Plumber in Richmond Hill: Licensed Drain, Sewer & Plumbing Services
From the old village on Yonge Street to Oak Ridges and Lake Wilcox, Rooter Brothers’ licensed plumbers clear drains, repair sewer lines, fix leaks and answer plumbing emergencies 24 hours a day. A real person answers at (647) 449-5665, and you get a written price before any work starts.
✔ Licensed under Skilled Trades Ontario ✔ Real person answers 24/7 ✔ Price before we start
A Richmond Hill Plumber Who Knows What’s Under the Lawn
Richmond Hill grew in layers along Yonge Street. The old village around Centre Street and Mill Pond still has houses from the 1800s and early 1900s. South Richvale, North Richvale, Crosby and Harding filled in after the war with bungalows and side splits. Bayview Hill, Westbrook, Rouge Woods and Devonsleigh went up in the 1980s and 1990s, and Oak Ridges, Jefferson and the streets around Lake Wilcox kept building north onto the Oak Ridges Moraine. Every layer has its own pipes, and its own way of failing.
Rooter Brothers is a licensed, family-owned plumbing company serving Richmond Hill from Langstaff to Oak Ridges. We clear and repair drains, inspect and replace sewer lines, install backwater valves and sump pumps, track down hidden leaks and answer plumbing emergencies 24 hours a day. Call (647) 449-5665 and a real person picks up. You get a written price before we start.
As Toronto and GTA drain and sewer specialists, we roll up with the tools most plumbers have to rent: a sewer camera, a hydro jetter and a line locator. That matters in Richmond Hill, where a backup can be on your side of the property line or the City’s, and the camera footage settles the question. Upstairs, the same licensed team handles everyday plumbing repairs, from running toilets to seized shut-off valves.

Richmond Hill plumbing at a glance
- Water source
- Lake Ontario, delivered through York Region’s system from Toronto and Peel
- Local water mains and sewers
- City of Richmond Hill
- Sewage backing up into your home
- Call the City first at 905-771-8800 so they can check the public side
- Plumbing permits, including backwater valves
- City of Richmond Hill Building Services
- Your side of the property line
- A job for a licensed plumber. Call (647) 449-5665
Richmond Hill Homes and the Plumbing Problems They Bring
Spend enough time in Richmond Hill basements and you stop guessing. The year the house was built, and how close it sits to the Moraine, tells us most of what we need to know before we open the cleanout. This is what we usually find, area by area.
| Area | Mostly built | What we usually find | What we usually recommend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Hill Village, Mill Pond, Elgin Mills along Yonge | 1850s to 1940s | Clay sewer laterals, cast iron stacks, old galvanized or lead water services, roots from the mature trees around Mill Pond | Camera inspection, root cutting, lateral replacement, water service upgrade |
| South Richvale, North Richvale, Crosby, Harding, Beverley Acres | 1950s to 1970s | Galvanized supply lines and weak pressure, cast iron drains, settled laterals, floor drains with no backwater protection | Repiping, drain descaling, backwater valve, camera inspection |
| Bayview Hill, Doncrest, Devonsleigh, Westbrook, Rouge Woods | 1980s to 1990s | Grey Poly-B supply lines, original shut-off valves, long drain runs serving four or five bathrooms, tired sump pumps | Poly-B replacement, leak detection, sump pump replacement |
| Oak Ridges, Lake Wilcox, Jefferson, Observatory, Patterson | 1990s to today, plus older cottage-era homes at Lake Wilcox | High groundwater on the Oak Ridges Moraine, sump pumps that rarely rest, construction debris in newer drains | Sump pump with battery backup, drain clearing, camera inspection |
| Langstaff and the Yonge and Highway 7 condos | 2000s to today | Leaks that travel between units, slow kitchen stacks, shut-off valves that will not close | Leak detection, drain clearing, valve replacement |
Not sure which row is yours? On the first visit we run a camera down the line and put the answer in writing.

Sewage Backing Up in Richmond Hill? Here’s Who to Call First
Richmond Hill handles basement backups differently from Toronto, and knowing the process can save you money. If sewage is coming up through your floor drain, call the City at 905-771-8800. City staff check the public side of the sewer. If the blockage is in the City’s portion, the City arranges the repair and you are not charged. If it is on your side of the property line, the service call is yours to pay and the repair needs a licensed plumbing or drain contractor.
That is where we come in. We clear the drain so the house works again, then run a sewer camera inspection and record exactly where the problem sits. If roots have moved into a clay lateral, hydro jetting cuts them out and scours the pipe. If the pipe is cracked or sagging, we quote a sewer line repair or trenchless pipe bursting, and we use drain locating to find buried lines under finished basements before anyone breaks concrete.
In older houses near Yonge Street we still find original building traps that cause repeat clogs. Removing one and adding a sewer cleanout usually ends the cycle.
Plumbing Services in Richmond Hill
Every job below is done by our own licensed plumbers in Richmond Hill homes, condos and businesses. See all of our plumbing services or our drain and sewer services for the details.
Emergency PlumbingBurst line in a Bayview Hill ensuite or sewage on the basement floor in Crosby at 3 a.m. We answer and dispatch around the clock.
Sewer BackupWe work alongside the City’s process, clear your side of the line and stop the next backup.
Camera Sewer InspectionBuying near Mill Pond or in the old village? Inspect the lateral before you firm up the offer.
Sewer Line RepairClay and cast iron laterals repaired or replaced, trenchless whenever the line allows it.
Backwater Valve InstallationCity permit, installation and the paperwork for Richmond Hill’s backwater valve subsidy.
Sump Pump InstallationNew pits, replacements and battery backups for high-groundwater lots in Oak Ridges and Lake Wilcox.
Water Leak DetectionStain spreading on the ceiling or a condo neighbour knocking? We find the source fast.
Frozen Pipe RepairGarage lines, exterior walls and hose bibs thawed, repaired and protected for next January.
Commercial PlumbingRestaurants and plazas along Yonge, Highway 7 and Major Mackenzie, and offices in the Headford business park.
Richmond Hill Backwater Valve Subsidy
The City of Richmond Hill offers a backwater valve subsidy of up to $1,500 for existing single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. The rules are strict, and one missed step can cost you the rebate:
- Permit firstA building permit from the City has to be issued before the valve goes in, not after.
- Licensed plumber onlyThe work must be done by a licensed plumber or drain contractor. Homeowner labour is not eligible.
- The right paperworkA paid-in-full invoice with a cost breakdown and the plumber’s registration number, plus confirmation that your downspouts are disconnected.
- Apply within six monthsThe application has to reach the City within six months of the work being completed.
Funding is limited and first come, first served, and the program can pause when the budget runs out, so we check that it is open before you book. We pull the permit, install the backwater valve and hand you everything the application asks for. If groundwater is part of the problem, a sump pump with battery backup is usually the other half of the fix.

What Happens When You Call Us from Richmond Hill
- A real person answersTell us what is happening. If sewage is backing up, we will also remind you to call the City so both sides get checked.
- We find the causeCamera, line locator, pressure test or moisture meter, depending on the problem. You see the footage and the readings.
- Written price, then workYou approve the price before we start. If we uncover more, we stop and show you first.
- Tested and cleaned upDrains flow-tested, pipes pressure-tested, pumps run under load, floors protected and the mess gone with us.
What a Plumber Costs in Richmond Hill
The cost of a plumber in Richmond Hill depends on what failed, how easy it is to reach and what is sitting on top of it. Clearing a floor drain in an unfinished basement in Crosby is a short visit. Replacing a root-filled clay lateral under a mature tree in the old village is a different job. These are typical ranges for common work, and every final price is given in writing after a licensed plumber sees the problem.
| Service | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main drain clearing | $250 to $500 | Standard residential blockage |
| Toilet repair | $150 to $300 | Flapper, fill valve or clog |
| Frozen pipe thawing | $250 to $450 | Accessible pipe, no damage |
| Burst pipe repair | $350 to $900 | Section replaced and pressure tested |
| Sump pump replacement | $600 to $1,200 | Existing pit and discharge line |
| Backwater valve installation | Quoted on site | May qualify for the City’s subsidy |
| Poly-B replacement | Quoted on site | Depends on house size and access |
Calls outside regular business hours carry an after-hours service charge, which we confirm on the phone before we dispatch.

Richmond Hill Plumbing Questions, Answered
01. How much does a plumber cost in Richmond Hill?
Most common repairs in Richmond Hill fall between $150 and $900. Clearing a blocked main drain typically runs $250 to $500 and a burst pipe repair $350 to $900. Bigger jobs, like replacing a clay sewer lateral or Poly-B supply lines, are quoted on site. You always get a written price before we start.
02. Do you offer 24/7 emergency plumbing in Richmond Hill?
Yes. Rooter Brothers answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays, and dispatches a licensed plumber anywhere in Richmond Hill, from Langstaff to Oak Ridges.
03. Sewage is backing up into my Richmond Hill basement. Who do I call?
Call the City of Richmond Hill at 905-771-8800 first so staff can check the public side of the sewer. If the blockage is on the City’s side, the City arranges the repair. If it is on your side of the property line, you need a licensed plumber or drain contractor, and we can clear it, inspect it with a camera and fix it.
04. Does Richmond Hill have a backwater valve subsidy?
Yes. The City offers up to $1,500 toward a backwater valve for existing single-family homes, duplexes and triplexes. A building permit is required before installation, the work must be done by a licensed plumber, and you apply within six months with a paid invoice. Funding is limited, so we confirm the program is open before you book.
05. Why does my sump pump run so often in Oak Ridges?
Much of northern Richmond Hill sits on the Oak Ridges Moraine, where groundwater is high, especially in spring. A pump that runs constantly wears out sooner. We check the pump, the float and the discharge line, and recommend a battery backup so a power failure during a storm does not flood the basement.
06. What parts of Richmond Hill do you serve?
All of Richmond Hill, including Richmond Hill Village, Mill Pond, South and North Richvale, Crosby, Harding, Bayview Hill, Westbrook, Rouge Woods, Jefferson, Oak Ridges and Lake Wilcox, plus nearby Vaughan, Markham, North York and Toronto.
Richmond Hill Neighbourhoods We Serve
From Langstaff to Lake Wilcox, We’ve Got Richmond Hill Covered
Close to Richmond Hill Landmarks
Richmond Hill Neighbourhoods
- Richmond Hill Village
- Mill Pond
- Elgin Mills
- South Richvale
- North Richvale
- Crosby
- Harding
- Beverley Acres
- Langstaff
- Bayview Hill
- Doncrest
- Devonsleigh
- Westbrook
- Rouge Woods
- Observatory
- Jefferson
- Oak Ridges
- Lake Wilcox
- Patterson
- Headford
Nearby Communities
Contact Us Anytime
Don’t let a plumbing problem take over your day. Call Rooter Brothers anytime, day or night, when you need a plumber anywhere in Richmond Hill, and let our licensed team handle it. Call (647) 449-5665 to speak with a real person on our team.
Reviews & Testimonials
Hear From Our Happy Customers
Posted on Google![]()
Adam LeeTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Great service. Staff was friendly. Best plumbers ever in Toronto for sure.Posted on Google![]()
Gloria MontgomeryTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Really appreciate the professional service from the team. They were helpful, explained the plumbing issue clearly, and made the whole process much less stressful. Always good to deal with people who know their trade.Posted on Google![]()
Amina TariqTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Marco and his team showed up within 2 hours of us reaching out about a mysterious leak, and we discovered that we were actually having a plumbing emergency as our sewer line backed up because it was full of debris. The team cleared up the backup on the first visit, and gave us a detailed report with high quality videos to submit to our home insurance carrier. Our insurance company said the report was textbook perfect and we were able to get our claim approved in record time! The team returned to replace the sewer line and got it done in a day. They were very communicative throughout the process. They looked exceptionally coordinated and they kept the worksite neat and tidy. Multiple neighbors commented on how impressed they were with the professionalism they observed from the team. They supplied another video after the work was done to show the new sewer line working well. What could have been an extremely stressful situation was very calm thanks to their quality of service. I can't recommend these guys highly enough!!!Posted on Google![]()
Thomas castroTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Dealt with Marko, he and his partner were both friendly and professional.They came in with the proper equipment and the work was completed to my satisfaction.Highly recommended,no surprises with the billing.Trustworthy.Posted on Google![]()
ermias yohannesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Happy with the servicePosted on Google![]()
Rajesh LalwaniTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had a plumbing emergency on the weekend and Rooter Brothers were able to send someone out. Steven was the plumber who came and he was really good. He checked everything, explained what the issue was, and got it fixed. I liked that he didn’t try to overcomplicate things or push anything extra. Just straight forward, polite, and professional. Not cheap having an emergency call on a weekend, but I was happy with the service and glad they were available. Would call them again.Posted on Google![]()
Ayyaz QamarTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Excellent, professional and honest services.Posted on Google![]()
Sheldon RonTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Their team was punctual which was great because I was on a tight schedule that day. They made sure I understood what needed to be done and why and we thoroughly reviewed all our options. My issues were taken care of in a timely manner and I didn’t feel over charged. Will definitely use this company again in the future.Posted on Google![]()
ANDRETrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Had a great experience with this company, upgraded size of our kitchen stack and hydro jetted whole sewer systemPosted on Google![]()
G BTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Quick and easy to deal with. Responsive and courteous and got the job done quickly. Had a sewer backup issue solved and then a difficult toilet in our basement replaced. Highly recommended.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more



