Licensed York Plumbers
Plumbing emergencies don’t wait for business hours — and neither do we.
From a leaking galvanized line in Oakwood Village to a sewer backup in Mount Dennis at 2 AM, Reliable Source Plumbing and Drains Ltd is the crew York homeowners call first. We’re open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year — weekends and holidays included.
After-hours emergency calls carry a $250 after-hours fee, plus the repair — we’ll quote the full price on the phone before we dispatch. No surprises, ever.
Plumbing Services We Provide in York
Emergency plumbing — burst pipes, major leaks, sewer backups, no water at all. Day, night, or 3 AM on a Sunday.
Drain snaking and repairs — kitchen sinks, bathroom drains, main lines. Cleared properly, not just poked.
Camera inspection service — we show you the camera footage and explain what we’re seeing in plain language before we quote any repair. Free with every drain call.
Hydro-jetting services — high-pressure water scouring for grease, roots, and scale buildup. No harsh chemicals that corrode your pipes.
New plumbing installations — fixtures, water heaters, full rough-ins for renovations and new builds.
Sewer line repair and replacement — clay, cast iron, or collapsed lines diagnosed on camera first, so you only pay for what you actually need.
York Homes by Era — Pipe Materials and What to Watch For
York is one of Toronto’s oldest inner suburbs, and its housing stock shows it. Here’s what we find, era by era:
1910s–1920s (Humewood–Cedarvale, Oakwood Village, southern York) — developed to attract growth to the young township, these streets hold some of the oldest homes we service anywhere. Cast iron drains, galvanized supply lines, clay sewer laterals — in some houses, all three are a century old. If your drains gurgle or your water pressure has faded to a trickle, this is usually why.
1930s–1950s (Caledonia–Fairbank, Briar Hill–Belgravia, Silverthorn, Rockcliffe–Smythe) — the pre-war and post-war subdivisions that filled out York. Same vintage systems: cast iron and galvanized inside, clay tile connecting to the city sewer. Tree roots love clay joints — if you have a mature tree anywhere near your front yard, your lateral is at risk even if the tree looks healthy.
Weston village (independent village until 1967) — village-era homes mixed with decades of infill. The oldest properties here predate modern plumbing codes entirely; we diagnose first and assume nothing.
Post-war apartments and mixed streets (Weston Road, Eglinton West) — mid-century apartment blocks and converted houses. Aging stacks, corroded galvanized risers, and main drains shared by multiple units.
Two York-only headaches we see on camera regularly: Orangeburg pipe — the tar-fibre pipe used from the 1940s to the 1970s that blisters, deforms, and collapses — and collapsed clay laterals crushed by a century of ground movement.
The rule is simple: we don’t guess. Every diagnosis starts with a camera. You see what we see before anyone talks about money.
How We Diagnose (Before We Quote)
You call. A real person picks up — usually Danielle. No automated queue, no callback list — 24/7, including holidays.
We listen first. What’s happening, where, and since when. If it’s something you can safely handle yourself, we’ll tell you — that’s the job.
Camera goes in. For any drain or sewer issue, we run a camera inspection (free with every drain call) and show you the footage on screen.
Plain-language explanation. Here’s what’s wrong, here’s what caused it, here are your options — good, better, best. No jargon, no pressure.
You see the price before any work begins. The price we quote is the price you pay.
York Neighbourhoods We Serve
South York — Humewood–Cedarvale, Oakwood Village (Five Points, Northcliffe Village), Briar Hill–Belgravia. 1910s–1920s streets; the oldest systems we service.
Central York — Caledonia–Fairbank, Silverthorn (Keelesdale), Rockcliffe–Smythe. Pre-war and post-war subdivisions; cast iron and galvanized territory.
West York — Mount Dennis, Weston, Lambton–Baby Point, Old Mill. Village-era homes and mid-century blocks along the Humber.
Eglinton West (Little Jamaica) — mixed residential and commercial streets; older buildings with aging stacks and shared drains.
Liberty Village — Dufferin and King. Loft conversions and former industrial buildings turned residential; aging pipes behind modern finishes.
Upfront Pricing — No Surprises
Diagnosis: $100. You approve the repair price before any work begins.
After-hours fee: $250, plus the repair. Nights, weekends, and holidays — quoted upfront on the phone before we dispatch.
No call-out fee games.
Upfront flat-rate pricing. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Never discount, always educate. If a price ever comes down, something real comes out — parts, labour, or warranty. We’d rather explain the price than cheapen the work.
What to Expect When You Call
- A real person answers — usually Danielle. Any hour, any day.
- We ask what’s happening and give you immediate steps if water is flowing where it shouldn’t — main shut-off valve location, what not to touch.
- We book the visit and text you when the plumber is on the way.
- On site: shoe covers on, floors protected, camera first for drain issues.
- You approve the price. We do the work. We clean up. You get the footage and the invoice.
Why York Trusts Reliable Source
Licensed and insured — Toronto plumbing contractor Licence T94-5410854. WSIB compliant, Skilled Trades Ontario.
20+ years of combined field experience across our crew.
85+ verified Google reviews — real jobs, real customers.
Local. Our York branch works these streets every week. When you call back in two years, you’ll talk to someone who remembers your house.
When to Call 311 — and When to Call a Plumber
Call 311 (City of Toronto) if: the problem is at the curb or in the street, a city tree’s roots are the obvious cause and the blockage is on the city’s side of the property line, or there’s a watermain break on your street.
Call us if: the problem is inside your home or between your house and the property line, water is actively damaging your home, or you need a camera diagnosis to find out whose side it’s on. Not sure? Call us — we’ll tell you honestly if it’s the city’s job.
Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy — Up to $6,650
Yes — York homeowners are eligible. The historic borough of York — Weston, Silverthorn, Oakwood Village, Mount Dennis — is part of the City of Toronto and fully covered by the expanded Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program. (Not to be confused with York Region, which has entirely different rules.)
As of May 1, 2026, the maximum is $6,650 per property, covering up to 80 percent of eligible work: home plumbing assessment (up to $500), backwater valves (up to $1,600 per device, maximum two), sump pump (up to $2,250) plus battery backup (up to $300), and foundation drain severance (up to $400).
To claim it: the work must be done by a City-licensed contractor, a Toronto Building permit is required before any backwater valve installation, a city inspector must sign off on the drain work before concrete is poured, and the application is due within two years of installation.
We install exactly what this program covers. If you’re thinking about a backwater valve, check your eligibility first — then call us for the work and the paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions — York Plumbing
Q: My basement floor drain is backing up in York. What should I do first?
A: Stop using water immediately — every flush or shower adds to the backup. If you know where your main shut-off valve is, leave it alone unless water is actively rising (shutting off supply won’t stop a sewer backup). Call us: we’ll camera the line and tell you whether the blockage is yours or the city’s.
Q: Can tree roots damage my sewer line even if there are no large trees near my house?
A: Yes. Roots travel surprising distances underground toward the moisture in sewer lines, and clay tile joints are an open invitation. We’ve pulled roots from lines where the nearest visible tree was two houses away. A camera inspection settles it in minutes.
Q: What should I do while waiting for an emergency plumber?
A: If a pipe burst: shut off the main water valve (usually in the basement near the front wall) and open a faucet on the lowest floor to drain pressure. Move valuables off the floor. Don’t touch electrical outlets near standing water. Then call — we’ll talk you through the rest on the phone.
Q: How much does a plumber cost in York?
A: Diagnosis is $100, and the repair price depends on the job — which is why we quote upfront before any work begins. A straightforward drain clearing and a sewer line replacement are different worlds. Anyone giving you a price over the phone without seeing the problem is guessing. We diagnose first, then you approve the price.
Q: Do you charge extra for nights, weekends, or holidays?
A: Yes. Emergency calls outside regular hours carry a $250 after-hours fee, plus the cost of the repair. We’ll quote the full price on the phone before we dispatch — you approve it before any work begins. No surprises.
Q: What’s the difference between snaking a drain and hydro jetting?
A: Snaking punches a hole through a blockage; hydro jetting scours the entire inside of the pipe with high-pressure water, removing grease, scale, and roots. For recurring clogs, jetting is the long-term fix. We’ll show you the camera footage so you can see which one your pipes actually need.
Q: My York home was built in the 1920s. Should I worry about my pipes?
A: Probably worth a look. 1920s York homes typically have cast iron drains and galvanized supply lines — both are well past their expected lifespan now, and some are approaching a century of service. A camera inspection tells you exactly where you stand, before it becomes an emergency.
Q: Do I need a permit for plumbing work in Toronto?
A: It depends on the scope. Fixture replacements usually don’t; rough-ins, sewer work, and backwater valve installations often do. We handle the permit side and will tell you upfront what’s required.
Q: Are chemical drain cleaners safe for my pipes?
A: No — and this matters. Chemical cleaners generate heat and corrode pipes from the inside, especially older metal ones. They also rarely fix the actual blockage. Mechanical clearing (snaking) or hydro jetting solves the problem without damaging your plumbing.
Q: How fast can you get to me in an emergency?
A: We dispatch 24/7 across York. Call and we’ll give you a straight answer on timing — and text you when the plumber is on the way.
Q: Do you guarantee your work?
A: Yes — one-year warranty on all repairs, unless your invoice or quote states otherwise.
Q: I’m buying a home in York. Can you inspect the plumbing before I commit?
A: Yes — a pre-purchase camera inspection of the sewer lateral is one of the smartest few hundred dollars a buyer can spend. Clay tile with root intrusion is common in York’s oldest pockets and invisible without a camera. You’ll get footage and a written summary for your negotiations.
Call York's Plumbers — 24/7
Plumbing problem right now? Don’t wait for it to get worse.
(289) 233-7221 — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.