Trusted Plumber in Kitchener: Expert Plumbing Services You Count On

No. With Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Kitchener, you do not pay overtime charges because the problem happens after hours, on a weekend, or on a holiday. You get the same professional process: we assess the issue, explain what we found, and then you see the price before work begins, so you stay in control.

Plumber tip: When you call, tell us what fixtures are affected and whether any drains are backing up, because this helps us decide if the problem is a local clog, a main drain issue, or something tied to the municipal system.

The answer depends on where the blockage is located. If only one fixture is affected, the problem is inside your home. If multiple drains are backing up at once, especially the lowest drains in the basement, the problem points to a main drain or sewer lateral issue. The City of Kitchener confirms inspecting and repairing the city-owned sanitary sewer system and offers 24/7 response to sewage back-ups and basement flooding, with service and repairs. If you're experiencing a backup, stop using water in the home immediately, because continuing to run sinks, showers, or laundry makes it worse.

Sewer backups show up as water coming from a floor drain, shower, or toilet, and the water often has an odour or debris. Groundwater or stormwater flooding is more likely to look like seepage through cracks, around the slab edge, or near a window well, especially during melt or heavy rain. The City of Kitchener shares stormwater tips like making sure downspouts drain onto lawns or gardens and at least one metre away from your foundation, which helps reduce water pooling near the house. If water is rising near a floor drain, avoid running any water and call fast, because sewage is a health hazard.

If you see water pooling on the street or notice a sudden drop in pressure seeming bigger than one fixture, report the problem to the City. The City of Kitchener says to report a watermain break by calling Kitchener Utilities and notes common signs include water pooling or flowing above ground and reduced water pressure in your home. If your water turns brown or cloudy after a repair, run a cold tap for a few minutes before using appliances, since the City notes this is normal after watermain work.

Kitchener's water is hard because much of the water comes from groundwater, which picks up minerals like calcium and magnesium as the water moves through rock and soil. Kitchener Utilities says Kitchener's drinking water source is 80 percent groundwater and explains that the groundwater is hard due to dissolved calcium and magnesium. Over time, those minerals build scale inside your pipes, faucets, water heater, and appliances. You'll see white crusty buildup on faucet aerators and showerheads, your water heater takes longer to heat or makes rumbling sounds, and appliances like dishwashers and washing machines fail early because heating elements get coated. In your water heater, hard water accelerates anode rod depletion (the sacrificial rod protecting your tank from corrosion), which shortens tank life if you don't stay on top of maintenance. Tankless water heaters are more sensitive because scale clogs the narrow heat exchanger passages.

Plumber tip: Unscrew a faucet aerator and look at the screen. If the screen is clogged with white or greenish mineral deposits, your whole system is dealing with the same buildup, and you should have a plumber assess whether a water softener makes sense for your home.

In most cases, no. The City of Kitchener lists "installing a water softener" as an example of a project not requiring a building permit. The key is that the installation still needs to be done right, especially the drain connection and any backflow protection requirements, since improper connections create cross-connection risk.

Plumber tip: Make sure the softener discharge line is air-gapped or otherwise installed to prevent contamination, and avoid DIY tie-ins that could create leaks or code issues later.

Often, yes, when the work involves moving or adding plumbing. The City of Kitchener lists "adding or moving plumbing fixtures" as an example of a project needing a building permit, while "replacing a plumbing fixture with a new fixture in the same location" is listed as an example not needing a permit.

Plumber tip: Before you finalize a basement bathroom plan, have a plumber look at your drain elevation and venting path, because the right layout prevents chronic clogs and sewer gas issues later and keeps the permit process smoother.

A fast check is to turn off all water use in your home, then look at your meter to see whether the meter still shows flow. Kitchener Utilities explains their meter display toggles between your reading and a flow rate screen labelled "RATE," with the flow rate shown per minute. If the meter shows flow when everything is off, you have a leak from a toilet flapper, humidifier line, softener, or a hidden pipe issue. Leak detection is one of the most valuable services a plumber provides, because hidden leaks waste water and cause damage over time.

Plumber tip: Listen for a running toilet first, because a running toilet is one of the most common and most expensive "quiet leaks" in a home.

Yes. Even when wipes disappear from the bowl, they do not break down like toilet paper, and they snag in your home drain or the municipal system. The City of Kitchener's sanitary sewer guidance lists cleaning wipes, baby wipes, and sanitary wipes among the materials you should not put in toilets or sinks because they contribute to blockages and overflows. Keep a small lidded bin in each bathroom for wipes and personal care products, because this simple habit prevents a lot of late-night "why is my basement drain backing up" calls.

Often, yes, because irrigation connections create a cross-connection risk where contaminated water could be pulled back toward the drinking water system. The City of Kitchener explains backflow happens when water flows toward the city's water system instead of toward a home or business and notes having a backflow prevention bylaw affecting irrigation systems. If you have an existing irrigation system, have the system assessed before the season starts so you can address backflow protection and any winter damage before you pressurize the lines.

Pipes freeze when the temperature around them drops below 0°C, and there isn't enough heat or insulation to keep the water inside from freezing. The most vulnerable spots in Kitchener homes are exterior walls (especially on the north side), unheated crawl spaces, uninsulated attics, and outdoor hose bibs. When water freezes, the water expands, and the expansion creates pressure inside the pipe. If the pressure is high enough, the pipe cracks or bursts. The tricky part is that you often won't see the damage until the pipe thaws and water starts leaking. When we get a frozen pipe call, we first identify where the freeze is by checking which fixtures have no flow. Then we thaw the pipe using heat tape, a heat gun, or warm towels, working from the faucet end back toward the frozen section so expanding water has somewhere to go. We never use an open flame because an open flame damages pipes and creates a fire risk. Once the pipe is thawed, we test for leaks and inspect for cracks. If we catch the problem early, we often prevent a burst. If the pipe has cracked, we'll replace the section and help you insulate or reroute to prevent the problem from happening again. If you turn on a faucet in winter and only a trickle comes out, leave the faucet open and call us right away. This means the pipe is partially frozen, and catching the problem now prevents a burst.

If your basement drains back up during storms or when snow melts, the problem is related to how your home's drainage connects to the municipal system or how stormwater is managed on your property. Older Kitchener homes sometimes have combined sewer connections where stormwater and sanitary sewage share the same pipe, and when the system gets overwhelmed, sewage backs up into the lowest drains. In other cases, homeowners have sump pumps or downspouts incorrectly connected to the sanitary sewer instead of the storm sewer or discharged to the yard. When heavy rain hits, the extra volume overloads the sanitary system. The City of Kitchener and Region of Waterloo have been working to separate these systems, but many older neighbourhoods still have combined connections.

If you experience recurring backups during wet weather, we'll conduct a camera inspection to see how your lateral connects and check whether a backwater valve, which prevents reverse flow, makes sense for your home. If backups only occur during rain or melt, not during dry weather, the problem may be a stormwater or capacity issue, not a clog, and a camera inspection shows us what's going on.

If multiple fixtures in your home are backing up at the same time, especially the lowest drains like a basement floor drain, basement shower, or toilet, you likely have a clog or blockage in your main drain line or sewer lateral. Your sewer lateral is the pipe running from your home to the city's sewer main, and you own and maintain the entire line, even the portion running under the street or sidewalk. Some common causes in Kitchener include tree root intrusion (especially in older neighbourhoods with mature trees and clay sewer pipes), grease buildup, or a collapsed section of pipe. If your neighbours aren't having the same issue at the same time, the problem is on your side of the connection. We use a sewer camera to inspect the line and pinpoint where the blockage or damage is located. The video shows us whether we're dealing with roots, a belly in the line where waste collects, or a break needing repair. If the city's main is backed up, you'll see multiple homes on your street affected at once, and you should call the city.

Plumber tip: If you're buying an older home in Kitchener, especially one built before 1970, ask for a sewer camera inspection before you close. Clay laterals from the era are often at the end of their lifespan, and knowing the condition up front saves you from a surprise $8,000 to $15,000 repair a year after you move in.

You look them up. Skilled Trades Ontario provides a Public Register letting you search by a person's name or Skilled Trades Ontario ID to confirm they work legally in a compulsory trade. This is a smart step in Kitchener, especially for bigger work like sewer repairs, water heater replacements, or renovations involving moving fixtures.

Plumber tip: When a contractor arrives, ask who will be doing the plumbing work and verify the person, not the company name, so you know the individual working on your system is qualified.

First, shut off the water supply to the affected area or your entire home if needed. Your main shut-off valve is located near where the water line enters your home, often in the basement or utility room. If you're dealing with a toilet overflow, turn the valve at the base of the toilet clockwise to stop the flow. For a burst pipe or major leak, turn off the main valve immediately. Once the water is off, call a licensed plumber right away. We're available 24/7 for plumbing emergencies in Kitchener, and we'll walk you through the next steps while we're on the way.

Plumber tip: Take photos of the damage for insurance purposes before you start cleanup, and if water is near electrical outlets or appliances, stay clear and call an electrician as well.

Yes. We handle both residential plumbing for homeowners and commercial plumbing for businesses throughout Kitchener. Whether you need routine maintenance, repairs, or new installations, our licensed plumbers have the training and equipment to handle projects of any size. For commercial clients, we understand downtime costs money, so we work efficiently and offer flexible scheduling to minimize disruption to your business.

Plumber tip: If you own a commercial property, set up a preventive maintenance schedule for your plumbing system. Regular plumbing inspections catch small issues before they turn into expensive emergencies, shutting down your operation.

A comprehensive plumbing inspection covers your entire system, from water supply lines to drains and fixtures. We check for leaks, corrosion, water pressure issues, drain flow, water heater condition, and signs of past or potential problems. A plumbing inspection is valuable before buying a home, after a major weather event, or if you're planning a renovation.

For older homes, we often recommend a sewer camera inspection to see the condition of your main drain and sewer lateral, especially if you're experiencing slow drains or recurring backups. If you're buying a home built before 1980 in Kitchener, get a plumbing inspection. Older homes often have issues with galvanized pipes, clay sewer laterals, or outdated fixtures failing without warning, and knowing what you're dealing with up front helps you budget and plan accordingly.

The total time required for your service depends on the scope of the repair. A simple faucet repair or toilet flapper replacement takes 30 minutes to an hour. A water heater replacement takes two to four hours. Sewer line repairs or replacements can take a full day or more, depending on access and the extent of the damage. We'll give you an estimated time frame based on what you're describing when you first contact us, and once we assess the issue on-site, we'll confirm timing before we start work.

If you're scheduling non-emergency work, ask about timing. Morning appointments often finish faster because the plumber has a full truck of parts and hasn't been delayed by earlier jobs.

We install and service both traditional tank water heaters and tankless water heaters. Tankless units provide hot water on demand and are more energy-efficient, but they're more sensitive to Kitchener's hard water and require maintenance to prevent scale buildup in the heat exchanger. We'll assess your home's hot water demand, gas or electrical capacity, and water quality to help you decide which type of water heater makes the most sense for your situation.

Plumber tip: If you're considering a tankless water heater in Kitchener, plan to install a water softener at the same time. The combination gives you the efficiency benefits of tankless technology without the maintenance headaches caused by hard water scale.

We handle all the plumbing work for bathroom and kitchen remodels, including moving or adding fixtures, upgrading supply lines, installing new drains, and ensuring everything meets code. Whether you're relocating a sink, adding a second bathroom, or doing a full kitchen renovation, we'll work with your contractor or directly with you to make sure the plumbing is done right. Make sure to plan your plumbing layout early in the design process. Where you put a sink or toilet affects drain slope, venting, and access, and making changes after framing and drywall go up is expensive and disruptive.

Common signs you need to replace your water heater include inconsistent water temperature, rumbling or popping sounds, rusty or discoloured hot water, water pooling around the base of the tank, or a unit more than 10 to 12 years old. In Kitchener's hard water conditions, water heaters often fail earlier than the national average because mineral buildup accelerates corrosion and reduces efficiency. If you're noticing any of these signs, have a plumber inspect the unit. Sometimes a repair or flush extends the life of the heater, but if the tank is corroded or the unit is near the end of its expected lifespan, replacement is the smarter investment.

Plumber tip: Check the serial number on your water heater to find out how old the unit is. Most manufacturers encode the date in the first few characters, and your plumber decodes the number for you.