Plumbing emergencies don't wait for business hours. When your water heater fails on a January morning or a clogged drain causes a basement backup during a rainstorm, you need an emergency plumber who answers the phone and shows up ready to work. Our Toronto plumbing team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We don't charge overtime fees. The price you're quoted at 3 a.m. is the same price you'd get at 3 p.m.
We make scheduling simple. We arrive on time. We treat your home with respect. Request an estimate online, and let's get your plumbing back on track.
How Toronto Plumbers Diagnose Plumbing Problems
When you call us with a drain problem or basement flooding, we don't guess. We ask what you've noticed, when problems started, and whether issues are getting worse. We then locate your cleanout and perform a camera inspection. You see exactly what we're seeing on the monitor. If the camera shows roots breaking through a clay sewer lateral at the property line, or a bellied section of pipe holding standing water, you're looking at the same image we are. The recommendation is based on what's wrong, not what might be wrong.
In older Toronto neighbourhoods, we inspect for offset joints in cast-iron stacks. These pipes shift as homes settle. A quarter-inch offset catches debris for years before blocking completely. When we cut into a 70-year-old cast-iron stack, we bring a drop cloth and a shop vac. The inside of these pipes is often lined with decades of rust scale falling out in chunks when the pipe is opened. The camera inspection has a locator. We mark exactly where the problem is on the surface above. This matters if excavation is needed or if you're applying for the City's basement flooding subsidy.
What a Licensed, Insured Plumber in Toronto Brings to Your Home
When you search for "plumbers near me" or "plumber Toronto," you'll find dozens of options. Not all plumbers are licensed, insured, or trained to handle Toronto home challenges. Hiring an unlicensed plumber might save you money upfront. The cost comes later if work isn't done to code, damages your property, or fails within months.
A licensed plumber in Toronto brings proper training in Ontario building codes and plumbing regulations. Liability insurance protects you if something goes wrong. Expertise to diagnose problems, not treat symptoms. If you're planning a renovation or dealing with an older home, code compliance isn't optional. Unlicensed work stalls projects, fails inspections, and leaves you paying twice to get things fixed.
At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Toronto, every plumber on our team is fully licensed, insured, and background-checked. We guarantee our parts and workmanship. We do the job right the first time. You get upfront pricing, a clear explanation of the problem and solution, and peace of mind from working with professionals who stand behind their work.
Warning Signs Toronto Homeowners Should Never Ignore
Some plumbing problems announce themselves with a flood. Others give you weeks of warnings before they fail. If you hear gurgling from a floor drain when you flush an upstairs toilet, you have a venting problem or partial blockage in your main drain. This will get worse. If you see water stains on the ceiling below a bathroom, you have an active leak. Drywall wicks moisture horizontally before dripping.
If your water heater is more than 12 years old and you notice rusty water only from hot taps, the tank is corroding from the inside. You're on borrowed time before the tank fails and floods your basement. If your basement smells like sewer gas, it may be due to a dried-out floor drain trap that needs water poured into the drain, or a cracked vent pipe inside a wall that is allowing sewer gas to escape. This is a health risk. If your water pressure drops every time a neighbour runs their sprinklers, your supply line is undersized or partially blocked. Waiting costs more than acting. Small plumbing problems don't stay small.
Plumbing Services for Toronto Homes: Drain Cleaning, Sewer Repairs, Water Heaters, Plumbing Installations
Your plumbing system works hard every day. The system delivers clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The system removes wastewater, keeping your home clean and safe.
When something goes wrong, problems multiply. A clogged drain leads to sewage backups. A failing water heater means no hot showers. A small leak can lead to major water damage if not addressed early.
Whether you're dealing with an emergency or planning an upgrade, our Toronto plumbing team is here to help. From frozen pipe repairs in winter to sump pump installations that protect your basement from flooding, we handle everything with the expertise and care your home deserves.
Residential Plumbing Services Toronto Homeowners Rely On
Every Toronto home is different. A century home in High Park has different plumbing than a condo in the Beaches or a newer build in North York. Our residential plumbers understand these differences. We tailor our approach to your home's age, layout, and specific challenges.
We've seen cast-iron drain stacks corroded from the inside out. Clay sewer laterals invaded by tree roots. Galvanized pipes restrict water flow. Sump pumps are failing during the heaviest rainstorms. When you call us, we assess the situation. We explain what's happening in plain language. We give you options, not pressure. You stay in control of the decision. We make sure the work is done right.
Why Older Toronto Homes Face Unique Plumbing Challenges
Clay sewer laterals were the standard in Toronto homes built before the 1970s. These pipes were installed in sections with mortar or rubber gasket joints. Over decades, Toronto's freeze-thaw cycles cause soil to expand and contract. This shifts joints and creates gaps where roots enter. Once roots find moisture inside the pipe, they grow and create blockages, starting as slow drains and ending as full backups.
Cast iron drain stacks corrode from the inside out because wastewater is slightly acidic. Corrosion accelerates in areas where the pipe holds standing water due to improper slope or bellied sections. Galvanized steel supply lines, common in homes from the 1950s and 1960s, corrode from the inside and narrow over time. You might have great pressure on the street but weak pressure at your kitchen faucet. Toronto's moderately hard water contributes to mineral scale buildup inside older pipes. This compounds the restriction. When we assess an older home, we're looking for these predictable failure patterns. We address the root cause, not the symptom you called us about.
Toronto Seasons and Your Plumbing: What to Watch For
Winter in Toronto poses a risk of frozen pipes, especially in homes with exterior-wall plumbing or unheated crawl spaces. If you've had a freeze before, it will happen again in the same spot unless you insulate the section or install heat trace cable. When temperatures drop below -10°C for more than a day, let a cold water tap drip overnight in vulnerable areas. If you're thawing a frozen pipe with a hairdryer, start at the faucet end and work back toward the frozen section. If you heat the middle first, steam pressure builds between the ice blockage and the closed faucet, causing the pipe to crack. Always open the faucet before you start thawing.
Spring thaw is when we see the most basement flooding calls. Snowmelt overwhelms aging sump pumps and clogged weeping tiles, which were ignored all winter. Test your sump pump in March by pouring a bucket of water into the pit. Ensure the pump starts within seconds. Fall is the time to disconnect outdoor hoses, shut off exterior hose bibs from inside, and drain the line, so freeze expansion doesn't crack the valve body. We recommend a drain camera inspection in the fall if you have mature trees near your sewer line. Root intrusion accelerates in late summer and early autumn when roots seek water before winter dormancy.
Repair or Replace: How to Make the Right Call on Toronto Plumbing Projects
When a camera inspection shows a cracked section of your clay sewer lateral, you have options. A spot repair using a trenchless pipe liner fixes one crack without digging up your driveway. This is often the right move if the rest of the line is in good shape. But if the camera shows multiple cracks, root intrusion in three places, and the pipe is sagging due to soil settlement, a full replacement is the smarter long-term investment.
The same logic applies to cast-iron drain stacks. If the pipe is 80 years old and we find a pinhole leak, we will patch it. But if the cast iron is paper-thin due to internal corrosion and we see rust scale flaking off, the pipe is nearing the end of its service life. Patching now means you'll be calling us back in two years when the next section fails. We walk you through what the camera shows. We explain how much usable life is left. We give you a cost comparison so you can decide what makes sense for your home and budget. Financing is available for larger projects. Full replacement becomes more manageable than paying for three separate repairs over five years.
What Toronto Homeowners Handle and When to Call a Licensed Plumber
You handle these tasks safely: replace a toilet flapper, clean a faucet aerator, and plunge a slow-draining sink. You test your sump pump by pouring water into the pit. You insulate exposed pipes in your basement with foam sleeves from the hardware store. You should not attempt to clear a main sewer line blockage yourself. Using a rented snake incorrectly can punch through a deteriorated clay pipe. This turns a $400 clearing into a $6,000 excavation.
You should not replace a water heater yourself in Toronto. The installation requires a gas fitting (if gas-fired), proper venting in accordance with code, a Temperature and Pressure Relief valve piped to a safe discharge location, and a Building Permit for the work. You should not cut into cast-iron drain stacks without understanding how the building's drainage and venting system works. One wrong cut creates negative pressure, siphoning traps and letting sewer gas into your home. If you're not sure whether a job is DIY-safe, the test is simple. Does the job involve gas? Does the job require a permit? Could a job flood your home if something goes wrong? If the answer is yes to any of these, call a licensed plumber. We'd rather give you a quote you decide not to move forward with than get a call asking us to fix a DIY project that has made the problem worse.
Plumbing Repairs, Installations, and Upgrades for Every Toronto Home
Our Toronto plumbing services cover routine repairs to complete system upgrades. We handle toilet repairs and replacements, faucet installations, sink repairs, garbage disposal installations, and all bathroom and kitchen plumbing needs. If you're dealing with a leaking pipe, low water pressure, or water heater issues, our experienced plumbers diagnose the problem and provide lasting solutions. We offer pipe repair and replacement services, including repiping for homes with aging galvanized or lead pipes. For bathroom renovations and kitchen remodels, we work with your contractors to ensure all plumbing work complies with code and functions properly. Every job includes our workmanship guarantee and upfront pricing. You know exactly what to expect before we start.
Commercial Plumbing Services for Toronto Businesses
A plumbing failure in a commercial building shuts down operations, disrupts customers, and results in health code violations. Commercial plumbing systems handle heavier loads and more frequent use than residential systems. These systems require specialized knowledge and faster response times.
Our commercial plumbers in Toronto have the experience and tools to handle routine maintenance to emergency repairs. We work efficiently to minimize disruption to your business. We're available around the clock because we know your business doesn't afford to wait. Whether you're managing a restaurant, office building, retail space, or industrial facility, count on us to keep your plumbing system running smoothly.
Keeping Your Toronto Plumbing System Healthy After We Leave
After we clear a drain, replace a water heater, or install a backwater valve, we walk you through the steps to ensure everything continues to work. If we installed a backwater valve, check it every six months by lifting the cover and ensuring the flap moves freely, and there's no debris stuck in the gate. If you don't check, sediment builds up. The valve won't close when you need it to during the next heavy rain. The City requires backwater valves to be accessible for inspection. Do not drywall over the valve or build a closet on top of it. We've seen valves installed under finished floors. When these valves require maintenance, the homeowner must remove tile or hardwood to access the valve. Plan the location before you finish the basement.
If we replace your water heater, drain a bucket of water from the tank every six months using the drain valve at the bottom to flush out sediment that can settle and reduce efficiency. If your water heater is in a finished basement and you're replacing the heater, we measure the door frames and stairwell width before we order the new tank. A 50-gallon tank won't fit through a 28-inch door. We've had to cut tanks in half to remove them. You only want to learn this lesson once. If we clear roots from your sewer line, we'll recommend a follow-up camera inspection in two to three years. Roots grow back. Catching roots early means a $300 clearing instead of a $5,000 replacement. If we repaired a sump pump, test the pump quarterly by pouring water into the pit. Replace the battery backup every three to five years, even if the backup hasn't been used. Batteries degrade with age. We install sump pumps with a check valve on the discharge line to prevent water from flowing back into the pit after the pump shuts off. Without a check valve, the pump cycles more frequently, wears out faster, and you hear it clicking on and off every few minutes during heavy rain instead of running steadily. These aren't upsells. These maintenance steps will prevent the same problem from recurring and avoid additional costs next time.
When to Call 311 in Toronto vs. When to Call a Plumber
If you have a sewer backup, basement flooding, no water, or a sudden system-wide drop in water pressure, contact 311 so Toronto Water can investigate whether the issue involves City infrastructure. The City explains that both sewer service lines and water service pipes are owned in a split-ownership arrangement. The City is responsible up to the property line. The homeowner is responsible for the property line into the home. If the issue is isolated to one fixture or area, or the City confirms the problem is on your private side line, a licensed Toronto plumber should step in to diagnose, clear the blockage, repair the pipe, or replace failing components safely and in accordance with code.
