Service area · Built on the old fairways
Plumbers in Highland Gate
Highland Gate is one of Aurora's newest neighbourhoods, laid out on the former golf course lands, and its plumbing questions are mostly new-home questions.
- Plumbers who know Highland Gate housing and its piping
- Drains, leaks, heaters and sump pits on one truck
- You hear the cause before anything gets cut
- Work tested in front of you, area cleaned after
Phone only · a plumber answers, not a form
- Licensed plumbers (ask us for details)
- Quote settled before tools come out
- We tidy up after every job
- Aurora & York Region
Jump to a section
- A newer community
- New-build plumbing
- Sump and grading
- Upgrades after move-in
Plumbing calls in Highland Gate
Jobs we see here
- Clogged basement floor drains after heavy rain
- Sump pits short-cycling in spring
- Main sewer line roots at old clay joints
- Kitchen sink grease clogs
Before the truck pulls up
- Track down the main shut-off, usually on the basement wall nearest the street.
- Clear a path to the water heater, sump pit and floor drain.
- Note which fixtures are affected and since when.
A newer community
For decades the land at the heart of this part of Aurora was the Highland Gate golf course. When the club closed, the property was redeveloped into a residential community with detached homes, townhouses and green space threaded along the old course routes. Homeowners here are often the first people to live in their houses, which shapes the kinds of calls we get.
New is not the same as trouble-free. The problems are just different. Instead of corroded pipes and root-filled laterals, we see fittings that were never quite tightened, fixtures installed slightly out of level, and systems that have not yet been through a full Ontario winter under a family's daily use.
New-build plumbing
Modern houses here generally use PEX supply lines run from a central manifold or a trunk line, ABS plastic drains and a high-efficiency water heater, often a rental unit. That combination works well. A few things are worth knowing about it, though:
- PEX is flexible and freeze-tolerant, but the brass or plastic fittings at each end are where small leaks start.
- Manifold valves are usually labelled by the builder. If yours are not, label them now while you can still tell which line feeds which room.
- High-efficiency tanks vent through plastic pipe out the side wall. Keep the intake and exhaust clear of snow.
If your tank is electric or you are thinking about switching, our page on electric water heater installation covers the wiring and space questions.
Sump and grading
Former golf land was shaped for drainage across fairways, not around foundations. When a subdivision is built, the ground is regraded, and it can take a few seasons for soil to settle. During that time, a sump pump may run more often than you expect, especially in spring melt. That is the pump doing its job. What deserves attention is a pump cycling nonstop in dry weather, makes a grinding sound, or lets the pit fill near the rim.
If water ever does get in, our basement flood cleanup service focuses on the plumbing side: finding the source, restoring the pump and checking the drains. Our basement flood prevention guide covers the steps you can take yourself.
Upgrades after move-in
Once the boxes are unpacked, most Highland Gate owners start on a list. Common requests include a water softener, an outdoor faucet on the far side of the house, a barbecue gas line, or a rough-in finished into a basement bathroom. Many of these are simplest when done before the basement is drywalled. If you are planning one, call before the framing goes up, and we will tell you plainly what needs to happen in what order.
Your neighbours to the east are covered on our Tannery Creek page.
Aurora customers often ask
My builder warranty is still active. Builder or plumber: who do I call?
If the issue is covered by your new-home warranty, report it to the builder first so you do not affect the claim. For anything urgent, like an active leak, shut the water off and call for help right away.
Why is my sump pump running so often in a new house?
Freshly graded soil and a high spring water table can send more water to the pit in the first few years. Frequent cycling in wet weather is normal; constant running in dry weather is worth checking.
Can you rough in a basement bathroom before we finish the basement?
Yes. That is the best time to do it, since the floor and walls are still open and the drain can be tied in without extra cutting.