Ajax plumbing emergencies are answered 24 hours a day, whether you live in Pickering Village on Old Kingston Road, near the lakeshore or in the north end of town. Your call to (905) 576-3043 reaches a live operator, who dispatches a licensed plumber from the Hayes shop at 448 Ritson Rd. South in Oshawa. Getting to Ajax usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Traffic, weather and other calls all play a part in that, which is why we never promise an arrival time, and why the first steps you take yourself make a real difference.
Plumbing emergencies we handle in Ajax
If water or sewage is spreading, phone straight away. Our licensed plumbers take these calls around the clock:
- Burst or leaking pipes, a burst washing machine hose included.
- Sewer and drain backups coming up through a floor drain, a toilet or a tub.
- An overflowing toilet that won't stop.
- A failed sump pump, with the pit or the basement filling.
- A leaking water heater, or no hot water in cold weather.
First steps while you wait
Not everything needs an emergency call. A drip you can catch in a bucket, or a toilet that keeps running once its own valve is closed, can usually wait for office hours, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. For a real emergency:
- Turn the main shut-off valve closed. An Ajax home on Region of Durham water has one on each side of the water meter, and the homeowner is responsible for both.
- Don't force a valve that won't turn. The Region can close the curb stop (the service box outside) for you, after hours too on 905-576-9991, and it adds a fee for doing so to your water bill.
- Shut off the water heater if it is leaking or the house water is off. For an electric tank that means the breaker; for a gas tank, the pilot or off setting.
- Don't step into water near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, and don't change a fuse while you're standing in water or on damp ground.
- Sewage coming up a floor drain? Stop running water and flushing toilets, and take photos of the damage for your insurer.
Region of Durham, Town of Ajax or Hayes?
In an emergency it saves time to know who owns the pipe:
- The Region of Durham owns the drinking water and sanitary sewers in Ajax. Phone it on 311 or 905-668-7711 (after hours, 905-576-9991) for a watermain break, a leak at the water meter, a broken water service box, or a sewer backup that begins outside your property. Don't drive to the Region's Ajax/Pickering Works depot on Salem Road: it isn't open to the public.
- Storm sewers are split two ways: the Town of Ajax is responsible for the ones on local roads, and the Region looks after those on Regional roads.
- On your side of the property line the repairs are yours, from the water service on your lot and the sewer connection within one metre of the foundation to every drain and fixture indoors. Our licensed plumbers do that work.
- Smell gas? Get out of the house first, and only then call Enbridge Gas on 1-866-763-5427 or 911 from somewhere safe. Inside, don't flip switches or use a phone.
Emergency plumbing cost and permits in Ajax
Ajax emergency calls have no flat price. The cost comes down to what failed, how easy it is to reach and the parts it needs, and you get the repair quote in writing before any work begins. Two planning ranges in our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide cover work that often follows an emergency: drain cleaning, listed at $150 to $400, and leak and drain line repair, listed at $500 to $1,500 for spot repairs.
Bigger follow-up jobs, such as new or rerouted piping, may need a plumbing permit. The Town of Ajax accepts plumbing permit applications through its Online Application Portal or by email to buildingpermits@ajax.ca. Inspections are booked on 905-619-2529, with at least 24 hours' notice.