Plumbing emergencies anywhere in the City of Pickering are covered 24/7, from Bay Ridges and West Shore on the lake to Amberlea, Liverpool, Dunbarton, Duffin Heights, Seaton and the hamlet of Claremont. Day or night, (905) 576-3043 is answered by a live operator, and Hayes dispatches a licensed plumber in one of our seven service vehicles, all kept fully stocked, from the shop at 448 Ritson Rd. South in Oshawa. Pickering sits at the west end of our service area, about 25 to 35 minutes away by road in most cases, so what you do in the first few minutes counts for a lot.
Plumbing emergencies in Pickering homes
These need a call right away, whatever the age of your home:
- A burst or leaking supply pipe, or a fitting that has let go.
- Sewage or drain water coming up through a floor drain or toilet.
- A sump pump that has stopped during rain or snowmelt.
- A water heater leaking from the bottom of the tank.
- A main shut-off valve that won't close while water is running.
Before the plumber arrives
Older homes in the area may still have their original supply piping, polybutylene (poly-B) in some houses, along with shut-off valves that haven't been turned in years. That makes it worth finding your main shut-off and testing it before you need it. When the emergency happens:
- Close the main shut-off, which sits beside the water meter. Region of Durham meters have a valve on either side, and responsibility for each of them rests with the homeowner.
- Pliers and force are a bad idea on a stuck valve. Instead, the Region can close the service box (curb stop) outside, with emergency shut-offs available after hours (905-576-9991). That carries a fee, which appears on your water bill.
- Turn the water heater off if it is leaking or the house has no water.
- Keep clear of water near outlets and the electrical panel. Never change a fuse while standing in water.
- If sewage is backing up, stop all water use in the house, keep children and pets away, and photograph the damage for your insurer.
Who handles what in Pickering
Storm sewers on local roads belong to the City of Pickering. Drinking water and sanitary sewers do not: the Region of Durham runs those.
- The Region takes calls (311 or 905-668-7711; 905-576-9991 after hours) about a watermain break, a leak at the meter itself, a damaged water service box, or a sewer backup starting outside your property. Its Ajax/Pickering Works depot, on Salem Road in Ajax, isn't open to the public.
- On residential sewer connections, the Region clears the run from the main to the property line and repairs it as far as one metre outside the foundation. Past that point, and for any blocked drain on your lot, repairs fall to the homeowner.
- Hayes is the call for burst pipes, backed-up drains, failed sump pumps, leaking water heaters and anything else inside the house.
- A gas smell means leaving right away; call Enbridge Gas at 1-866-763-5427 or 911 once you are outside.
Cost, repairs and permits in Pickering
Because pricing depends on the problem, the access and the parts, there is no flat emergency rate, and the repair is quoted in writing before work begins. Our 2026 Oshawa plumbing cost guide has planning ranges for the common follow-up work: water heater installation at $500 to $1,500, and leak and drain line repair at $500 to $1,500 for spot repairs or $3,000 to $10,000 to replace a full line.
The City of Pickering's Building Services (905.420.4631) lists any plumbing work among projects that may need a building permit. Like-for-like replacement of a hot water tank, a sump pump, or a toilet or sink with no pipe work is listed as typically not needing one.