What lies under these streets
Most of the homes in O'Neill went up in the decades after the Second World War, built for families of workers at the auto plants. Many have a single main stack, a basement floor drain and a clay or cast iron lateral running out to the city sewer. Original copper supply lines are common, though plenty of homes still have sections of galvanized pipe hidden in walls.
Upstairs bathrooms in a storey-and-a-half were often added under the slope of the roof. Drains there run long and shallow, and venting is not always to modern standards.
Seasonal trouble spots
- Spring: floor drains backing up after heavy rain and thaw
- Summer: tree roots from mature boulevard trees reaching the lateral
- Fall: outdoor taps left connected to hoses
- Winter: kitchen lines on exterior walls freezing during cold snaps
If your floor drain gurgles when the washer drains, the main pipe may be partly blocked. It is a warning sign, not a nuisance.
Typical calls from this area
Sewer line trouble is near the top of the list, since roots and settled clay joints both show up in older laterals; our sewer line repair page explains what is involved. Basement sump pumps that run hard every spring are another, and sump pump repair covers the common failures. Inside, running or rocking toilets in those under-the-eaves bathrooms come up often, which is where toilet repair fits in.
Water heater replacements are steady too. Many homes here have a rental tank tucked beside the furnace, and owners often weigh up renting against owning.
Renovations in O'Neill homes
Houses here have been updated by successive owners, often with modern finishes over original pipes. When you buy or renovate, it is worth knowing what sits behind the new tile. Look for a cast iron stack in the basement, a floor drain that has not been snaked in years and any remaining galvanized supply. A camera through the main drain and a look at the supply lines give you a clear picture before you commit to a kitchen or bathroom project.
Many homes here also have mature trees on the boulevard, so watch for slow drains in late summer, when roots are at their thirstiest and reach furthest into old joints.
Being near the hospital and the Oshawa Centre means plenty of rental homes too, and landlords here call us as often as owners do.
Booking a visit
Call and outline what you see: where the water is, what it smells like, when it started. Mention access, such as a side door or a finished basement. Street parking is usually easy here. If you live across the boundary in Vanier, the housing and the calls are much alike.