Tab three: Know-how
Plumbing briefs for Markham homeowners
Short practical briefs for Markham homeowners: how to find and close a shut-off, check a sump pump, flush a tank heater, read the water meter and know when a job needs a plumber.
- A plumber answers when you call
- Clear price before any pipe is cut
- Basements left as clean as we found them
- Work tested in front of you
- Licensed plumbers (details on request)
- Price agreed before work
- Call-only, no forms
- Tested before we leave
Guides at a glance
Jump to a group, then open the page that matches your job.
- Sewer & main drain 2
- Hot water tanks & tankless 1
- Sump pits & flooding 1
- Toilets, sinks & showers 1
- Pipes, leaks & valves 6
Sewer & main drain
- Drain Manners: What Stays Out of the PipesWipes, grease and other things that end up as service calls
- When Tree Roots Find the Sewer LateralWhy mature trees and old laterals clash and what helps
Hot water tanks & tankless
- Water Heater Warning SignsRust, rumbling and other clues a tank is near the end
Sump pits & flooding
- Sixty Minutes After a Basement FloodWhat to do, and not do, when water appears on the basement floor
Toilets, sinks & showers
- Basement Renovation Plumbing, Planned EarlyRough-ins, ejector pumps and drains before drywall
Pipes, leaks & valves
- Where the Main Water Valve HidesWhere the main valve hides in Markham basements and how to close it
- Living with York Region Hard WaterScale, spotty glasses and tired heaters, plus ways to fight back
- Grey Poly-B Pipe in Markham HousesHow to spot grey polybutylene and decide whether to replace it
- Plumbing PermitsWhen the City of Markham expects a permit and an inspection
- Pipe Checks Before You Buy a Resale HomeWhat to look at in a resale house before you sign
- Reading Your Water Meter for Hidden LeaksA simple ten-minute meter test that reveals hidden leaks in a house
Start with the season
In fall, read about winterizing outdoor faucets and frozen pipes. In spring, the sump pump check is worth ten minutes.
Every brief ends with a clear line on when the job is better left to a plumber.
From the job notes of Plumbers in Markham
How the job runs, start to finish
- 1
On the phone
Explain what the water is doing and where. We ask the age of the house and which valve or breaker to shut while we drive over.
- 2
Drop cloths down
Floors and cabinets get covered, the water or gas is isolated and the work area is lit.
- 3
Find the failed part
We open the trap, cleanout, access panel or wall where the fault is, and show you what we found.
- 4
Quote, then work
We explain what failed and what the fix costs; no cutting starts until you say yes.
- 5
Cut, fit, seal
Old parts come out, new pipe, valves or fixtures go in, and joints are soldered, pressed, crimped or glued.
- 6
Test and ticket
We run water, pressure-test or fire the heater, check for drips, clean up and leave a written ticket of what was done.