WE PROVIDE 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE
WE PROVIDE 24/7 EMERGENCY SERVICE
PLUMBING & DRAIN SERVICES IN BARRIE
Household plumbing issues can be something as minor as that pesky valve that’s been dripping for months or something as major as a sewer backup or burst pipe that needs immediate attention. While your problem may start small, most homeowners hope to achieve the same result: discover the issue, fix it correctly and never have to worry about that problem again.
At Sureflow Plumbing & Drain, we offer residential plumbing services for homes, townhomes, condominiums, finished basements and other properties in Barrie. From plumbing repairs to drain issues, leaky pipes and fixtures to water heaters, sump pumps, sewage pumps, renovations, and more – we can take care of your plumbing problem.
But before it can be fixed, you need to understand what’s wrong.
Let’s start with the basics.
Your home has several different plumbing systems that need to function properly. Water must enter your home, get to each individual fixture, get heated when needed and drain correctly. When plumbing issues arise, the problem can be contained to one fixture, or it can affect larger sections of your plumbing.
Our residential plumbing services cover problems that affect your home’s water supply, drains, sewer lines, fixtures, sump pumps and sewage pumps. Here are just a few of our residential plumbing services.
Your home may need a few services or one specific service. You’ll never know until you understand what’s causing your plumbing issue. That’s why diagnosis should always come first.
Your home’s main sewer line is responsible for removing wastewater from the property. When that line gets clogged or damaged, multiple fixtures will start to experience issues.
You may notice your basement drains clog, toilets make gurgling sounds, you have multiple slow drains or sewage emerges from a lower-level drain.
Once multiple areas of the home are affected, you may be dealing with more than just a sink or toilet clog. The sewer line may need to be snaked, inspected, or repaired to correct the restriction.
Tree roots can infiltrate older sewer lines that have developed cracks or weak points. Roots can invade the pipe and grow inward, trapping waste and causing repeat clogs.
If you’ve snaked the drain and the issue continues to occur, there could be roots in your sewer line causing another blockage.
If your Barrie home experiences frequent sewer clogs and you have mature trees on your property, the sewer line should be checked.
Over time, drains and sewer lines can accumulate substantial buildup on the interior surface of the pipe.
Hydro jetting involves forcing highly pressurized water through the pipe. The process can remove grease, sludge and other debris from drains that are suitable for the service.
If you have a line that’s extensively corroded or damaged by tree roots, hydro jetting can be very ineffective.
Hydro jetting is not a cure-all for clogged drains. The condition of the line and the type of clog should be assessed to determine what service will be effective.
Leaks can occur in many different places throughout your plumbing system. Some are easy to identify because you can visually see water spraying from a pipe.
Others may be tucked behind walls, above ceilings or underneath flooring. Plumbing leaks can cause wet drywall, water stains, bubbling paint, odours or visible water.
It’s important to find the source of the leak prior to cutting open walls or damaging larger areas of your home.
Water leaking from a pipe behind drywall can go unnoticed for some time.
Liquid can trickle along framing or other surfaces before becoming visible. It may appear several feet away from the point of failure.
This explains why a stain on the wall or ceiling is often not located directly beneath the leaking pipe.
When wet spots continue to reappear or become larger while plumbing is in use, there could be an issue with the water-supply or drainage system behind the finished surface. Leak detection behind walls may be required.
It is not uncommon for toilets to experience problems after years of use.
The fixture can begin to run constantly, fail to flush correctly, clog more frequently or develop leaks around its base. Some problems are limited to internal parts in the toilet tank. Others may be related to sewer or drain issues.
When two or more toilets or drains develop problems at the same time, the cause could be attributed to something larger than a single fixture.
Toilet repair in Barrie is one of the residential plumbing services offered by Sureflow.
When toilets run constantly, they waste water and may eventually require a replacement flapper, fill valve or other part inside the tank.
Leaks around the bottom of toilets are a separate issue. The problem could originate from the toilet seal, water supply line, shut-off valve or another connection.
Determining where the water is coming from will allow you to know if the toilet needs a simple repair or if the unit should be pulled out to determine the cause.
It won’t take long for your family to run out of hot water if the heater goes out.
Your water heater can stop working, begin supplying a smaller amount of hot water or develop leaks near the tank. Strange noises and temperature fluctuations are other signs something is wrong with the unit.
Water heaters do not always need to be replaced when problems occur. Some issues may be related to the installation of valves, controls or plumbing connections. Others are repairable by a qualified technician.
Sureflow offers water heater installation and repair as part of our residential plumbing services.
Should a water heater be repaired or replaced? It depends on the situation, the problem and the overall condition of the system.
If something has failed but the tank is in good condition otherwise, it may make sense to repair. If the tank is leaking, repairs are frequent or your hot water system can no longer meet the demands of your household, replacement should be considered.
We don’t want to recommend a new water heater unnecessarily, so let us know what’s failed so we can help you determine your best course of action.
Your sump pump helps keep lower areas of your home safe from groundwater that may try to enter the basement. Without it, or if the pump fails, the water level in the sump pit may continue to rise.
The pump helps keep water drained away from your home, which becomes critical when there’s a lot of rain falling or a large amount of groundwater flowing into the pit through the intake drainage.
If the pump begins running constantly, is making strange noises, or fails to turn on at all, contact us to have it inspected before the pit overflows.
Sewage pumps should not be confused with sump pumps.
While a sump pump is used to move groundwater out of the basement, a sewage pump moves wastewater from basement plumbing fixtures up and away from the home. Basement bathrooms, laundry rooms and even secondary suites can be connected to these pumps when fixtures are installed below the main sewer line connection.
Failure of this pump will cause the fixtures to stop draining and may cause wastewater to backup into the home.
A backwater valve is installed into the building drainage system. It is intended to provide protection against sewage flowing backwards into the home.
This may occur on lower levels of your home where a sewer backup could flow into your home through drains on the basement floor or other plumbing fixtures.
The difference between a backwater valve and a potable-water backflow preventer is that one protects your home from dirty wastewater while the other protects your drinking-water system.
Cold winter weather in Barrie can cause issues with plumbing you have in uninsulated areas of your home.
Plumbing that runs along exterior walls, through the garage, crawlspaces or other areas that don’t always get heat can be susceptible to freezing. When a pipe freezes it can stop the flow of water to a faucet or shower head but expanding pressure inside of the pipe can cause damage as well. Sometimes leaks may not be visible until the frozen pipe begins to thaw.
Dealing with the frozen pipe before the leak begins is always better.
A burst pipe will spill its contents rapidly into the home. If you know where your main shut off valve is located and can get to it safely, turning it off will limit further damage while you wait for repairs. Keep everyone away from water that is near electrical components and do not put yourself in danger to reach a shut off valve.
Emergency plumbing services are available 24-hours a day through Sureflow.
There are many areas along the plumbing system that can cause low water pressure.
If only one faucet has low water flow it may be closer to that faucet. If it’s located throughout the home it could be caused by something affecting your water service, pressure reducing valve or regulator, shut off valves or even plumbing within the house. Diagnose the problem before you start to eliminate what isn’t wrong.
Don’t assume your underground water service line needs to be replaced because your shower pressure is low.
Your home’s water service is the pipe that brings water from the street to your house.
If you have older or restricted supply piping it may affect how much water is available to your home. Upgrades can be necessary if you have remodelled and added extra bathrooms, fixtures and/or occupants. Water leaking around your home or on the foundation can also be from your water service.
If your whole house has water-flow problems you may want to check the main water service.
Not all repipes are limited to small sections of home plumbing. Whole houses can be repiped by replacing larger sections of the water-distribution system.
It may be beneficial to re-pipe entire homes if pipes are severely worn out, multiple leaks exist or renovation makes plumbing more accessible. Learn more about when whole home repipes are right for you.
A bathroom or kitchen renovation can mean changing how your plumbing works. Each fixture uses both a water supply and drainage. When you renovate or move fixtures, both systems may need updating to fit.
Whether you’re renovating an old house or building a custom bathroom, make sure the plumbing is done correctly the first time. Plan your plumbing in before installing walls, tile and cabinets.
Adding a basement apartment? You won’t just be adding one or two fixtures, you’ll likely need to add an entire system that includes bathroom, kitchen and laundry plumbing.
If you need plumbing done in your basement from renovation or new construction, call Sureflow.
Kitchen makeovers can include sinks, dishwashers, refrigerators and any other water-utilizing appliances.
Moving a sink will typically involve moving both water supply and drainage. Both dishwasher and refrigerator hookups may also require relocation or new installation.
All of these points should be clarified before finalizing the installation of new cabinets.
Finishing your basement can add considerable plumbing to your home.
A bathroom, wet bar, laundry room or secondary living suite will all need to have water supply and drain lines installed.
The height of the basement fixtures will play a role here as well. If wastewater will not naturally drain into the main sewer line with gravity it may require a sewage ejector system.
Adding a residential suite to your basement will drastically change the demand for water and drainage on your home.
An additional kitchen, bathroom and laundry room and additional residents all put extra strain on your existing systems.
Taking a look at water heater capacity, incoming water service and overall drainage capacity during the renovation can be helpful rather than evaluating each new piece of fixture independently.
Building on to your house can sometimes involve bringing plumbing to areas of the house that did not previously have any.
A new bathroom, laundry room or kitchen will all need some sort of water connection as well as drainage that ties back into existing plumbing.
Having your plumber involved during the planning stage can help you figure out what locations will work best for your new fixtures before your build is finalized.
Condo plumbing can differ from a stand-alone home as some systems may run through or serve multiple suites. A leak in one unit can impact the unit below you. Plumbing shut-offs may also be in a common area that you will need to access with your building manager.
At Sureflow, we have years of experience working in condos and high-rise buildings. We offer emergency service if you’re experiencing water-main issues, flooding, clogs, frozen pipes or burst pipes. Knowing if the issue only affects your suite, or if it’s part of a larger building system can help us diagnose the problem.
Townhomes can share characteristics of stand-alone homes and larger multi-unit buildings. Indoor plumbing will likely be self-contained to your suite. However, building or property level services may use shared infrastructure, depending on the home.
Our plumbers will need to know if your neighbours are affected by the same issue. This can help us determine if the issue is isolated to your property or if the issue is farther along the line.
Rentals need reliable plumbing that can be addressed quickly if a tenant calls with an issue. Leaking toilets, clogged drains or failed water heaters can cause major disruption to your property and lead to damage if left unchecked.
Ensure your rental property has easily accessible shut-off valves and that the plumbing is maintained. That way you’ll be able to mitigate damage if there’s a sudden plumbing emergency.
Knowing which plumbing issues can be addressed on your next service appointment and what qualifies as an emergency can help property owners be prepared.
You don’t have to wait until you have water pouring through your ceiling to worry about your plumbing.
Pay attention to drains that are slow to clear, valves that drip and toilets that keep causing problems. Listen for unusual pump noises and monitor your water pressure. If it drops suddenly, that may be cause for alarm.
Little changes can be early indicators that a system will need service. Just because something needs service doesn’t mean you have to replace perfectly good equipment. You simply shouldn’t ignore problems that are developing. Address those issues early, before they have a chance to become bigger, more inconvenient problems.
Some plumbing problems should definitely be addressed right away. While a faucet dripping every few seconds isn’t the same as discovering water coming through your ceiling, don’t ignore leaks that keep happening. Also, sewage problems and failing pumps should be addressed quickly.
Things that you should probably take care of sooner rather than later:
Not sure if your problem is an emergency? Call us and explain what’s happening. We’ll help you decide if you need emergency service.
Emergency plumbing problems don’t take place between the hours of 9-5. Often times emergencies happen at night when everyone is asleep or on weekends when you’re watching the game. Plumbing problems just don’t care about your schedule.
Sureflow offers 24 hour emergency plumbing services for both residential and commercial customers. If water or sewage is pouring out and causing damage to your property and can’t be safely stopped, call for emergency service.
First, don’t make it worse.
If you have major water spraying from somewhere turn off the water if you can safely access the correct shut- off valve. If you have water coming up out of your drains, stop using plumbing fixtures until we arrive. You don’t want to pump more wastewater into a sewer that is backing up.
Keep others away from sewage or areas of standing water where electrical could be exposed.
Call us and explain exactly what is happening so we can treat your situation with the appropriate urgency.
When you call us about your residential plumbing problem, we will first want to gather information about what you are experiencing.
Is water leaking? If so, what fixtures? Is a drain backing up? Do you still have water pressure? Has this problem happened before? Is the problem currently damaging your home or other property?
Those are questions we will ask to narrow down which part of your plumbing system we will likely need to inspect.
For larger or repetitive problems, we may also ask about how old your home is, any previous repairs you are aware of and what you know about the type of plumbing your home has.
Your home’s plumbing system includes more than the fixtures you interact with on a daily basis. Behind the scenes there is water service, shut-off valves, pipes, water heaters, pumps, drains and sewer lines. Unfortunately, when one of these components fails it can affect your whole home.
Sureflow Plumbing & Drain offers residential plumbing services throughout Barrie. Our services include everyday repairs, drain and sewer problems, leaking toilets, water heaters, pumps, renovation plumbing, and emergency plumbing.
Sureflow has been serving the community since 2007. Our services include residential plumbing, plumbing renovations for older homes, and 24-hour emergency plumbing.
Whether you have a single leaking fixture or a larger issue affecting your whole home, we can send one of our plumbers out to inspect your plumbing and diagnose what needs to be repaired.
Call the experts at Sureflow Plumbing & Drain at 705-503-7996 for residential plumbing services in Barrie.
We install and repair drains, leaking pipes, toilets, water heaters, pumps, sewer lines, shut-off valves and any other components that may become damaged or require replacement.
We offer residential drain cleaning services for slow drains, drain clogs and problems with larger sewer and drains.
Leaks can happen with exposed pipes, concealed water lines, valves, fittings or connections to fixtures. It’s important to identify the source of the leak before you attempt to fix it.
We offer repair of running toilets, toilet tank repairs, toilet bowl cracks, toilet replacements and any other toilet issues you might have.
Yes! We offer hot water heater installation and repair.
We are well versed in providing plumbing upgrades to older homes. This includes re-piping as well as re-plumbing your home if necessary.
We offer residential renovation plumbing services for bathrooms, kitchens, basements and any other project you could think of.
Sureflow provides emergency residential plumbing 24 hours a day.
