Seasonal care
Freeze protection, outdoor taps and readying the house before a winter trip, all timed to southern Ontario weather.
Basements and drains
Sump testing, flood prevention, sewer smells and roots in the lateral.
Heaters and water quality
Rent or own, tank or tankless, flushing a tank, and life with Peel's moderately hard water.
These papers are general advice only. If anything looks unsafe or involves gas, stop and phone a professional.
Drains & toilets
| Service | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Draining Sediment From a Tank Heater | Sediment settles on the bottom of a tank water heater over time. | |
| Keep These Out of Toilets and Sinks | Toilets are built to take human waste and toilet paper. | |
| Clearing a Clogged Drain the Safe Way | Many clogs can be cleared at home with simple tools. | |
| Stopping a Toilet That Keeps Running | Constant refilling sends clean water down the drain around the clock. | |
| Tracing a Sewer Smell in the Basement | A sewer smell in the basement is unpleasant and sometimes a sign of a problem. | |
| Roots in the Sewer Lateral | Tree roots seek water and find it in sewer pipe joints. |
Heaters & water
| Service | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Renting Versus Owning Your Water Heater | Many Brampton homes came with a rented water heater. | |
| Tank or Tankless: Picking a Heater | Tank heaters store hot water; tankless heaters make it on demand. | |
| Living With Peel Region Hard Water | Peel's tap water comes mainly from Lake Ontario and is treated at regional plants. | |
| Weak Water Pressure, Explained | Weak pressure at one tap is usually a small fix. | |
| When the Peel Water Bill Suddenly Climbs | A sudden jump in your water bill usually means a leak. | |
| Looking After a Water Softener | A water softener needs little attention, but a few checks keep it working. |
Basements & winter
| Service | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping Brampton Pipes From Freezing | Brampton winters bring stretches of minus twenty with wind. | |
| Finding the Main Water Valve in Your House | When a pipe bursts, you have one job: close the main water valve. | |
| A Ten-Minute Sump Pump Test | A sump pump that sits idle all winter can fail on the first big thaw. | |
| Keeping Water Out of a Peel Basement | Most basement floods in Brampton come from three places: groundwater through the walls and floor, sewer backup through the floor drain, and a plumbing failure inside the house. | |
| Flood Protection Money: Checking What Brampton Offers | Cities across the GTA have offered homeowners money toward backwater valves, sump pumps and downspout disconnection. | |
| Getting Outdoor Taps Ready for Frost | Before the first hard frost, a few minutes at each outdoor tap prevents a split pipe and a wet basement in spring. | |
| Leaving the House Empty in Winter | Many Brampton families travel for weeks in winter. | |
| Plumbing a Legal Basement Unit | Many Brampton homes add basement apartments. | |
| Putting Together a Plumbing Emergency Box | A small kit kept near the main shut-off can turn a plumbing disaster into an inconvenience. |
House & pipes
| Service | What it covers | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Spotting Poly-B Supply Pipe | Polybutylene supply pipe was used in many Ontario homes built or renovated from about 1978 into the late nineties. | |
| A Buyer's Plumbing Checklist for Brampton | A home inspection covers a lot, but plumbing problems can hide. |