New-Build Plumbing and Your Tarion Warranty
New homes in Ontario come with a statutory warranty administered through Tarion. Plumbing defects fall under it for a set time. Here is how that has generally worked.
- Plain steps you can follow before calling
- What to check, what to leave alone
- When the job needs a plumber
- Milton water, weather and housing in mind
- Licensed plumbing trade
- Booked around your day
- Price agreed before work
- Phone only, no forms
2 minute read
Written for Milton homeowners doing the first look themselves.
Have handy
- Flashlight and a bucket
- Rags or old towels
- Your main shut-off located
Stop and call when
A ceiling is dripping, a drain is pushing sewage back up, or you smell gas.
The basic structure
Ontario’s new home warranty has three tiers. Details and conditions are set by the program, so always read the current terms on Tarion’s website, but the general outline has been:
| Period | Generally covers |
|---|---|
| One year | Work and materials free of defects, compliance with the building code, and the home being fit to live in. |
| Two years | Water penetration through the basement or foundation, and defects in the electrical, plumbing and heating delivery systems, among other items. |
| Seven years | Major structural defects. |
What that means for plumbing
A leaking fitting behind a wall, a drain installed without enough slope, or a sump discharge set up incorrectly may be defects the builder must fix within the relevant period. Wear and tear, damage caused by the owner and some appliances are typically excluded. Rental equipment such as a water heater is usually covered by the rental company, not the builder.
Paper trail: report defects in writing, using the forms and deadlines the program sets. Missed deadlines can cost you coverage.
Practical steps
- Keep your warranty documents and the builder’s contact information together.
- Note problems as you find them, with dates and photos.
- Submit the required forms within the windows the program sets.
- Let the builder inspect and repair covered items.
- For emergencies, stop the water first, then notify the builder.
When to call us
We will not interfere with a builder’s warranty work. We can look at a problem, explain what we see in plain terms and help you describe it in your claim. Outside the warranty, or for upgrades, we do the work. Owners in new communities such as Boyne often call us after their two-year window closes. For a failing service pipe, see water line replacement.
Questions we get asked
Who do I call first about a plumbing leak in my new home?
Stop the water, then notify your builder according to the warranty process.
Is my rented water heater covered by Tarion?
Rental equipment is usually covered by the rental company under its agreement.
Will hiring my own plumber void my warranty?
It can complicate a claim for that item. Talk to the builder or Tarion before non-emergency repairs.