A backup is rarely random. In most houses the real blockage sits in the line between the house and the street. We look at it before we talk about work.
Signs your sewer line is the problem
A sewer backup usually starts small. A floor drain that backs up after a heavy rain. A toilet that drains slowly or bubbles when the washer empties. A sewage smell in the basement that comes back even after a cleanup.
When several drains do this at the same time, the blockage is not in one fixture. It is farther down, in the main line.
- The basement drain backs up in heavy rain or during the spring thaw.
- Toilets and tubs drain slowly, everywhere in the house.
- One drain gurgles when another one empties.
- A sewage smell lingers in the basement or in the yard, near the street.
- The lawn stays soft or sinks in a straight line between the house and the street.
What we do, step by step
First, we listen to what is happening at your place. Then we run the camera through the line. It is free, and it is what keeps anyone from digging for nothing.
The camera shows what is blocking and where. Roots that came in through a joint. A line that has sagged and holds water. A cracked or crushed section. With the picture in hand, we explain in plain words what we see and what it calls for.
When a cleaning is enough, we clear the line and that is that. When the line is done, we propose the replacement, with a free estimate before we start. Nothing happens without your go-ahead.
On the day of the work, our crew digs the trench, removes the old line and lays a new PVC sewer line from the house to the connection at the street. We restore the ground and check that everything flows the way it should before we leave.
Why Plomberie MD for your sewer
Plomberie MD is a small crew based in Cantley that has done this kind of project for years across Gatineau and the Outaouais. RBQ licence 5870-4099-01, which you can verify in the public RBQ directory. A sewer replacement is two days of demanding, dirty work. What we are after is leaving you with peace of mind in your own house.
We do not sell fear. We show you the camera picture, we tell you what we would do at our own place, and you decide. For an estimate, reach JF at (819) 639-6806. If it is backing up right now, the emergency line is (819) 712-3945.
The Gatineau area
In the older parts of Gatineau, such as Hull, Pointe-Gatineau, Vieux-Gatineau and Templeton, many houses still run on their original sewer line. The clay soils of the valley move with every freeze and thaw, and the joints of old lines open up over time. That is where the roots of maples and poplars get in.
Spring is backup season in Gatineau. The snowmelt and the April rains fill the lines, and a finished basement ends up with water on the floor. A backwater valve and a sump pit in good shape make a real difference, and we can check both during the same visit.
We serve the whole city, west to east, and the municipalities around it. Tell us your area when you call so we can give you the right next step.
On our job sites
Common questions
Sewer backup in the basement: what to do while you wait for the plumber?
Stop sending water down the drains: no washer, no shower, no flushing. Shut the main water supply if the level keeps rising. Do not touch the water with bare hands, and cut power to the basement only if you can do it safely. Take a photo or two for your records, then call us.
Sewer backup: who is responsible, the owner or the city?
It depends on where the blockage is. The line on your property, from the house to the edge of the street, is yours. The part under the street belongs to the city. The camera inspection exists precisely to find out where the problem is before anyone digs. You get the picture and the exact spot, which is what you need to talk to the city or your insurer.
Sewer line replacement cost: how much is it?
We do not quote without seeing the line. The length, the depth, what sits above it (driveway, sidewalk, landscaping) and the condition of the connection at the street change everything. After the camera inspection you receive a free written estimate before we touch anything.
Is the camera inspection really free?
Yes. We run the camera, show you what we see and tell you whether a cleaning is enough or the line needs replacing. If you decide to do nothing, you owe nothing.
Does the whole line have to be replaced?
Not always. If a single section is crushed or cracked and the rest is sound, we repair that section. If the line has sagged along its length, is full of roots in several places or is crumbling concrete, a full replacement keeps you from doing this again in two years. The camera decides, not a hunch.
Will my yard be wrecked?
We dig a straight trench from the house to the street, not the whole yard. Before we start, we tell you where it runs and what has to be moved or protected. Once the new line is in, we backfill and restore the ground.
Is a backwater valve mandatory?
It depends on your house and the year it was connected. Rather than a general answer, we look at your setup during the visit and tell you what applies to your place. In a finished basement, a valve in good shape is good insurance against the next backup.