Backwater Valve
Is there one installed, is it accessible, and is it functioning the way the City’s form asks about. If there is not one yet, we note that too — it is separately eligible for its own rebate.
Official City Form · Signed & Ready To Submit
Home Plumbing Assessment
from $660 in Etobicoke.
Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program requires a licensed plumber to physically inspect your backwater valve, sump pump and drainage system, then sign the City’s official Home Plumbing Assessment Form. We do the inspection, complete the form, and hand you a signed copy ready for your rebate application — this requires an existing cleanout, see below. Etobicoke’s lakeshore and creek-side streets are where this subsidy gets used the most — and where checking for an accessible cleanout before we book saves a wasted trip.
What The Assessment Covers
Three Systems, One Signed Form
The City’s Home Plumbing Assessment Form asks about specific systems, not a general look-around. Here is what we actually check on site, and what leaves with you afterwards.
Sump Pump & Battery Backup
Pump present and operating, discharge routed correctly, and whether there is a battery backup in case of a power outage during a storm — exactly what floods a basement when it matters most.
Drainage, Downspouts & Weeping Tile
Downspout discharge, weeping tile disconnection status, and floor drains — the parts of the system that keep water out of your foundation in the first place.
Signed Form & Itemized Invoice
The completed City Home Plumbing Assessment Form, signed, plus an itemized invoice in the format the City’s program asks for — both ready to attach to your subsidy application.
Requires a cleanout — no workaround. The assessment needs a proper cleanout to carry out; pulling a toilet does not substitute for this particular service. No cleanout yet? By code every home should have one — ask us about installing one first.
Typical 3-bedroom Toronto home — $660 + tax. Covers the on-site inspection of all three systems and the completed, signed City form.
Up to $500 back from the City. A standalone eligible expense under the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program — no need to also install a backwater valve or sump pump to claim it.
Just need a camera look, not the official form? Our sewer camera inspection starts at $560 and can go in through a pulled toilet if there is no cleanout.
Etobicoke Specifics
Lakeshore Homes And The Backwater Valve Question
The properties closest to the lake and to Etobicoke and Mimico Creek are exactly the ones the City’s subsidy program is built for — sewer surcharge during heavy rain pushes water back through the floor drain, and a backwater valve is the direct answer. Many of the wartime and post-war bungalows south of the Queensway still have their original plumbing, including a cleanout that may have been paved over in the driveway or buried in a basement finish. We confirm it is there and reachable before booking the visit, since there is no workaround for this particular service.
Covering all of Etobicoke. The Kingsway, Mimico, Long Branch, Alderwood, New Toronto, Rexdale and everywhere in between — see our Etobicoke Plumbing Services for general plumbing work in the area.
City of Toronto Rebate
Get Up To $6,650 Back From the City
The City of Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program reimburses homeowners for eligible flood-prevention work — including the exact backwater valve and sump pump installations we do every week. We handle the licensed installation, take out the building permit and meet the inspector ourselves — the permit is a condition of the subsidy, and it is the part most homeowners get stuck on. The rest of the paperwork is straightforward and we're happy to walk you through it.
- Single-family, duplex, triplex or fourplex homes in Toronto
- Work must be done by a City-licensed contractor
- Building permit required for backwater valve installs — we pull it
- Apply within 2 years of installation · ~10 week processing
Rates set by the City of Toronto and subject to annual Council approval — verify current details at toronto.ca before applying. Homeowners outside Toronto should check their local municipality for similar programs.
Home Plumbing Assessment
Up to $500
Backwater Valve (up to 2)
Up to $1,600 each
Sump Pump Installation
Up to $2,250
Sump Pump Battery Backup
Up to $300
Foundation Drain Capping
Up to $400
Maximum Per Property
$6,650
Transparent Pricing
Simple, Honest Rates
No hidden fees — you'll always know the cost before we start.
Service Call
$170+ tax
Covers travel to your door and the first hour of labour.
Additional Hours
$110/hr + tax
Billed per additional hour beyond the first, in clear increments.
Home Plumbing Assessment
$660+ tax
Full on-site inspection of the backwater valve, sump pump & battery backup, and drainage system for a typical 3-bedroom Toronto home, plus the signed official City form.
- Sewer camera inspection (separate service)$560
- If toilet pull needed for camera access+$170
Requires an existing cleanout — there is no toilet-pull workaround for the assessment itself.
The $660 assessment price is for a typical 3-bedroom home with a working cleanout already in place; larger homes or multiple backwater valves/sump pumps are quoted after a quick look. Without a cleanout, the assessment cannot be carried out — have one installed first, or go ahead with just the sewer camera inspection instead.
Larger jobs — renovations, installs, backwater valves, sump pumps — are quoted as a fixed price upfront after a quick assessment, not billed hourly. Request a free estimate. This Home Plumbing Assessment is billed at the flat rate above because the result is the completed, signed City form and the findings, not a repair quote.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Home Plumbing Assessment cost in Toronto?
$660 plus tax for a typical 3-bedroom home. That covers physically inspecting the backwater valve, the sump pump and battery backup, and the drainage side (downspouts, weeping tile disconnection status, floor drains), plus completing and signing the City’s official Home Plumbing Assessment Form.
Why do I need an official form, not just an invoice?
Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program requires the City’s own Home Plumbing Assessment Form, filled out and signed by a licensed plumber, before it will process a claim for this expense. A generic itemized invoice is not accepted on its own.
Do I need a cleanout to get this done?
Yes — a proper cleanout is required to carry out the assessment, and there is no workaround for this particular service; pulling a toilet does not substitute for it. If your home does not have a cleanout, by code it should, and it is worth having one installed. Once that is in place we can book the full assessment.
What if you can’t complete the assessment once you’re on site?
Occasionally an on-site issue stops us partway through — a seized or inaccessible cleanout cap, root intrusion, or an active plumbing emergency we discover once we’re there. In that case we do not charge the full $660, since the signed City form cannot be completed. Instead it is billed at our standard rate: $170 for the visit and first hour, plus $110/hour for any additional time already spent before we had to stop. We will always tell you on site if this is happening, and what the running cost is, before continuing.
How much of the $660 does the City refund?
Up to 80% of the invoiced cost, to a maximum of $500 per property, as a standalone eligible expense under the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program — it does not need to be tied to a backwater valve or sump pump installation. See our rebate details.
If I book an installation with you afterward, does the assessment fee count toward it?
Yes — $250 of your $660 assessment fee is credited toward a backwater valve installation, sump pump installation, or drainage renovation booked with us within 90 days of the assessment. The assessment stands on its own either way: you keep the signed City form and the rebate eligibility no matter what you decide to do next.
Is this the same as a sewer camera inspection?
No — a sewer camera inspection (from $560) looks at the pipe itself for blockages or damage. The Home Plumbing Assessment is a separate, broader check of three flood-protection systems specifically for the City’s subsidy form.
Do you offer emergency plumbing service?
Yes — we take urgent calls for burst pipes, sewer backups and active leaks. Most calls in the GTA are answered same-day; call (437) 559-9778 directly for the fastest response.
Do you cover Rexdale and the north end of Etobicoke too?
Yes — Rexdale, Thistletown, Richview and Etobicoke Centre as well as the lakeshore neighbourhoods. It is all one municipality for permits and it is all City of Toronto for the flooding subsidy, so the same $660 assessment price applies everywhere in Etobicoke. See our full service area for details.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes — all of our plumbers are fully licensed and insured, and we carry WSIB coverage with a Certificate of Insurance available on request for property managers and commercial clients.
How much does a service call cost?
Our standard service call is $170 + tax, which covers travel and the first hour of labour. Additional hours are billed at $110 + tax. This Home Plumbing Assessment is billed at its own flat rate above rather than hourly, because the result is the completed, signed City form. See our full pricing.
Is there a rebate for backwater valves or sump pumps?
Often, yes. The City of Toronto offers up to $6,650 per property through its Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, and several other GTA municipalities run their own programs. See our rebate details for your area.
What We Do
Our Services
Century homes in the east and west end, post-war semis, and downtown condos — three different kinds of plumbing behind three different front doors. Here is what we do across all of them.
Emergency Repairs & Leaks
Burst pipes, active leaks, no water, failed shut-off valves. Same-day response for homeowners — and round-the-clock callout, any hour, for buildings on a service agreement with us.
$170 service call — travel and the first hour. $110/hr after. Emergency Plumbing — What To Do First →Drains & Sewers
Clogged drains and toilets, tree root removal, hydro-jetting, camera locating, and sewer line repair or replacement including excavation.
Main sewer line clearing $560. Camera inspection or hydro-jetting added to the same visit — $220 each instead of $440, half price. Excavation and line replacement are priced separately: a fixed quote after an on-site assessment, and that assessment is free. Drain Cleaning — What It Costs →Backwater Valves & Sump Pumps
Flood protection for your basement: backwater valve installation and replacement, sump pump install, testing and service. Eligible for the City of Toronto rebate of up to $6,650.
Fixed price, quoted upfront. Estimate is free. Backwater Valve & The $6,650 Rebate →Water Heaters & Water Lines
Tank and tankless water heater replacement and repair, plus water service line repair and replacement from the street to the house.
Fixed price, quoted upfront. Estimate is free. Water Heaters — Owned, Not Rented →Water Filtration & Treatment
Whole-home and point-of-use filtration, softeners and treatment systems — sized and specified for your household, not sold off a shelf.
Fixed price, quoted upfront. Estimate is free. Request This Service →Renovation Plumbing
Bathroom and kitchen plumbing for renovations and new builds — from rough-in and valve work through to the final fixtures.
Fixed price, quoted upfront. Estimate is free. Renovation Plumbing — How It Is Priced →Inspection & Reports
Camera inspection of drains and sewer lines, hidden leak detection, and pre-purchase reports. You keep the recorded video and a written condition report — roots, cracks, bellies and what to do next.
Branch line $220 · full sewer main $440 · with sonde locate $560 · pre-purchase report $560. Credited toward the repair if we do the work, and a quick camera look is free when we are already on site. Camera Inspection — What’s Included →You know the price before we start. $170 for the service call, $110/hr after that, and a fixed written quote on anything larger. No surprises on the invoice.
Licensed, insured and WSIB-covered. Family-owned, working across the Greater Toronto Area since 2013.
Property managers and landlords. One point of contact, scheduled maintenance, 24/7 callout for buildings on agreement, and the paperwork your office needs on file.
Client Reviews
What Our Customers Say
"I recently had my shower renovated, and I couldn't be happier with the results! The team was professional, punctual and attentive to my needs throughout the process. They transformed my outdated shower into a modern oasis."
"I recently had a plumbing issue with my clogged toilet and called in the professionals. They arrived promptly, assessed the situation quickly, and had the problem resolved in no time. Impressed with their expertise and friendly service."
"After struggling with a clogged kitchen drain for days, I finally called in the professionals. The plumber arrived promptly and quickly diagnosed the issue. Efficient, friendly, and unclogged my drain in no time."
Recent Work
A Look At The Craftsmanship
Real jobs, completed by our team, across the Greater Toronto Area.
For Property Managers & Building Owners
A Plumbing Partner For Your Whole Portfolio
We currently maintain 10+ residential buildings across the Greater Toronto Area — emergency callouts, scheduled maintenance, unit turnovers and drain work. Buildings on a service agreement are billed $110/hr from arrival, with no service-call fee, and get round-the-clock response any hour of the night.
- $110/hr on a service agreement — billed from arrival, no travel charge
- 24/7 emergency callout for buildings on agreement — burst risers, floods, backups
- Preventive maintenance and scheduled building inspections
- Unit turnover & make-ready plumbing, several units per visit
- Common area, mechanical room and drain stack service
- Certificate of Insurance and WSIB clearance on your file before the first visit
Rates for buildings · What a service agreement covers · Request a building quote
10+
Residential buildings currently serviced across the GTA
See Us In Action
Full Sink Replacement, Done Right
A full kitchen sink replacement from start to finish — old unit out, new one in, drain and supply lines redone, tested and cleaned up. Filmed on a real job in the GTA.
Call Now — (437) 559-9778More real jobs from our channel
About Us
Working In Toronto Since 2013
Ankor Ltd. has been working across Toronto since 2013. The company started when our founder left the firm he worked for and the residential buildings he had been maintaining asked him to keep looking after them — which is why a family-sized crew ended up servicing apartment buildings alongside houses. In Toronto that mix is exactly right: the same week can take us from a century home on the Danforth to a mechanical room downtown.
It is still a family business. Calls are answered by our office rather than a call centre, the plumber who quotes the job is the one who does it, and the price is agreed before anything is opened up. Every plumber is licensed and insured, we carry WSIB coverage, and we take out the permits and meet the inspectors on the work that needs them.
- Fully licensed & insured plumbers
- Transparent pricing, no surprise fees
- Flexible scheduling, including urgent calls
- Residential & commercial experience
Where We Work
Proudly Serving the Greater Toronto Area
Highlighted areas link to a dedicated local page · other pins show our broader coverage
Neighbourhoods we cover in Etobicoke
The Kingsway · Mimico · Long Branch · Alderwood · New Toronto · Rexdale — and the rest of Etobicoke
Also Serving Nearby Areas
Get In Touch
Request Your Free Estimate
Tell us about your project and we'll get back to you promptly — most calls are answered same-day.
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Serving the Greater Toronto Area, ON, Canada
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Mon–Sat · Emergency calls welcome