Drain Repair in Toronto & the GTA
Updated August 18, 2026
City Rooter repairs cracked, collapsed, and root-invaded drain lines across Toronto and the GTA. Licensed technicians camera-inspect the line, explain options, and complete the repair — often the same day. Call (647) 534-6875 for a free estimate.
- Recurring clogs after snaking
- Sewage smell in the basement or yard
- Wet spots or sinkholes over the drain path
Licensed & WSIB · Written estimates · 24/7 Mon–Sat · Sun 9 AM–5 PM
Drain repair in Toronto
When a drain keeps clogging after you snake it, the pipe itself is often cracked, offset, or full of roots. Waiting usually means sewage in the basement, a wet lawn, or a sinkhole over the line.
City Rooter camera-inspects the drain first so we repair the damaged section instead of guessing. Our in-house licensed technicians handle spot repairs and sectional replacements across Toronto and the GTA. You get a written price before we dig.
A cleaning visit and a repair visit are different jobs. If someone already cleared the line and the backup returned, the next step is video, not another cable. That is how you stop paying twice for the same failure.
Signs you need drain repair, not another snake
A single slow sink can be a local clog near the trap. Several fixtures backing up at once usually means the main line is damaged or blocked farther down. Standing water in a basement floor drain after you have already had the line snaked is a repair signal.
Outside, look at the lawn over the drain path. A lush green strip after a dry week, a soft spot, or a dip in the grade often sits over a leaking joint. Flies around a floor drain and a sewage smell that returns after cleaning point the same way.
- The same drain clogs again within days or weeks
- Sewage smell in the basement, yard, or floor drain
- Wet spots, lush strips of grass, or a dip over the drain path
- Gurgling from more than one fixture
- Camera video showing cracks, offsets, or root intrusion
- A sudden jump in the water bill with no new fixtures
What we find on a Toronto drain camera
Older neighbourhoods still run clay tile and cast iron. Clay joints open and roots follow the moisture. Cast iron scales and then cracks. A belly — a low sag in the pipe — holds waste even after a perfect snake. Offset joints catch paper and wipes on every flush.
The camera tells us whether a two-foot spot repair will hold or whether the next three joints are already failing. We would rather show you that on a screen than open a trench and discover it later.
How we repair a damaged drain line
We run a waterproof camera to locate the break and mark the path on the lawn or floor. Then we explain the options: a spot repair, a sectional replacement, or a full line if the pipe is at the end of its life.
We excavate only what the repair needs, replace the damaged pipe with approved material on the correct slope, add a cleanout when it will help later, and restore the site. You know the scope before we start. We do not enlarge the job mid-dig without a new written price.
If the line can be repaired from an existing cleanout or a small access pit, we take that route. If the break sits under a walkway or a finished basement, we talk through access before anyone cuts concrete.
What drain repair costs in the GTA
Cost depends on depth, access, pipe material, and whether we can stay in a small excavation. A simple access repair is very different from a collapsed main under a driveway. Permits and restoration add to some jobs and not others.
We do not turn a $325 cleanout snake into a full replacement without showing you the camera finding. Call (647) 534-6875 for a written estimate. Hourly plumbing work in Toronto typically runs $120 to $190. Drain repair is scoped as a project, not an open clock, once we know the damage.
Repair now or wait for a backup
A cracked drain does not heal. Each backup pushes waste into the soil or the basement. Insurance often looks at whether you ignored a known failure. Fixing a short section after a camera is almost always cheaper than a sewage cleanup plus a rushed excavation.
If the camera shows the rest of the run is sound, a spot repair is the honest job. If the rest of the run is failing, we will say replacement is the safer spend. See drain replacement when the line is collapsed or worn out end to end.
After the repair
We test flow, camera the new joint when access allows, and leave the work area clean. A new cleanout makes the next inspection simple. Keep wipes out of the toilet and grease out of the kitchen sink so the repaired line is not fighting the same debris on day one.
If you smell sewage again or a fixture starts gurgling, call before it becomes a basement event. We already know the layout of a line we have repaired.
Need drain repair in Toronto?
Licensed, insured, WSIB-covered technicians. We answer live and typically reply to quotes in 5–10 minutes.
Our process
Step 1
Camera inspection
We locate the break, offset, or root intrusion without guesswork.
Step 2
Honest options
Spot repair, sectional replacement, or full line replacement — with a written price.
Step 3
Clean repair
We excavate only as needed, replace damaged pipe, and restore the site.
Reviews
Only 5-star reviews from GTA homeowners
★★★★★
Alex and his team replaced our main drain and broken pipes. He provided great service and workmanship, at reasonable prices. Highly recommend.
★★★★★
City Rooter installed a new waterline from the edge of the property into my basement. Alex worked with me to get the best solution possible, gave a very good price, and left everything neat and tidy.
★★★★★
They saved us from a major plumbing disaster. Tree roots clogged the drain. The team snaked the line, excavated, replaced the damaged pipe, and installed a cleanout. Professional, efficient, and fair.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know I need drain repair instead of another cleaning?
If the same drain clogs again within days or weeks, or a camera shows cracks, offsets, or roots, the pipe needs repair. Cleaning punches through a clog. It does not fix a broken line. City Rooter inspects first so you do not pay for a snake on a collapsed pipe.
What causes drain pipes to fail in Toronto?
Older clay and cast-iron lines crack at joints, pick up tree roots, or settle into a belly that holds waste. Freeze-thaw, poor original slope, and decades of scale all shorten the life of a buried drain. A camera shows which of those is happening before anyone digs.
How much does drain repair cost in the GTA?
Cost depends on depth, access, pipe material, and how much of the line is damaged. A small access repair is very different from a collapsed main under a driveway. We give a written estimate after the camera finding. We do not turn a $325 cleanout snake into a full replacement without showing you why.
Related services
Need a plumber now?
Licensed, insured, WSIB-covered technicians. We answer live and typically reply to quotes in 5–10 minutes.