Yes. Drain Right Now Inc. is a fully licensed and insured plumbing contractor. Our well and septic specialists are licensed by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for specialized services like well system decommissioning and certain water treatment installations. We are also proud to be an A+ Rated BBB Accredited Business, demonstrating our commitment to marketplace trust, ethics, and integrity.

Our guarantee applies to the specific, identified problem we are hired to solve. If, after diagnosing the issue, we proceed with the agreed-upon, approved repair method and the exact same problem persists, we will return to fix it at no additional cost to you. This ensures you receive a correct and complete solution the first time, giving you peace of mind.

We proudly serve all of Simcoe County and the entire Muskoka region, including Barrie, Orillia, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Collingwood, Innisfil, and surrounding areas.

We charge a standard $50 Dispatch Fee for a technician to visit your home, business, or cottage to perform an assessment and provide an accurate quote for service. This fee is essential for covering the cost of getting our licensed technician and specialized equipment to your location.

However, the $50 Dispatch Fee will be fully waived (deducted from the final bill) if you choose to go ahead with the recommended work. Our goal is to provide transparent, upfront pricing, ensuring you know the exact cost before any major work begins.

We offer true 24/7 Emergency Service for urgent issues like burst pipes, major sewer backups, or complete well pump failure (no water). When you call our emergency line, a licensed plumber is dispatched immediately. Our goal is rapid response, often reaching most locations in Barrie and immediate surrounding areas within the hour to stop the damage and restore service.

A quality well pump system typically lasts 15 to 25 years, but this varies widely based on pump type, water quality, and usage. Generally, if a pump is over 10 years old and the cost of repair exceeds 30-50% of a full replacement, replacement is often the more economical long-term choice. Newer pumps offer higher efficiency and come with better warranties. We will always provide an honest assessment of both repair and replacement options.

We recommend a full well system inspection every 1 to 3 years to check mechanical components like the pressure tank, pump, and electrical systems. Water quality testing for bacteria (e.g., E. coli) should be done at least 3 times per year and immediately after any maintenance, flooding, or equipment changes. This is crucial for protecting your family's health.

Well drilling is the process of creating a brand new water source. Well rehabilitation (or refurbishment) is the process of chemically treating, air-lifting, or mechanically cleaning an existing well to remove sediment, mineral buildup, and bacterial blockages that restrict water flow. Rehabilitation can often restore flow, improve water quality, and extend the life of an existing well for a fraction of the cost of drilling a new one.

The most critical step is ensuring the wellhead and any above-ground lines are properly insulated and sealed. All connections should be buried below the frost line. For pressure tanks or exposed piping in unheated areas (like crawl spaces or utility rooms), you should use heat tape and insulate the area thoroughly. For seasonal properties, a full professional winterization is required to safely drain all well, pump, and plumbing lines.

A backwater valve is a one-way valve installed on your main sewer line that automatically closes if the municipal sewer system experiences a backup due to heavy rainfall or severe blockages. The key benefit is that it prevents raw sewage and storm water from backing up into your basement through your floor drains, sinks, or toilets. This crucial defense can save you from catastrophic damage and contamination, and in some cases, may qualify you for insurance discounts.

If the pressure drop is system-wide, the cause is typically related to the main water supply:

• Well System Issues: A failing pressure tank (running water constantly), a dying well pump, or mineral buildup clogging the main water line.

• Municipal Issues: Corrosion or rust buildup inside older pipes, a faulty pressure reducing valve (PRV), or an issue with the main municipal service line leading into your home.

Yes, absolutely. Converting from a private well/septic system to municipal water and sewer service is a major construction project. It requires a Building Permit from your local municipality and specific approval from regional authorities (which often includes the Health Unit or the Ministry of Environment) for the decommissioning of the old well and septic system. Drain Right Now Inc. can manage the entire permitting process, excavation, and decommissioning for you.

Most residential septic tanks should be pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on the tank size and the number of people living in the home. However, an annual inspection is highly recommended. Our specialists check the baffle walls, scum and sludge levels, and the overall condition of the system to prevent backups and premature drain field failure.

** We do not offer septic tank pumping services **

Lake pump systems are specialized for seasonal properties and require unique care:

• Annual Maintenance: They require a professional winterization (closing) to prevent freezing and a thorough opening in the spring.

• Intake Management: They are highly susceptible to clogging from sediment, weeds, or aquatic life, requiring routine cleaning and maintenance of the intake line and foot valve.

• Treatment: Lake water often requires more robust filtration and treatment systems (like UV and advanced filtration) than well water due to surface runoff and environmental factors.

The key difference is the material they handle:

• Sump Pump: Installed in a pit (sump pit) in the basement floor. It handles only clean ground water that seeps in around the foundation.

• Sewage Pump (or Effluent Pump): Designed specifically to handle black and grey wastewater (containing solids, toilet paper, and sewage) from toilets, showers, and sinks, typically where gravity drainage is not possible (e.g., basement bathrooms). Never use a sump pump for sewage, as it will clog and fail immediately.

The fundamental difference lies in the cleaning power:

• Drain Snaking uses a mechanical auger to bore a hole directly through a localized blockage (like wipes or a single object). It's fast, but often leaves behind residue and grease on the pipe walls, allowing clogs to return sooner.

• Hydro-Jetting uses highly pressurized water (up to 4,000 PSI) to completely scour the entire circumference of the pipe wall. This effectively removes all built-up grease, mineral scale, sludge, and tree roots for a deeper, longer-lasting clean.

A camera inspection takes the guesswork out of drain cleaning and repair. It allows our technician to visually pinpoint the exact cause of the clog (e.g., roots, a foreign object, a cracked pipe, or a sagging section) and its precise location underground. This leads to an accurate diagnosis, avoids unnecessary digging, and ensures we use the correct, most cost-effective solution the first time.

Absolutely. We provide full installation services for all bathroom and kitchen fixtures, including toilets, sinks, tubs, and showers. Choosing a licensed professional for installation guarantees correct water connections, proper venting, and leak prevention. This ensures the work meets all local codes and protects the manufacturer's warranty.

While we can fix most running or weak-flushing toilets, replacement is recommended if:

1. The toilet is over 25 years old (older models are highly inefficient and waste water).

2. It is constantly clogging (more than once a week) despite plunging.

3. It has visible cracks in the porcelain tank or bowl, which are a major leak risk.

In the long run, replacing an old unit with a modern, high-efficiency toilet saves money on utility bills and provides superior performance.