Basement floor drain cleaning, new drain installation, trap replacement, and backflow prevention. We fix sewer gas odours, corroded cast iron drains, and frozen garage drains across North Bay and the Nipissing District.
North Bay Plumbers provides professional floor drain installation, repair, and cleaning services across North Bay, Callander, and Sturgeon Falls. We handle basement floor drains, garage floor drains, laundry room drains, and commercial floor drains — including dry trap repairs that stop sewer gas odours, corroded cast iron drain replacement, new floor drain installation with concrete cutting, and backflow preventer installation. Floor drain cleaning starts at $100, trap replacement runs $200–$500, and new floor drain installation costs $500–$1,500 including concrete work. We always provide an upfront quote before beginning work.
Floor drains are out of sight and out of mind — until something goes wrong. These warning signs mean it's time to call a plumber before a minor issue becomes a basement flood or health hazard.
Whether you need a clogged drain cleared, a dried-out trap fixed, or a brand new floor drain installed in your basement, we follow the same methodical approach every time.
We inspect the existing floor drain or proposed installation location using a camera scope and visual assessment. We check the trap condition, drain line integrity, surrounding concrete, and connection to the main drain. For sewer gas complaints, we test the trap seal and check for cracks in the drain body.
We identify exactly what's wrong — dried-out trap, corroded drain body, blockage, failed backflow preventer, or the need for a new installation — and give you a firm price before any work begins. No surprises. If we find additional issues during inspection, we discuss them with you first.
For repairs, we clear blockages with mechanical snaking, replace damaged traps, install trap primers where required by Ontario Building Code, or reline corroded drains. For new installations, we cut the concrete slab, excavate to the drain line, install the new floor drain with a proper P-trap and backflow prevention valve, and connect to the existing sanitary sewer line.
We flow-test the drain with water to confirm proper drainage rate, verify the trap seal holds, check all connections for leaks, and test the backflow preventer if one is installed. For new installations, we run a camera through the line to confirm clean connections.
For installations that required concrete cutting, we patch and finish the concrete flush with the existing slab. We clean the entire work area and advise on trap maintenance — including how often to add water to prevent the trap from drying out, and whether a trap primer makes sense for your situation.
North Bay's climate, housing stock, and geography create specific floor drain issues that require local knowledge to solve properly. Here's what we see every week.
North Bay receives over 200cm of snow annually, and when spring melt hits in March and April, basement floor drains become critical. Homes in low-lying areas near Lake Nipissing and Trout Creek face the highest risk. When sump pumps can't keep up, floor drains are your last line of defence — and they need to be clear, functional, and equipped with backflow prevention to stop municipal sewer surges from flooding your basement.
Homes in West Ferris, downtown North Bay, and the south end were built in the 1950s-70s with cast iron floor drains. After 60-70 years, these drains corrode from the inside out — the walls thin, the drain body cracks, and eventually the trap fails. We see this constantly in older neighbourhoods. Replacement with modern ABS or PVC drain assemblies eliminates the corrosion problem permanently.
One of the most common calls we get in North Bay is "my basement smells like sewer." The cause is almost always a floor drain trap that has dried out because the drain isn't used regularly. This is especially common in spare basements, seasonal properties, and homes where the basement is only used for storage. The quick fix is water in the trap — but if the trap is cracked or corroded, it needs replacement.
When North Bay temperatures drop below -25°C — a regular occurrence from December through February — garage floor drains are vulnerable to freezing. The trap water turns to ice, blocking drainage and potentially cracking the trap or drain line. We install freeze-resistant floor drains in garages and advise on using RV antifreeze in existing traps to prevent freeze damage through the winter months.
Restaurants and food service businesses in downtown North Bay are required to have floor drains in kitchen and prep areas. These drains deal with grease, food particles, and heavy water volume daily. Without regular cleaning — monthly at minimum — grease accumulates in the trap and drain line, causing slow drainage and eventually complete blockages. We provide scheduled maintenance for commercial floor drains.
The Ontario Building Code requires trap primers on floor drains that don't receive regular water flow — which includes most basement floor drains. A trap primer is a device that automatically adds a small amount of water to the trap each time a nearby fixture is used, preventing the trap from drying out. Many older North Bay homes were built before this requirement and lack trap primers, leading to recurring sewer gas problems.
We believe in transparent pricing. Here's what floor drain services typically cost — and what factors affect the price.
The most common cause is a dried-out floor drain trap. Every floor drain has a U-shaped trap that holds water to block sewer gases. If the drain isn't used regularly, the water evaporates and sewer gas rises into your home. Pour a litre of water down the drain every few months. If the smell persists, the trap may be cracked or you may need a trap primer installed.
A new floor drain installation in North Bay typically costs between $500 and $1,500. This includes concrete cutting, connecting to the existing drain line, installing a proper P-trap, and patching the concrete. The price depends on the distance to the nearest drain line, slab depth, and whether backflow prevention is required.
Yes. Garage floor drains and drains in unheated spaces are vulnerable to freezing when North Bay temperatures drop below -25°C. Frozen trap water blocks drainage and can crack the trap or pipe. Add RV antifreeze to traps in unheated garages before winter, or consider a freeze-resistant drain installation.
If your basement floor drain connects to the municipal sewer and sits below street level — which applies to most North Bay basements — a backflow preventer is strongly recommended and may be required by the Ontario Building Code. It stops sewage from backing up through your drain during heavy rain or spring melt sewer surges.
We recommend cleaning basement floor drains at least once a year — ideally before spring melt season. Commercial kitchen floor drains should be cleaned monthly. Laundry room floor drains every 6 months. Regular cleaning prevents blockages and ensures the drain works when you need it most.
If the cast iron drain is heavily corroded, pitted, or cracked, replacement is the better investment. Patching corroded cast iron is temporary — the corrosion keeps spreading. Many older homes in West Ferris and downtown North Bay have original cast iron drains from the 1950s-60s reaching end of life. We replace them with modern ABS or PVC that won't corrode.