Plumber in Riverdale

Housing stock and plumbing in Riverdale

Most of Riverdale filled in between the 1880s and the 1920s, as streetcar lines pushed east across the Don. The result is a dense grid of brick semis, row houses and a few larger detached homes on streets running off Broadview, Logan, Carlaw and Pape. Typical original plumbing includes a clay or cast-iron lateral running to the street sewer, a cast-iron stack through the middle of the house, and supply lines that have been replaced piecemeal, with some galvanized or even lead sections left behind.

Common problems we see here

Narrow lots mean basements are tight, and many have been finished over the original drains. When a floor drain backs up beneath new flooring, getting to it takes care. We often find:

• Root intrusion in clay laterals under mature front-yard trees
• Cracked cast-iron stacks behind plaster on second floors
• Bathrooms added in the 1970s or 80s with poor venting
• Water heaters wedged under stairs with little clearance

Slow tubs and sinks upstairs are frequently traced to scaled-up branch lines, and our bathroom drain cleaning service is built for exactly those older fittings.

Basement flooding and sewer laterals

Parts of Riverdale drain into combined sewers that carry both storm water and household waste. During intense summer storms those pipes can surcharge, pushing water back toward basements. The usual defence pairs disconnected downspouts with a backwater valve fitted to the main drain. Toronto offers a flood-protection subsidy program that can offset part of the cost for eligible homes; it is worth checking the current terms before work begins.

Water lines, lead and older pipes

Houses of Riverdale's age were often connected to the city main with lead service pipe. Some have been replaced; others have not, or were changed only on the city side. A quick look at the pipe entering your basement near the meter tells a lot: dull grey, soft metal that scratches silver is likely lead. Our guide on signs of lead pipes explains the check, and a water service upgrade replaces the private portion.

Streets and landmarks we cover

We work throughout North and South Riverdale, from homes near Riverdale Park and Withrow Park to the side streets off Gerrard, Dundas and Queen East. Neighbours along the Danforth and in Cabbagetown across the river share many of the same pipe issues.

Renovating a Riverdale house

Underpinning to gain basement height is popular here. It is also the best time to replace the main building drain, add a backwater valve and swap the lateral if the camera shows damage, since the floor is already open. Plan plumbing with the contractor before excavation begins rather than after.

Common questions