Plumbing in Ottawa, ON

A deeper look at how Ottawa conditions shape the plumbing work owners actually need.

Ottawa ranks among the coldest major Canadian cities by average January temperature, and that cold is what distinguishes Ottawa plumbing service from plumbing in milder markets. When an Ottawa cold snap holds below minus 20 Celsius for four or five consecutive days, the frost penetration depth in the soil around an older Vanier or Centretown foundation can reach 1.5 metres. Supply lines that run through an exterior wall cavity with inadequate insulation begin to freeze when the cavity temperature drops to zero, which typically happens on night three of a sustained cold snap. The pipe may not burst immediately. Ice plugs the supply line, the homeowner notices no water pressure, and calls a plumber. In a best case scenario we thaw the line with a heat gun and add pipe insulation before a burst occurs. In a worse scenario the pipe has already split along the length of the freeze zone and the burst releases only when the pipe thaws, sending water into the wall cavity, the subfloor, and the unit below. The repair at that point involves not just replumbing the supply line but also water extraction, structural drying, drywall removal, and restoration.

Ottawa's backwater valve subsidy program, administered through the City of Ottawa, provides eligible homeowners with a rebate of up to $2,800 for the installation of a backwater valve to prevent sewer backup during combined sewer surcharge events. Ottawa surcharge events are most common in the March and April snowmelt window and during intense summer storms. We assist Ottawa homeowners with the subsidy application documentation and install backwater valves in compliance with the Ontario Building Code. Galvanized repipes in older Ottawa neighborhoods are a significant capital investment that property owners sometimes defer until water pressure drops to unacceptable levels or a pipe fails at a joint. Galvanized steel corrodes from the inside out, building mineral deposits that reduce the interior diameter of a half inch pipe to less than a quarter inch over 40 to 50 years. Repipe with copper or cross linked polyethylene restores full flow and eliminates the risk of catastrophic joint failure. We quote the full repipe scope flat before any wall opening begins and coordinate with the City of Ottawa for permits where required. Call 1-855-910-9090.