Plumbing, Heating & Drainage in Surrey, BC

Flowest Plumbing is a family-owned team serving homes and businesses across Surrey, BC, from Guildford and Fleetwood through to Newton, Whalley and South Surrey. Backed by over 30 years of plumbing experience, we know the older cast-iron lines in Whalley and the newer builds out in South Surrey alike, and we show up ready to fix the problem right the first time.

We handle the full range of plumbing, drainage, heating and renovation work for both residential and commercial or strata properties. Whether it is a clogged Surrey drain, a leaking water line, a failing hot water tank or a full bathroom renovation, we cover it, and we are available 24/7 for emergencies when a burst pipe or backed-up drain will not wait until morning.

Surrey's six communities

The City of Surrey is made up of six communities: Whalley (City Centre), Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, Cloverdale and South Surrey. We work in all six. The City describes Whalley as one of Surrey's oldest neighbourhoods and Fleetwood as its newest town centre, and the plumbing reflects that spread: older homes where supply lines, shut-off valves and sewer lines are getting on in years, alongside newer builds where the work is more often a basement suite, an added bathroom or a tankless water heater.

If you are in Cloverdale, our Cloverdale page goes into that community in more detail. If you are on the Semiahmoo Peninsula, our White Rock and South Surrey page covers the peninsula, including the differences between the two cities.

Do you need a plumbing permit in Surrey?

For anything beyond a straight repair, usually yes. The City of Surrey's plumbing bylaw requires a permit before a plumbing system is built, altered, extended or replaced. The City's own list of exceptions is short:

• Repairing a leak in a pipe.
• Replacing a plumbing fixture, as long as the new fixture and its installation meet Surrey's bylaws and the Plumbing Code.
• Clearing a blocked sewer or water pipe, as long as the pipe is only being cleaned out and nobody has to cut into the sewer or drain pipe.

What a permit means for your job

In practice, a leaking pipe, a worn-out toilet or a blocked drain can usually be dealt with straight away. A basement suite, a bathroom moved to a new spot, or new lines for a kitchen renovation needs a permit and an inspection before the walls close. We tell you which side of that line your job falls on before we start, so the work does not get held up at inspection.

Your sewer line: where your responsibility stops

In Surrey, property owners are responsible for the sanitary sewer service connection up to the property line, and the City looks after the sewer main beyond it. So if roots or a damaged section are blocking the pipe inside your lot, the repair is yours, and if the problem is in the City's main, it is the City's. A camera inspection shows where the blockage actually is before anyone digs. The City also asks homeowners to do a few simple things that keep a service line healthy:

• Keep fats, oils and grease out of the drain. Wipe pans with a paper towel and put it in the compost.
• Avoid planting trees or large shrubs over the sewer service line. Roots work their way in through joints and cracks.
• Keep your inspection chamber uncovered and accessible. The City asks homeowners not to bury it.

Water meters make a hidden leak cost money

Most Surrey houses are now on a water meter. In July 2025 the City reported that 78% of single-family homes were already metered, and it launched a rebate pilot to help the remaining flat-rate homes switch. On a meter you pay for the water you use, so a toilet that keeps running or a slow leak under a slab shows up on the bill.

A quick check: turn off every tap and every appliance that uses water, then look at the meter. If it is still moving, water is going somewhere, and that is worth tracking down before it does damage as well as cost money.

Water pressure across 30 pressure zones

Surrey's drinking water comes from Metro Vancouver's Capilano, Seymour and Coquitlam reservoirs. The City's own distribution system is the most extensive in British Columbia, about 1,876 kilometres of watermain in 2023, and it is divided into 30 pressure zones, so the pressure arriving at the street can differ noticeably from one neighbourhood to the next.

Inside the house, a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) where the water line comes in keeps pressure in a safe range for fixtures and appliances. Banging pipes, a toilet that will not stop running, or a relief valve dripping on the water heater can all point to pressure that is too high, and a worn PRV is a common cause. Low pressure in just one part of the house can come from a partly closed valve, a clogged aerator or fixture cartridge, or ageing pipe, and is worth checking room by room.

Helpful reading

• Plumbing in Cloverdale
• Plumbing in White Rock and South Surrey
• Why is my drain gurgling? 5 common causes
• How to shut off your water main in an emergency
• What does it cost to replace a hot water tank in BC?

Sources

• City of Surrey: Our Communities
• City of Surrey: Plumbing Permits
• City of Surrey: Sanitary Sewer Maintenance for Property Owners
• City of Surrey: Water meter pilot program (July 2025)
• City of Surrey: Water System Annual Report 2023 (PDF)

Our services in Surrey

Neighbourhoods we cover

We serve homes and businesses throughout Surrey, including Guildford, Fleetwood, Newton, South Surrey, Whalley and the surrounding areas.