Housing at a glance: Richvale
- Typical eras
- 1950s to 1970s homes and newer rebuilds
- Common pipe
- Cast iron and clay drains, copper and galvanized supply
- Watch for
- Root intrusion, cast iron corrosion, undersized services
Original drains
- Bungalows from the 1950s and 60s often have cast iron drains under the basement floor and clay laterals to the street. Cast iron corrodes from the inside, especially along the bottom, and clay joints let roots in. A camera inspection tells you which you are dealing with.
- Backsplits have plumbing on multiple levels, with drains that step down through the house. Each step is a possible clog point.
Big lots, big trees
- Mature trees on large Richvale lots send roots far. Main drain back-ups from roots are common, often in late summer. Regular cleaning keeps lines open; replacing the lateral with PVC is the permanent fix.
- If you are building a new home on a Richvale lot, the old lateral should be evaluated and usually replaced as part of the build.
What we check in these homes
- Roots in the main drain
- Cast iron drain corrosion
- Small original water service
- Galvanized supply lines
- Planning a rebuild on an older lot
Rebuilds
- Many original homes are being replaced with large new houses. New builds need properly sized water services, often larger than the original 1/2-inch line. We can coordinate service upgrades with the town.
- Renovations of original homes are also common, and are a good time to replace galvanized supply and cast iron drains.
Big lots, long services
- Richvale houses often sit well back from the street, so the water service and the sewer lateral are long. A long, small-diameter water service loses pressure, which is why upstairs showers in some of these homes feel weak even when the fixtures are new.
- For rebuilds, upsizing the service from the curb is usually part of the plan, and we coordinate with the town on the municipal side.
Richmond Hill note: most houses here sit on York Region municipal water with fairly hard supply, and many basements have a floor drain tied to the sanitary lateral. Mention both on the phone; it changes what goes on the truck.
Want a second opinion on your own pipes first? Dial (365) 363-1575; the person answering holds the wrench.