At a glance
- Place
- Bay Ridges
- Setting
- Pickering neighbourhood
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Read next
- Our service area
Homes and plumbing in Bay Ridges
Bay Ridges was one of the first large planned subdivisions in Pickering. Its bungalows, back-splits and two-storey homes were built mostly in the 1960s and 1970s, close to the bay and the lake. Many have been updated over the years, but behind the newer kitchens and bathrooms there is often original pipe: cast iron drain stacks, copper or galvanized supply lines and a sewer lateral that has been in the ground for fifty years or more.
Being near the water adds another layer. Spring groundwater sits high, and heavy storms can push the municipal sewer hard. When the sewer surcharges, water looks for the lowest opening, and in most Bay Ridges homes that is the basement floor drain. A home that has never had a backup can still have one if the right storm lines up with a partly blocked lateral.
Common problems we see
- Cast iron stacks cracking along the seams or rusting through at the base.
- Sewer laterals with roots, offset joints or sags that hold water.
- Galvanized supply pipe narrowed by rust, causing weak pressure and brown water after a shutdown.
- Floor drains backing up during big storms.
- Original shower valves that no longer hold temperature.
Local tip Brown water when you first open a tap after the water has been off is a common sign of old galvanized pipe. Run it until it clears, then make a note. If it keeps happening, the pipe is telling you something.
Services most asked for
We do a good deal of sewer camera work in Bay Ridges, often followed by main line clearing or hydro jetting. Repiping to replace galvanized lines is common, as is backwater valve installation for homes that have had a sewer backup. Bathroom renovations here usually include plumbing updates behind the walls while they are open.
Renovating a fifty-year-old bathroom
When a bathroom in a Bay Ridges home gets opened up, we often find surprises: a drain that was never vented properly, a mix of old and new pipe joined with rubber couplings, or a cast iron flange under the toilet that has rusted thin. It is far cheaper to fix these while the floor and walls are open than after the new tile is down. We look at everything we can reach, tell you what is sound and what is not, and price the options so you can decide before the finishes go in.
If you are thinking about buying in the area, our older home buying guide lists the plumbing questions to ask, and a camera inspection of the sewer before closing is money well spent.
Getting to you
Bay Ridges is a quick trip west along the lake from Ajax. Call (365) 363-2754. If water is coming up through a floor drain, stop using water in the house and tell us right away. We will look first, show you what we see, and let you choose the fix.
Questions we hear on the phone
How do I know if my Bay Ridges home has galvanized pipe?
Look at exposed pipe near the water meter. Galvanized steel is grey and threaded at the joints. Copper is orange-brown. A magnet sticks to steel but not to copper.
Does every older home need a new sewer line?
No. Many older laterals have years of life left. A camera inspection shows the real condition so you only replace what needs it.