Water Service Line Upgrade in Toronto

Signs you need a water service upgrade

• Pressure drops sharply when two taps run at once
• The pipe coming through the front wall looks dull grey, scratches easily and thuds rather than rings, which suggests lead
• A renovation is adding bathrooms or a laundry, and the old line cannot keep up
• A leak in the yard or a wet spot along the route to the street

What causes it in older Toronto homes

Houses built before the mid-1950s in Toronto commonly had lead water services. Many were later replaced, but often only on one side of the property line. Others got half-inch copper, which was fine for one bathroom but struggles with today’s showers, dishwashers and washers. Old services also corrode and pick up scale, narrowing them further.

What we do on site, in order

1. We identify the service material at the meter and, where possible, along the route.
2. We arrange the permit and utility locates.
3. We replace the private-side line, often by trenchless boring from the curb area to the foundation, or by a narrow trench where boring is not possible.
4. The new line enters through a sealed foundation opening and gets a new main shut-off.
5. We coordinate with the City of Toronto, which is responsible for the public portion of the service, and check its current program for replacing lead on its side.

What affects the price

Length of the run, the depth, what is on top (lawn, driveway, stairs), the foundation type and whether boring is possible decide the cost. We give you a written price after looking at the site, before any work begins.

When to call right away

Call immediately if water is bubbling up in the yard, the meter is spinning with everything off, or the basement wall where the line enters is wet. Those point to a leak on the service that will only get worse.

The job, in four moves

1. 1
   Trace the run

   Pipe followed from the meter, material identified at each change.

2. 2
   Isolate the section

   Nearest valve closed, line drained at the lowest tap.

3. 3
   Cut and replace

   Copper or PEX run in, transitions made with proper fittings.

4. 4
   Gauge it

   Pressure gauge on a hose bib, joints watched before walls close.

Common questions