How fast can an emergency plumber get to my home in St. Catharines?
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We answer 24/7 and dispatch the nearest licensed plumber
right away. You get an arrival time on the phone, not a vague window. On storm nights and during deep
freezes, active flooding, sewage backups and homes with no heat go to the front of the line.
How is an emergency plumbing visit priced?
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You get a clear price before any work begins, and nothing is
done without your approval. If a temporary fix can get you through the night and the permanent repair can be
booked later, we explain both options so you can choose.
What counts as a plumbing emergency, and what can wait until morning?
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Call right away if water is leaking and you can't stop it,
sewage is coming up a drain, your only toilet is blocked, the boiler is off in freezing weather, or the
water heater is leaking. A dripping faucet, one slow drain while the others work, or a running toilet (close
the small valve behind it) can usually wait for a regular visit. If you smell gas, leave the house and call
911 and Enbridge Gas at 1-866-763-5427. That's not a plumbing call.
Where is my main water shut-off valve, and what if it won't turn?
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In most St. Catharines houses it's in the basement on the
wall facing the street, where the water pipe comes up through the floor beside the meter. Turn it clockwise
to close. Older gate valves often seize, so don't force one with a wrench: a snapped stem makes the leak
worse. If it won't move, call us and we'll talk you through it. If the curb stop outside needs to be closed,
that's done by the City of St. Catharines (905-688-5600).
Sewage is backing up into my basement. Is it my problem or the City's?
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In St. Catharines, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer
pipe from the house to the property line, and the City is responsible for the part under public property and
the main sewer. We clear the blockage and run a camera to show where it is. If it's on your side (roots, a
collapsed or sagging pipe), we fix it. If it's on the City's side, you'll have the camera footage to report
it. Stop using water in the house until the line is clear.
My basement flooded. What should I do first?
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First, stay out of the water if it's near outlets, the
furnace or the electrical panel. Then find the source: clean water from a pipe means shut off the main
valve; water rising from the floor drain means a sewer backup; water coming through the walls during rain
usually means the sump pump has failed or can't keep up. Take photos, call your insurance company, and
report basement flooding to the City of St. Catharines at 905-688-5600. We can fix or replace the sump pump
and clear the drain the same day.
Is there a St. Catharines rebate for a backwater valve or sump pump?
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Yes. The City's Flood Alleviation Program (FLAP) rebates up
to 90% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000, for single- and semi-detached homes built before 2012. It
covers backwater valves and disconnecting weeping tiles from the sanitary sewer and connecting them to a
sump pump. Check your eligibility with the City before the work starts.
I have no hot water. What if my water heater is a rental?
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If you own the tank, most fixes (a thermocouple, gas valve,
element or thermostat) are done in one visit, and a tank leaking from the bottom needs replacing. Many
Ontario homes rent their water heater, so check for a rental sticker on the tank. A rented tank is repaired
by the rental company, but if it's leaking we can still come out, shut it down and stop the water damage
while you wait for them.
My boiler stopped heating at night. What can I check myself?
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Check that the thermostat is set to heat and has working
batteries, that the boiler's breaker or service switch is on, and look at the pressure gauge. A home boiler
usually sits around 12–15 psi when cold. Pressure well below that, or water dripping from the relief valve,
means it needs a technician. Don't keep pressing the reset button, because repeated lockouts point to a real
fault.
How do I deal with frozen pipes, and how do I prevent them?
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If a pipe has burst, shut off the main valve and call us. If
it's only frozen (no water at a tap), open that tap and warm the pipe with a hair dryer, starting at the tap
end, and never use a torch or open flame. Pipes usually freeze on outside walls, in crawl spaces and
garages, or near the outdoor tap. Before winter, disconnect garden hoses and close the inside shut-off to
outdoor taps, keep the heat at no less than about 13°C when you're away, and let a tap drip on the coldest
nights.
Can you help with an insurance claim for water damage?
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Yes. We can photograph the damage and its cause, note what
failed and why, and give you an itemized invoice, which is what insurance adjusters usually ask for. Also
check your policy: in Ontario, sewer backup coverage is often an optional add-on, so a burst pipe and a
sewer backup may be treated differently by your insurer.
Do you also do regular plumbing work, not just emergencies?
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Yes. Along with 24/7 emergency calls, we handle scheduled
work across St. Catharines: faucet and toilet installation, water heater replacement, drain cleaning, sump
pump upgrades, leak detection, water softeners and sewer line repair. You can book a visit online or by
phone at a time that suits you.
