Plumbing notes for Lansing plumbing services
| Housing | 1920s to 1950s homes off Yonge |
|---|---|
| Supply pipe | Galvanized and copper mix |
| Drains and lateral | Cast iron and clay |
| Frequent calls | Low pressure and lateral clearing |
Houses and pipes in Lansing
Lansing is one of the older pockets of North York, from the days when it was still a rural township crossroads. Some modest houses from before the Second World War survive, along with postwar bungalows. Over the past few decades, many lots have been rebuilt with much larger homes that fill the lot from setback to setback.
That mix matters. An old cottage may still run on a lead or galvanized service, a single cast iron stack and a shallow basement. The new house next door has a modern service, multiple bathrooms, and often a basement walkout with a sump pit.
Common plumbing calls here
- Low water pressure in older houses with corroded galvanized lines.
- Sump pump installs and replacements in deep new basements.
- Water heater upgrades, including tankless units in infill homes.
- Drain backups where an old clay lateral serves a much larger new household.
If you are weighing a tankless heater, read tankless water heater installation first. Gas line size is often the deciding factor.
Drains, sewers and basements
New builds usually get a new lateral to the property line, but the city portion may be older. In older houses the whole lateral can be original clay. A camera shows where the material changes and whether the joints are sound.
Deep basements on rebuilt lots often sit lower than the old ones, which puts them closer to the water table. A reliable sump pump with a battery backup is worth having. Testing it each spring is simple; our sump pump testing leaflet shows how.
Plumber's tip: Lansing water pressure tip: if only the cold side of one tap is weak, clean the aerator first. If every tap is weak, the service or main valve may be the cause.
Getting a plumber to Lansing
Call (365) 517-5705. Let us know whether the house is original or rebuilt, and if rebuilt, roughly when. That one detail tells us a lot about what is behind the walls.
Side streets near Yonge can be tight for parking, especially during weekday business hours. A driveway spot helps if one is free.
Before any work, we write up the plan and the price. In an older cottage that may include a note about the water service material, because replacing a corroded or lead service is a bigger job that you may want to schedule rather than face in a hurry. In a new build, the notes tend to cover the sump, the backwater valve access cover and the expansion tank on the water heater.
Renovating an older Lansing house instead of rebuilding? Plumbing is easiest to change while walls and floors are open. Talk to us before the drywall goes up, not after.
Close by, we also serve Willowdale, Clanton Park and Downsview.
Your questions on this one
My pressure is weak and next door's is fine. Why?
Usually your water service or interior piping is older. Galvanized steel narrows inside as it rusts. Our water pressure leaflet explains how to narrow it down.
Do new infill houses still need plumbing checks?
Yes. Sump pumps, backwater valves and water heaters all need regular attention no matter how new the house is.