Why Is My Toilet Gurgling?
What That Gurgling Toilet Is Trying to Tell You You flush. It empties. And then—blub blub blub—your toilet starts to talk back.If you’ve heard those weird bubbling sounds in your toilet, you’re not imagining things. And no, it’s not just “old pipes.” That sound is your plumbing system trying to breathe — and it means […]
Interior vs Exterior Waterproofing
Interior vs. Exterior Basement Waterproofing: What’s the Difference (and Which One Do You Need?) If you’ve ever walked into your basement after a heavy rainfall and smelled that damp, musty odor… you already know something’s wrong. Maybe you’ve spotted water pooling near a wall. Or maybe the paint is bubbling, and the carpet feels damp […]
Tree Roots in Your Pipes? UPR Can Help
Roots in the Pipes? How They Get In and What to Do You love the trees in your yard — until they start ruining your plumbing. If you’re living in Scarborough and your drains are slow, backing up, or smelling a little off, the real culprit might not be grease or soap… it might be […]
PEX vs Copper Pipes
PEX vs Copper: What’s the Best Choice for Your Water Lines? If you’re planning to upgrade your home’s plumbing, chances are you’ve heard about PEX. It’s flexible, cost-effective, and growing in popularity. But what about copper — the classic material trusted for decades? At UPR, we’ve worked with both. So here’s a clear, no-nonsense breakdown […]
5 Signs of a Clogged Drain
5 Warning Signs Your Drain Might Be Clogged — And What You Should Do About It You probably don’t think about your drains much — until they stop working. A clogged drain can be more than just a minor inconvenience; if left untreated, it can lead to serious damage, unpleasant smells, or even flooding in […]
Do You Need a Backwater Valve?
Do You Really Need a Backwater Valve? Here’s Why It Could Save Your Basement (and Your Wallet) Imagine this: you’re in your basement after a summer thunderstorm, and you notice a strange smell. Then you see it — brownish water seeping up through the floor drain, soaking your laundry room and spreading across the floor. […]
Musty Basement Smell? Causes & Fixes
What Causes Musty Smells in Your Basement — And How to Eliminate Them for Good Walk downstairs and catch that damp, musty smell? You’re not alone — many Toronto homeowners deal with basement odors that seem to come out of nowhere. But that smell is more than just unpleasant. It’s often your first warning sign […]
Slow Drain? Here’s What It Really Means
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Slow Drain (It’s Trying to Tell You Something…) You’re brushing your teeth or taking a shower, and you notice water pooling longer than usual. It’s still going down — but way too slowly. Annoying? Yes. Urgent? Not really… right? Actually, yes. A slow drain is your plumbing system trying to […]
Hydro Jetting or Snaking? Best Drain Fix
Hydro Jetting vs. Snaking Which Drain Cleaning Method Is Right for You? Got a stubborn clog or slow drain that just won’t stay clear? There are two main ways to deal with it: snaking and hydro jetting. At UPR, we use both — but knowing when to use which can mean the difference between a […]
What Causes Basement Flooding?
What Causes Basement Flooding — And How to Stop It for Good Basement flooding is one of the most stressful things a homeowner can deal with. Whether it’s a trickle of water near the wall or several inches of dirty water covering your floor, the damage can be expensive, messy, and emotionally exhausting. But here’s […]
Lead Pipe Replacement: What Homeowners Should Know
The Truth About Lead Water Pipes — Why You Should Replace Them If your home was built before the 1950s, there’s a chance you’ve got lead water service lines connecting your house to the city supply. And if it was built before the 1980s, your interior pipes, solder, or fittings could still contain traces of […]
Drain Acting Up? Get a Camera Inspection
What’s Hiding in Your Drain? 5 Signs It’s Time to Camera Inspect If your drain could talk, it’d probably say, “Help!”Gurgling toilets, slow sinks, or strange smells are your home’s way of waving a red flag — and the real problem might be hidden deep inside your pipes. That’s where a drain camera inspection comes […]
Slow Drain? Don’t Ignore It
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore a Slow Drain We’ve all done it. You notice the sink’s draining a little slower than usual. It swirls, it hesitates… but it still goes down. So, you move on. No big deal, right? But here’s the truth: a slow drain is your early warning system.And in homes across Toronto and […]
Basement Smells Bad? It’s Your Plumbing
What Basement Odors Say About Your Plumbing It’s the one part of your home nobody wants to talk about:The basement smells… weird. Musty. Damp. Sour. Or worse — like actual sewage. If you live in Toronto, and your basement has that lingering odor you just can’t shake, your nose might be trying to tell you […]
Trenchless Sewer Replacement in Toronto
How Trenchless Sewer Replacement Works (And Why It’s a Game-Changer for Your Home & Yard) If your home has a broken or collapsed sewer line, the thought of fixing it might make you panic. You’re probably imagining bulldozers tearing up your driveway, digging across your front yard, and leaving behind a dusty, expensive mess. That’s […]
Is Hydro Jetting Safe for Old Pipes?
The Truth About Hydro Jetting — Is It Safe for Old Pipes? If your plumbing’s been around for a few decades, you might wonder:Can hydro jetting damage my old pipes? It’s a fair question — and one we get all the time from homeowners in North York, where many houses still rely on aging clay, […]
Toilet Gurgling When Shower Runs?
Why Your Toilet Gurgles When the Shower Runs — And What It Means. Ever step out of the shower and hear your toilet gurgling like it’s haunted? It might seem funny — but it’s actually a sign your plumbing system is crying out for help. Gurgling, bubbling, or even slight water movement in the toilet […]
Basement Still Wet After Waterproofing?
Why You Still Get Water in the Basement After Waterproofing You paid for waterproofing. Your contractor said, “All fixed.” But now there’s water in your basement again — and you’re wondering what exactly you paid for. We hear this more than you’d expect — especially in Toronto homes where DIY jobs or cut-corner contractors didn’t […]
Stop Flushing Wipes
Why You Shouldn’t Flush Wipes — Even If the Label Says “Flushable” The label says “flushable.”But what your toilet can swallow and what your pipes can handle? Two very different things. If you live in Scarborough — or anywhere in the GTA — and use wipes that go down the toilet, you’re not alone. But […]
Sump Pump Guide for Homeowners
Sump Pump: Why You Need One (and How to Keep It Working) If you’ve never had a wet basement, count yourself lucky. If you have, then you already know how fast a rainstorm or snowmelt can turn your basement into a swamp. One of the simplest and most effective tools to prevent that? The sump […]
