How to choose a plumber in Vancouver: what the City says to check

What does the City of Vancouver say to check before hiring a plumber?

The City of Vancouver can’t recommend a particular company, but it gives homeowners a list of common-sense checks. Make sure the contractor:

• Is registered for insurance coverage with WorkSafeBC.
• Gets the permits the work needs, so it is inspected.
• Gives you a contract that sets out the exact scope of the work and the completion date.
• Has a good reputation with the Better Business Bureau.
• Can give you references from past customers.
• Guarantees their work.

For large projects, the City suggests getting quotes from at least three companies. Each quote should restate the work you expect, and how and when it will be done.

Why do permits matter for plumbing work?

Because a permit means the work gets inspected. Vancouver notes that permits make sure the work is checked against the building rules, and that this often matters for your home insurance if problems come up later. Ask who is pulling the permit before the job starts, and keep the paperwork with your house records.

Not every job needs one. A repair to a leaking pipe or a fixture swap is often fine without, while new piping, a sewer line replacement or a new water heater may not be. When you’re unsure, ask the plumber and your city’s permit office.

Can a plumber clear the sewer all the way to the City’s main?

In Vancouver, yes. The City says it authorizes licensed plumbers to clean and clear the full sewer connection from the house to the main, and private companies may clean and inspect the whole line. Only the City or its agents can dig up or repair the City’s part of the connection, inside the City’s right of way.

That matters for who you call. A plumber can clear and camera inspect the whole line and show you where the problem is. If the damage is on the City’s side, the City repairs it.

What should you ask a plumber to give you?

• A record of what they found. Vancouver suggests asking a drainage contractor for photos or video of a camera inspection. Keep it, especially if the problem might be on the City’s side or you’re selling the house.
• A written scope and price. What will be done, what won’t, and what happens to the yard or driveway afterwards: who removes the dirt, reseeds the grass and cleans up.
• The warranty in writing. What it covers and for how long.
• The permit number, if the job needs one.

What should you ask on the phone in an emergency?

When water is on the floor, you won’t get three quotes. Ask these instead:

• Can you come now, and roughly when will you get here?
• Is there a charge to come out, and is the estimate free?
• Will you tell me the price before you start work?
• Are you insured, and is your work guaranteed?

While you wait, close the main shut-off. Our guide on shutting off the main water valve shows where to find it, and our guide on what counts as a plumbing emergency helps you decide whether it can wait until morning.

How is hiring a plumber different from hiring a home inspector?

Home inspectors in BC are licensed by Consumer Protection BC, and their inspections are visual and limited to the areas they can reach. They don’t do repairs on homes they inspect or estimate repair costs. A plumber does the hands-on work: clearing, camera inspecting, repairing and replacing. If you’re buying a house, our guide on a sewer camera inspection before buying explains what the inspector won’t see.

When to call a plumber

Call a plumber when:

• More than one drain is slow or backing up.
• You can hear or see water where it shouldn’t be.
• You need a camera inspection with a recording you can keep.
• A job needs a permit and you want it done properly the first time.

DrainX is licensed and insured, gives free estimates, explains the cost before any work starts, and covers its work with a warranty that we go over with you when you book. We clear and camera inspect sewer lines and give you the footage. Call or text any time, day or night.