The neighbourhood
Uplands sits near the Uplands Golf and Ski Club area, lined mainly with detached houses built between 1970 and 1990. Mature trees line the streets, which means roots near sewer laterals. Supply lines are copper and drains are a mix of ABS, cast iron and clay depending on the build year.
Typical problems
- Root intrusion in laterals
- Hard water scale in fixtures and heaters
- Seized main valves
- Leaking tub spouts and diverters
- Older toilets with high flush volumes
Roots and old laterals
When the main backs up every year or two, roots are the usual cause. We cable to cut them, then camera to see the condition of the pipe. If the joints are open, the roots will return; repair is the long-term answer. See sewer line repair.
Planting a tree? Keep it off the lateral's path, which normally runs straight out from the front foundation toward the road.
Typical services
Uplands calls include main line clearing, toilet replacement and faucet repair.
Hard water and fixtures
Scale builds up in faucet cartridges, shower heads and water heaters over time. In older homes with original fixtures, cartridges stick and aerators clog. Cleaning or replacing them restores flow. Water heaters with heavy sediment rumble and lose efficiency.
Older toilets
Toilets from the 1970s and 1980s often use much more water per flush than modern models. Replacing them saves water and reduces clogs from weak flushes in the low-flow models that followed.
Our basement walk-through in Uplands
- Main shut-off. We find it, turn it, and tell you if the wheel handle or ball valve still seals.
- Water heater. Read the date off the rating plate, look for rust at the fittings and test the relief valve.
- Floor drain and cleanout. Check the trap holds water and the cleanout cap comes off.
- Sump pit. Fill-test the pump and see where the discharge lands outside.
- Exposed supply. Note copper, PEX, poly-B or galvanized, and any green or white crust at the joints.