouts, perimeter drains, street drains, sewer backups and what home insurance covers.
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How to choose a plumber in Vancouver: what the City says to check
What the City of Vancouver tells homeowners to check before hiring a plumber or drainage contractor, what a plumber may do on the City's side, and what to ask for.
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Sewer camera inspection before buying a house in BC
Why a sewer scope is worth booking before you buy, what the camera finds, which houses need it most and what a good inspection report includes.
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Sewer connection grants in Burnaby and Coquitlam
What Burnaby's grant for upgrading a combined sewer connection and Coquitlam's sanitary connection pilot pay, who qualifies and how to apply.
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Surrey sewer blockage: the inspection chamber and who pays
How Surrey splits the sewer line between owner and City, what the inspection chamber is, who pays to clear a blockage and what proof the City asks for.
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Why is my basement floor drain backing up?
Water or sewage coming up a basement floor drain usually means the sewer line from your house is blocked. Learn what to do first and who clears it.
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Can you pour grease down the drain? What to do instead
Grease, cooking oil and wipes block drains and sewers. How to dispose of cooking oil in Metro Vancouver and what to do if grease has already gone down.
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What is a perimeter drain? Signs of failure and cleaning
A perimeter drain, or drain tile, carries groundwater away from your foundation. Learn the signs it's blocked, how it's cleaned and how often to check it.
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Why does my drain keep clogging?
Grease, hair, wipes and tree roots are behind many repeat drain clogs. Learn what blocks each fixture and when snaking or hydro jetting fixes it.
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Sewer backup in Vancouver: what to do and who pays
What to do when sewage backs up, who to call in Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby and North Vancouver, and how each city decides who pays to clear the line.
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Tree roots in your sewer line: signs, fixes and who pays
How tree roots get into a sewer line, the signs to watch for, how a plumber removes them, why they grow back and who pays in Vancouver and Surrey.
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Hot water and heating
Hot water tanks, tankless heaters and hot water heating systems.
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Water heater leaking: what should you do first?
Water heater leaking? If you don't smell gas, close the cold water valve and turn the heater off. Then find the leak and decide on repair or replacement.
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Hot water baseboard heater not working? What to check
Why a hot water baseboard or radiator goes cold: thermostats, trapped air, stuck zone valves and failed pumps. What to check and when to call.
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How long does a hot water tank last? Signs it's failing
Most hot water tanks last 10 to 15 years. How to find your tank's age, the signs it's failing, what shortens its life and when to replace it.
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Tank or tankless water heater: which suits your Metro Vancouver home?
A tank handles several showers at once; tankless saves space and usually energy. Compare gas piping, venting, permits and upkeep before you switch.
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Pipes, leaks and water pressure
Old pipe, running toilets, weak pressure and leaks you can’t see.
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How to find a hidden water leak with your water meter
Check your water meter for a hidden leak, find the usual culprits in the house, and tell a leak in the buried line from one under the floor or in a wall.
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Kitec plumbing in BC: how to spot it and what to do
What Kitec water pipe looks like, the brand names it was sold under, the warning signs at its brass fittings, and why the class action can no longer help.
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Water leak in a BC strata: who repairs it and who pays
Which pipes are common property in a BC strata, who repairs a leak, when an owner pays the strata's insurance deductible, and what to do first.
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Who owns the water line in Surrey and Vancouver, and when to replace it
Signs your water service line needs replacing, which part the city owns in Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby, and when a new line can go in with less digging.
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Low water pressure in your house: causes and fixes
Why water pressure drops at one tap or through the whole house, how to tell a city problem from a plumbing problem, and what fixes each cause.
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Poly-B plumbing in BC: how to tell if you have it
Poly-B is grey plastic water pipe used from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. How to spot it, why it leaks, what insurers do about it and how it's replaced.
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Toilet keeps running? How to find and fix the cause
A running toilet is usually a worn flapper or a fill valve that won't shut off. How to test for a leak, fix the common causes and know when to replace it.
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Plumbing emergencies
What to do in the first few minutes, and who to call.
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How do I stop pipes freezing in a cold snap, and what if they burst?
How to keep pipes from freezing in a Lower Mainland cold snap, how to thaw a frozen pipe safely, and what to do first if one bursts.
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How to shut off the main water supply to your house
How to find and close the main water shut-off in a house, townhouse or condo, what to do if it's stuck, and when you need the city's curb stop.
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What counts as a plumbing emergency in Vancouver?
Which plumbing problems need a plumber right now, which can wait until morning, what to do first, and when to call the city or the gas utility.
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Water coming in right now?
Close your main water shut-off if you can reach it, then call us. We’re open 24/7. Where to find the shut-off valve
Need a plumber? Call or text us.
Tell us what’s going on and we’ll take it from there.
Open 24/7 · Free estimates · Average arrival about 60 minutes