At a glance
- Place
- Brougham
- Setting
- Rural hamlet
- Phone
- (365) 363-2754
- Read next
- Our service area
Homes and plumbing in Brougham
Brougham dates back to the 1800s, and some of its houses show it. Stone foundations, frame additions, old cisterns and summer kitchens turn up in the older homes, along with plumbing that has been added and changed over a century or more. Newer rural houses around the hamlet are built to modern standards, but they share the same basics: a private well, a pressure tank, a septic system and, in many cases, a long service line run across the property.
Much of the land around Brougham was set aside decades ago for a possible airport, which has kept the area rural and quiet. For plumbing, that means homes are spread out, and planning a visit properly matters more than in town. Before we drive up, we ask what you are seeing, how old the house is and what equipment sits between the well and the taps. A few minutes on the phone can save you a second trip and a second bill, because the right fittings and parts are already on the truck when we arrive.
Common problems we see
- Pipes in stone basements and crawlspaces freezing in deep cold.
- Patchwork plumbing in older houses, with several materials joined together.
- Hard water and iron staining fixtures and wearing out water heaters.
- Pressure tanks that have lost their air charge, causing the pump to cycle on and off.
- Septic-related slow drains when the tank is overdue for pumping.
Local tip If your well pump clicks on and off every few seconds while a tap runs, the pressure tank is likely waterlogged. Letting it go can wear out the pump, so call before it fails.
Services most asked for
Brougham homeowners call us for repiping in older houses, frozen pipe thawing, water filtration and water softeners. Water heater repair and replacement come up often, since hard water is tough on tanks. Owners renovating older homes ask for bathroom renovation plumbing to bring things up to current standards.
Old houses deserve patience
A house that has stood for a hundred years and more is worth taking care with. We do not rip out plumbing just because it is old. If a section is sound, we leave it. If it is failing, we explain why and replace it with materials suited to the house and the water. Where pipes run through cold stone walls, we look for ways to move them inside the heated space. That step alone ends a lot of winter calls.
Leaving the house empty for a stretch in winter? Read our vacation checklist. In a rural home, a furnace failure while you are away can freeze pipes fast.
Getting to you
Brougham is north of Pickering and Ajax, and we plan rural trips so we arrive with the parts we need. Call (365) 363-2754 and tell us about your well and septic setup. As always, we look first and you choose the repair.
Questions we hear on the phone
Can you work on a century home?
Yes. Older homes need more care, and we take time to understand how the plumbing was added over the years before we change anything.
What does a waterlogged pressure tank mean?
The tank has lost the air cushion that lets it store water under pressure. The pump then starts and stops constantly. Recharging or replacing the tank usually fixes it.