In short
- The City of Ottawa says homes built before 1955 may have a lead water service pipe.
- Knob-and-tube wiring was used into the 1950s, and ESA says insurers may require an upgrade.
- Health Canada: asbestos was mainly used for insulation before 1990; hire a professional to test before renovating.
- A HomeStars guide adds $1,500 to $5,000 for moving bathroom plumbing, more in older homes with cast-iron or copper pipe.
- City rebates for backwater valves and sump pumps apply to houses built before 2004 (storm) or 2012 (sanitary).
Typical prices in Ottawa
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Moving plumbing in a bathroom | $1,500–$5,000 | HomeStars Ottawa bathroom guide; more with old cast-iron or copper pipe |
| Basement waterproofing and insulation | $5,000–$15,000 | HomeStars Ottawa basement guide |
| Lead pipe, private-side replacement rebate | up to $1,000 | City of Ottawa; about 20% of the pipe cost |
| Indoor backwater valve rebate | up to $1,000 | City of Ottawa; sanitary or storm |
Sources. HomeStars, Bathroom Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa and 2026 Basement Renovation Cost Guide for Ottawa, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Lead Pipe Replacement Program and partial replacement rebate, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Assessing the risk of a service line failure and Residential Protective Plumbing program, seen 29.10.2026. City of Ottawa, Projects not requiring Building Permits, seen 29.10.2026. Health Canada, Asbestos and your health and Guide for radon measurements in homes, seen 29.10.2026. Electrical Safety Authority, Episode 14, Knob & Tube Wiring, seen 29.10.2026.
What the age of the house tells you
The City of Ottawa says a service line’s lifespan may follow the age of the home, unless it was rehabilitated. Homes built before 1955 may have a lead water service. Homes built before 2004 (storm) and before 2012 (sanitary) were not required to have a backwater valve. Health Canada says asbestos was mainly used for insulation before 1990.
These facts tell the company what to ask and test, and only a test confirms a problem in your house. HomeStars notes that older homes in the Glebe, Westboro and Old Ottawa South often need panel, subfloor or structural work once opened.
Water pipes
Under the City’s program, the owner is responsible for the private portion of the water service, from the house to the shut-off valve, and the City owns the pipe from the valve to the watermain. A rebate of up to $1,000, about 20% of the cost, exists for a partial, private-only replacement. The private pipe must be lead, the public portion replaced or scheduled within two years, and the replacement needs a building permit and inspection.
Inside the house, HomeStars says moving plumbing adds $1,500 to $5,000, and more where cast-iron or copper pipe in heritage neighbourhoods such as the Glebe, Sandy Hill and Rockcliffe Park must be upgraded at the same time.
Wiring
ESA dates knob-and-tube wiring to the early twentieth century and says it was widely used until the 1950s. ESA lists the usual problems: few circuits, so large appliances share one; larger fuses fitted to stop blowing; and three-prong outlets fitted without grounding.
Only an electrical contracting business with an ECRA/ESA licence can be hired for this work, and the 7-digit ECRA/ESA licence number is the check. Tell your insurer about the wiring; some insurers require an upgrade. HomeStars puts basement electrical upgrades, panel and new circuits, at $1,500 to $5,000.
Asbestos and old insulation
Health Canada lists plaster, floor and ceiling tiles, roofing felt, drywall compounds, caulking and pipe insulation among the places asbestos can turn up in older buildings. It poses no significant health risk when left undisturbed, isolated or sealed. Drilling, sawing, sanding and scraping release fibres. Vermiculite-based attic or wall insulation may contain it.
The basement of an older house
Waterproofing and insulation add $5,000 to $15,000 to an Ottawa basement, according to HomeStars, because of freeze-thaw cycles. Damp proofing needs no City permit; structural foundation repairs and drain tile replacement do. Radon testing belongs before finishing: Health Canada counts a basement renovated to add a bedroom as an occupied space. For the full sequence see basement finishing and basement moisture and insulation.
Heritage buildings
The City’s permit exemptions do not apply to designated heritage buildings or to buildings in a heritage district overlay. The permits page has the rest of the City rules.
Budget and checks
HomeStars recommends a contingency of 10 to 15% in its guides and notes that older homes show more once the walls open. The hiring checklist names the registers for electricians and plumbers.
Who opens the walls
One independent company gets your request from the Desk and decides what to test and open once it has seen the house. This page sets out published facts, and only the visit shows what your walls hold.
Questions to ask the company
- Do you test for asbestos before opening walls or old floor tile?
- Which electrical contracting business will assess the existing wiring, and what is its ESA licence number?
- What do you do when a wall opens and the framing or pipe differs from what you expected?
- Does the quote leave old work as found or bring it to current code?
- How does the contingency work if the house surprises us?
Have this ready for the call
- The year the house was built and any earlier renovations you know of
- Whether the house is heritage-designated
- Photos of the electrical panel, the water entry and the basement ceiling
- Your insurer's wording on wiring and pipe age
Questions people ask
How do I find out if my house has a lead water pipe?
The City of Ottawa says older homes, such as those built before 1955, may have a lead water service, and its Lead Pipe Replacement Program has a page on how to tell. Owners are responsible for the private portion up to the shut-off valve. The program page also carries a request form for lead water testing.
Is knob-and-tube wiring a reason to rewire during a renovation?
ESA says knob-and-tube can be safe if properly installed and maintained, but it becomes a problem as newer wiring is mixed in and the insulation deteriorates. It also tells owners to inform their insurer, and some insurers require an upgrade. An electrical contractor holding an ECRA/ESA licence can assess it before the walls close.
What should I do if I think there is asbestos?
Health Canada says materials left undisturbed, sealed behind walls or in good condition pose no significant risk. It advises hiring a professional to test before renovating, and a qualified specialist to remove it if found. Leave suspect material alone until it is tested: sanding, drilling or scraping it can release fibres.
My house was built in 1965. Can I get a City rebate?
Under the Residential Protective Plumbing program, a house built before 1 January 2004 qualifies for a storm backwater valve rebate, and before 1 January 2012 for a sanitary valve. Rebates cover new devices only, repairs and replacements of existing ones earn nothing, and the work needs a building permit.
