How to find a licensed plumber in Newmarket, Ontario

Newmarket's housing ranges from century homes around Main Street and Downtown Newmarket, through the 1960s to 1980s streets of Glenway, to the large 1990s and 2000s houses of Stonehaven and Woodland Hill. The plumbing follows the age: older homes can still have galvanized supply pipe and cast-iron or clay drains, while newer subdivisions have PEX or copper supply lines, plastic drains and, often, a sump pit and a finished basement that raises the stakes of any leak.

How do I check that a Newmarket plumber is licensed?

Search their name on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register. Plumber (306A) is a compulsory trade in Ontario, so anyone practising it must hold a Certificate of Qualification, a provisional certificate, or a registered apprenticeship, and appear on that register. Ontario has no provincial licence for plumbing companies, and the Town of Newmarket's business licensing covers categories such as short-term rentals and door-to-door sellers, not trades. If the company sends an apprentice, it is fine as long as a certified plumber is responsible for the work.

• Ask for the full name on the certificate, not just the company name, and search it on the register.
• If the job includes a gas water heater, the gas side needs a TSSA-certified gas technician from a registered fuels contractor; look the company up on TSSA's contractor search.
• If the job includes any wiring, such as a new sump pump circuit, that part needs a Licensed Electrical Contractor with an ECRA/ESA number.

Do I need a plumbing permit in Newmarket?

For new or altered plumbing, yes. The Town's building page lists mechanical alterations, including plumbing, among work that needs a permit, along with basement finishing and second suites. A backwater valve needs a plumbing permit and an inspection. Swapping a faucet, toilet or sink in the same place is a fixture replacement and generally does not. Permits are applied for through the Town's online Development Portal; the Building Services office is at the Municipal Offices, 395 Mulock Drive, 905-895-5193. Ask the plumber, in writing, whether your job needs a permit and who will apply for it.

The market ranges come from published rate guides by Toronto-area plumbing firms: most charge a first-hour or call-out minimum and then bill by the hour, with higher rates evenings and weekends. Doyo's prices are the full price, including Doyo's fee, shown before you book; the card is charged only when the job is marked complete.

What if my basement drain backs up in Newmarket?

Stop running water, try a plunger, check whether other drains are affected, then call the Town at 905-895-5193 (after hours, press 3). Newmarket's rule is that blockages on private property are the owner's responsibility, and before anyone clears the line you must book a free sewer safety inspection through Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255. If you believe the Town's side caused it, you need evidence such as a plumber's camera footage; if that is proven, the Town pays the clearing cost.

When is the busiest time for plumbers in Newmarket?

The cold snaps of January and February, when uninsulated pipes in exterior walls and garages freeze, and the spring melt, when sump pumps run hard and basement floor drains show their weaknesses. Book non-urgent work, such as a sump pump replacement, a backwater valve or an outdoor tap with a frost-free valve, in late summer or early fall, before the first hard frost.

What should I ask a plumber before they start?

• What is your name as it appears on your 306A certificate?
• Is this a fixed price, or an hourly rate with an estimate? What is the call-out minimum?
• Does the job need a Town of Newmarket permit, and will you apply for it?
• Are parts included, and what brand are you installing?
• What happens if you find more damage once the wall or floor is open?

What are the red flags when hiring a plumber?

• No certificate number, or a certificate in someone else's name.
• Cash only, with no written estimate or invoice. Ontario's Consumer Protection Act requires a written agreement for home repairs over $50.
• A large deposit before any work; Ontario's consumer guidance suggests keeping deposits to about 10%.
• Door-to-door offers for water heaters or water softeners. Since March 1, 2018, Ontario bans signing those contracts at your door unless you invited the business.
• A final bill more than 10% over the estimate without your agreement, which Ontario's consumer law does not allow.