Plumbing tips
Signs Your Toronto Home Has Lead Pipes
Lead water services went into new Toronto houses right up to roughly the mid-1950s. If your home was built before then, it is worth five minutes in the basement to check.
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Why it matters in Toronto homes
Water that stands in a lead pipe, overnight for instance, picks up lead. Health Canada considers there to be no safe level of lead exposure, and children and pregnant people are most at risk. Toronto treats its water to reduce lead release, but replacing the pipe is the lasting answer.
Step-by-step what to do
- Find the pipe coming into the house at the water meter.
- Study the colour and shape. A lead line is a flat grey, often with a bulbous joint where it meets the meter or valve.
- Scrape it lightly with a coin. Lead turns bright silver and feels soft. Copper shows copper colour; galvanized steel stays grey and hard.
- Tap it with a magnet. Steel grabs a magnet; lead and copper ignore it.
- Test the water. Toronto has handed out free lead test kits through its public health offices; look up the current pickup details.
Run the cold tap first. Until the line is replaced, draw off the first few minutes of cold water each morning before you drink any, and use only cold water for cooking and baby formula.
Mistakes to avoid
- Assuming a copper pipe at the meter means no lead. The city portion or the yard section may still be lead.
- Using a softener and assuming it removes lead. It does not.
- Replacing only one side of the service. Partial replacement can temporarily increase lead levels.
When it is time to phone us
Have us confirm the material and to replace the private side. We coordinate with the City of Toronto for the public side. See lead pipe replacement and water service upgrades.
Common questions
Does Toronto replace its side of a lead service?
The city has a program to replace the public portion. Check its current terms and timeline.
Can I use a filter in the meantime?
Yes, choose one certified to NSF/ANSI standard 53 for lead reduction.
Water where it shouldn’t be? Call now.
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