Plumbing Repairs in North Bay
Poly-B Plumbing is a residential and light commercial plumbing repair service in North Bay, Callander, Sturgeon Falls, Powassan and the surrounding communities, owned and run by Paul Bosse, a second-generation Red Seal journeyman plumber in the trade since 2003. Plumbing repair covers everything from a dripping tap to a collapsed sewer lateral: leaks, clogs, frozen and burst pipes, fixtures, water heaters, sump pumps, well pumps and aging pipe systems. Poly-B quotes by the job rather than the hour, cuts out and replaces rather than patches, and is licensed for plumbing, wells, septic and backflow prevention. Call 705-345-6616.
Service hours
- Monday to Thursday7:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Friday7:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Saturday and SundayClosed
Emergency service is available during business hours only. Members of the $49-per-month plan get priority scheduling.
What Poly-B repairs in North Bay
| Problem | What Poly-B does | Detail page |
|---|---|---|
| Dripping taps, running toilets, shower valves | OEM cartridges and valves for Moen, Delta, Kohler, American Standard | Fixture repairs |
| Hidden leaks, pinholes, wet ceilings | Meter test, thermal imaging, cut and replace in copper or PEX | Leak repair and detection |
| Slow or blocked drains, sewer backups | Auger, hydro jetting, camera inspection | Drain cleaning |
| Broken sewer lateral or water service | Camera, locates, permits, excavate and replace | Sewer line repair |
| Frozen lines, no water in winter | Thermal locate, controlled thaw, freeze prevention | Frozen pipe repair |
| Burst or split supply pipe | Shut-off, cut out, replace, insurance photos | Burst pipe repair |
| No hot water, leaking tank | Elements, thermostats, valves, anode; repair and replace quoted together | Water heater repair |
| Sump pump not running, basement at risk | Float, switch, check valve, backup, or a new pump | Sump pump repair |
| Well pump, pressure tank, no water on a rural lot | Diagnostics, pressure switch, check valve, pump replacement | Well pump service |
| Low pressure, noisy pipes, old galvanized or polybutylene | Repipe planning and full replacements | Full pipe replacements |
| Anything urgent during business hours | Prioritized dispatch, no rush premium | Emergency plumbing |
How Poly-B prices a plumbing repair
Poly-B Plumbing quotes by the job, in writing, before work starts. Hourly plumbing rates in Ontario commonly run $150 to $300 an hour, and an hourly job has no ceiling until it is over. A flat-rate quote means the diagnosis is done first, the materials and the time are known, and the number you agree to is the number on the invoice. Beware of very low advertised flat rates: they tend to arrive with an upsell or a cheap part. Poly-B accepts credit, debit, e-transfer and online payment, with invoicing for approved commercial clients, and the $49-per-month membership brings priority scheduling and discounts on repairs and inspections.
Materials Poly-B installs, and the ones it will not
Every repair is meant to be the last one on that spot. Supply lines are repaired in Type L copper, soldered or ProPress, or in PEX with crimp or expansion fittings. Fixtures get OEM parts from Moen, Delta, Kohler and American Standard. Poly-B does not install push-fit fittings, repair clamps, flexible braided lines where hard pipe belongs, or builder-grade fixtures with no parts supply. When you see the word “patch” on another quote, that is the difference.
How long plumbing lasts, and when to stop repairing it
| Material | Typical service life | Poly-B’s advice |
|---|---|---|
| Copper supply (Type L) | 50 to 70 years with neutral water | Repair pinholes once; repeat pinholes mean water chemistry or a repipe |
| PEX supply | 40 to 50 years | Repair at fittings; keep it out of sunlight |
| Polybutylene (grey “Poly-B” pipe, 1978 to 1995) | Past its life | Replace the run; it fails at the fittings and keeps failing |
| Galvanized steel supply | 40 to 50 years, long exceeded in most North Bay homes that still have it | Replace; it is closing from the inside and shedding rust into fixtures |
| Cast iron drain and stack | 50 to 75 years | Camera it; replace channelled or holed sections in PVC |
| Clay sewer lateral | 50 to 60 years, roots at every joint after that | Camera it; plan replacement before the backup |
If the system is over thirty years old, or you have corrosion, odd smells or falling pressure, the honest conversation is a repipe plan rather than another repair. Poly-B lays out what to do first, what can wait, and what it costs.
Two code facts every North Bay homeowner should know
Ontario Building Code 7.4.8 requires drainage pipe of 3 inches or less to slope at least 1 in 50 in the direction of flow. Drains laid flatter than that in a basement bathroom or a renovation clog on a schedule, and no amount of cleaning changes the slope; Poly-B checks grade during any excavation or regrade work. Cleanouts are the second: stacks, building drains and exterior sewer lines should have them, and many older North Bay homes have none. A retrofit cleanout lets Poly-B camera, auger or jet the line without opening a wall or pulling a toilet, and it pays for itself on the first blockage.
Plumber (306A) is a compulsory trade regulated by Skilled Trades Ontario. Poly-B’s owner holds Red Seal journeyman certification, is licensed for plumbing, wells, septic and backflow prevention, and carries up to $5 million in liability insurance. Every repair is documented.
Sources: Ontario Building Code 7.4.8, minimum slope; Skilled Trades Ontario, Plumber (306A).
How a repair visit goes
Listen, then diagnose
Visual inspection, camera scope or pressure test as the problem warrants, so the quote is for the real fault.
Quote the right fix in writing
One price for the proper long-term solution, with options where they genuinely exist.
Repair with premium materials
Copper, PEX, OEM parts. No push-fit, no generic plastic.
Protect the property
Drop cloths, shoe covers, cleanup included.
Follow up
Service record, maintenance tips, and the membership option for priority scheduling.
What to have ready when you call
The address, whether the home is on municipal water or a well, where the main shut-off is and whether it is closed, the brand of any fixture involved, and a photo if you can take one safely. If more than one fixture is affected, say which ones; that tells Poly-B Plumbing whether the problem is a fixture, a branch line or the main before the truck leaves North Bay, and the right parts come with it.
What North Bay customers say
“Always done great work and had them out to our houses more than one time.”Dave Melanson, Google review, June 2025
“Excellent professional job!”Debbie Moss, Google review, May 2025
“The fastest plumbing service EVER, and 2 h after first contact, job done!”Iain Grant, Google review, May 2025
Where Poly-B does plumbing repairs
Plumbing repair questions from North Bay homeowners
What is the most common plumbing repair?
A leaking faucet or a running toilet. Worn washers, cartridges and flappers cause most of them, and a single drip can waste over 3,000 litres a year. Poly-B Plumbing repairs these with OEM parts in under an hour in most cases.
How long does household plumbing last?
Copper supply pipe lasts 50 to 70 years in neutral water, PEX 40 to 50 years. If the system is over thirty years old, or shows corrosion, smells or low pressure, Poly-B Plumbing recommends a camera and pressure assessment and a repipe plan rather than repeat repairs.
How much do plumbers charge per hour in Ontario?
Commonly $150 to $300 an hour depending on the job and the area. Poly-B Plumbing quotes by the job instead, so the full price is known before work starts.
Does every drain need a cleanout?
Not every fixture drain, but stacks, building drains and exterior sewer lines should have one. Poly-B Plumbing installs retrofit cleanouts in older North Bay homes so the line can be cameraed or jetted without opening walls.
How do plumbers fix pinhole leaks in copper?
Poly-B Plumbing cuts out the pitted section, replaces it in copper or PEX, and on repeat calls tests the water chemistry, because pinholes in this area usually come from soft acidic well water or electrolysis at a copper-to-steel joint.
Can a leaking pipe be fixed without replacing the section?
Not properly. Poly-B Plumbing does not patch, clamp or epoxy a leak. The section is cut out and replaced, which is the only repair that stays fixed.
Book a plumbing repair in North Bay
Monday to Thursday 7 am to 7 pm, Friday 7 am to 5 pm. Emergencies are prioritized during those hours.
Call 705-345-6616 Request a free online quote
Poly-B Plumbing, 1107 Yellek Trail, North Bay, ON P1B 8G5.