Basement and secondary suite renovations in Nanaimo and across Vancouver Island need plumbing, heating and often gas work, and Waywest Mechanical provides all three. Services include below-grade bathrooms with slab drains or sewage ejector pumps, laundry rooms, suite kitchens, added hot water capacity, separate shut-offs, and ductless heat pumps or other heating for the suite, with permits and inspections arranged for Waywest's work.
Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM · quotes within the hour
Planning the below-grade work
Basement renovations have plumbing challenges that upstairs rooms do not. Drains may sit below the sewer, the slab has to be cut to run new lines, and there is often a water heater, furnace or sump pump already in the space. Planning the mechanical layout first keeps the finished rooms where you want them — not where the pipes force them.
Waywest handles the plumbing, heating and gas for basement developments and suites, working with homeowners and their renovation contractors.
What we install
- Basement bathrooms — slab drains, venting, showers, toilets and vanities — see bathroom renovations
- Sewage ejector pumps for fixtures below the sewer line
- Laundry rooms — washer boxes, laundry sinks and dryer gas lines
- Suite kitchens — sinks, dishwashers and gas or electric range connections
- Hot water — larger tanks, second tanks or tankless water heaters
- Separate shut-off valves so each unit can be isolated
- Heating for the suite — ductless mini-splits, extended ductwork or hydronic zones
- Sump pits and pumps — see sump pumps
Check the sewer before you plan
We start basement projects by measuring how deep the building sewer leaves the house and running a camera inspection. That tells us whether new fixtures can drain by gravity, whether an ejector pump is needed, and whether an old clay or cast-iron line should be dealt with before the new floor goes down.
Legal secondary suites
A permitted suite in Nanaimo and other Island municipalities has requirements that go beyond the plumbing, including fire separation and, in some cases, sprinklers. Your designer or the municipality confirms the full list. We make sure the plumbing, gas and heating we install meet code and pass inspection, and we can advise on fire protection where it is required.
Owners building to rent
If the suite is an income property, durable fixtures, accessible shut-offs, enough hot water and a heating system the tenant controls all reduce calls later. For multi-unit buildings, see multi-family & rental suite plumbing.
Service area
Basement and suite renovation plumbing and heating in Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Duncan and across Vancouver Island.
What happens when you call
- A person answers
You talk to the Nanaimo office, or our own crew on the 24/7 line — not a call centre.
- You hear the rate first
We explain the service rate, or the emergency rate after hours, before anyone is booked or dispatched.
- A licensed technician arrives
A Waywest technician with a stocked vehicle diagnoses the problem and explains your options.
- You approve the work
Repairs go ahead once you agree. Larger jobs get a written quote you can take time to consider.
Quick facts
- Emergency service
- 24/7 at 250-616-1446 — typically on site within an hour in Nanaimo
- Office hours
- Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–4:30 PM, 250-729-2394
- Service area
- Nanaimo and Vancouver Island, Victoria to Port Hardy
- Licensing
- TSBC licence LGA0004592; licensed, bonded and insured
- Quotes
- Reply within the hour during business hours
- Page updated
Common questions
Can a bathroom be added to a basement below the sewer line?
Yes. If the basement floor is deep enough above the sewer connection, fixtures can drain by gravity through lines cut into the slab. If the fixtures sit below the sewer line, a sewage ejector pump lifts waste up to it. Waywest measures the depth of the sewer and inspects it with a camera before you plan the layout.
Does a secondary suite need its own hot water tank?
Not always, but an existing tank sized for one household often runs short once a second kitchen, bathroom and laundry are added. Options include a larger tank, a second tank for the suite, or a tankless water heater. Waywest sizes hot water for both units.
What is the best way to heat a basement suite?
A ductless mini-split heat pump is a common choice because it gives the suite its own heating and cooling and thermostat without new ductwork. Extending an existing forced-air or hydronic system is another option, depending on the house. Eligible heat pumps may qualify for rebates.
Need this sorted out?
Call the Nanaimo office and talk to someone who can tell you what the work involves and when we can get to it.