Plumber in Ottawa: questions people ask before they call

You fill in one request: the problem, the area, the timing and how to reach you. We pass it to one independent plumbing company that works in your part of Ottawa. That company calls you, hears the details, books a visit and prices the job. If it cannot take the job, we ask you before another company gets your details.

We run the request form and the hand-off. The plumbing is done by the independent local company that receives your request, and the price, the schedule and the agreement are between you and that company. Ask the company on the call for the name of the person who will attend and for the terms in writing.

Three things: what you see, where it is in the house, and how long it has been going on. Add anything that changed first, such as a renovation, a heavy rain or a new appliance. The company reads it before calling, so it can bring the right parts.

They tell the company how urgent the job is for you. Callback and arrival times depend on the company and its schedule, so the desk promises neither. For water you cannot stop or sewage in the house, shut the water off at the main valve and call 3-1-1 or 911 as the situation requires.

The site covers homes inside the City of Ottawa, which includes Kanata, Orléans, Barrhaven, Stittsville, Manotick and the rural wards. A property across the river in Gatineau falls under Quebec rules and is outside what this site handles. If you are unsure of your boundary, give the postal code in the request.

It may be. The City of Ottawa lists new appliances, more people at home and seasonal demand as causes, and also leaks. A meter that records use through every hour of the night makes a leak very likely, and that lost water is billed to the homeowner. Put the meter pattern in the request.

On the City’s meter FAQ, you can request a test of the water meter for accuracy. If the test finds the meter reads correctly, the cost of the test is yours. The same page gives a residential meter a typical 25-year life and says the City contacts homeowners when a meter needs replacing. Meter work is the City’s job.

Insurance Bureau of Canada says basement water damage from a sewer backup is covered only if you bought optional sewer backup cover. Overland flood cover, for water from rivers and similar sources, is a separate option in Ontario that often carries limits. Read your policy or ask your insurer while the weather is dry.

The City of Ottawa asks you to photograph and document damaged items, keep receipts for emergency and repair work and replacement items, and contact your insurance company. The insurer typically submits a claim to the City for investigation on your behalf. Keep the plumber’s invoice and any camera footage with those records.

The City of Ottawa says the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority coordinates the approval process for any septic system installed, altered or repaired anywhere in Ottawa, by phone at 613-692-3571 (press 4). Tell the plumbing company in your request that the property is on septic, so it can tell you early whether the job touches the system.

The warranty, if any, comes from the company that does the work. Ontario’s guide says a written contract should describe any warranty on goods or installation labour. Ask what is covered, for how long, who to call and whether parts and labour are treated separately, and make sure the answer appears in the agreement.

One plumbing company receives them, for that job. We hold the request for 24 months, for billing and quality checks, and then delete it. To see, correct or erase what we hold, follow the steps on the privacy page; answers go out within 30 days.