Drain Replacement Toronto

Without question, the answer is yes—if you still have Orangeburg pipes installed, it's absolutely necessary to get drain replacement. Toronto homes that were built between the 1940s and 1970s had these types of sewer lines installed, which are called Orangeburg pipes because they originated in Orangeburg, New Jersey. They are essentially made of wood fibers that have been impregnated with coal tar, and the reason they stopped being used is that they aren't durable and tend to break down much faster than other types of piping material.

Orangeburg pipes are only meant to last 50 years at a maximum, and it's been about 50 years since plumbers stopped installing them. That means if you still have them in place, they need to go before they cause a serious problem—if they haven't already. They're already at their maximum life expectancy and may be well beyond that if they were installed prior to the 1970s, so they may already be leaking underground or causing other severe issues that need to be corrected with Toronto drain replacement.

There are several potential reasons why your plumbing system may be exhibiting signs that you need drain replacement, such as a broken or cracked drain line, and our plumbers won't know exactly what caused the issue with your wastewater disposal system until we've had the opportunity to inspect it thoroughly in person and come up with a diagnosis. That being said, the majority of Toronto drain replacement problems are caused by intense pressure, whether it's coming from the water inside the drain line or it's an external problem from the soil surrounding the buried pipe. Possible causes include:

• Severely clogged drains caused by a buildup of stuff such as food scraps, paper towels, hair clumps, hygiene products and other items that really don't belong in drain lines
• Tree roots have found their way into the pipe and grown rapidly, cutting off the flow of wastewater
• Vibration caused by seismic activity or heavy construction
• Soil shifting over the years from landscaping changes or settling of the building
• Wastewater lines have passed their prime and are deteriorated

That's a good question to ask because there's no sense in paying out of pocket for something that is covered by your homeowner's insurance—that's why you have it, after all. In past years, coverage for plumbing projects such as Toronto drain replacement was never included on a standard home insurance policy. Instead, it had to be added to the policy as a separate endorsement. That's often still the case, but some insurance companies do include coverage for drain replacement on a standard policy that may or may not be subjected to special limits.

If you're not sure exactly how your homeowner's insurance policy is written, the best course of action is to contact your insurance representative and find out exactly what you can expect in terms of insurance compensation for issues like drain replacement in Toronto. If you have coverage, you should document the problem with photos or video, if possible, and make sure to keep your receipts from any plumbing services so you can file a claim with your insurance provider.

For bigger plumbing projects like drain replacement, Toronto does require a stand-alone plumbing and drain permit. However, that's not something homeowners or business owners need to concern themselves about when our qualified plumbers are on the job. We've completed dozens of Toronto drain replacement projects over the years, so we know precisely which permits are necessary, and we will obtain them before we begin work to make sure everything is in full compliance with municipal and provincial regulations. We value a safe workplace and want to make sure the results of our work serve your household well for many years to come.

The answer to this will vary based on the type of material your lines are made from. If you have cast iron pipes, you can expect them to last around 75 to 100 years. Clay, cement, or PVC pipes may be able to hang on for up to 100 years as well, though they often don't make it to that finish line before they need drain replacement. Toronto residents should be aware, however, that Orangeburg pipes can only be expected to last 50 years—sometimes less—before it will be necessary to look into services for drain replacement. Remember that wastewater disposal lines can be struck down by unexpected sudden damage from shovel impacts, seismic activity, heavy vibrations from construction, and other causes, and of course, that sort of wastewater line damage will drastically shorten their serviceable years.

In most cases, trenchless methods are the fastest, non-destructive, effective, and long-lasting way to take care of plumbing projects like drain replacement in Toronto. Every homeowner should be aware, though, that there are a few specific situations where trenchless techniques are simply not possible. It's important to keep in mind that trenchless methods of drain replacement, such as hydraulic bursting, rely on the fact that there's already a gap in the soil that can be utilized because a trench was dug for the original installation when the plumbing system was first put in while the house was being constructed. But if that trench is no longer there or wasn't dug properly in the first place, there's no space available to use, and the trench will have to be dug again.

Another reason why trenchless drain replacement may not be a viable option is if the initial sewer line installation was not done correctly and the trench doesn't have an adequate slope to keep the wastewater moving away from your house. Of course, we all know water flows downhill, so a drain line trench needs to be dug with a steep enough slope to keep wastewater flowing, or it'll just sit there and can cause nasty problems like sewer backups. If the trench wasn't oriented correctly when it was first dug, or the soil has shifted to the point where the slope is no longer sufficient, trenchless drain replacement won't solve the issue because the trench itself is the problem, not the pipe. In that situation, it's necessary to dig the trench again and correct the slope issue.

That does depend on a number of factors, such as whether the replacement can be done with trenchless methods. For trenchless drain replacement, Toronto property owners can rest assured that our methods are much faster than traditional methods that involve digging a trench, and the project can typically be completed within two to three business days.