Plumbing explainer
Basement flooding prevention
Basement flooding in Toronto arrives from two directions. Sewage can push back up through floor drains when the city sewer is overloaded, and groundwater can seep through walls and floors when the soil around the house is saturated.
- Backwater valve with access lid
- Downspouts away from the wall
- Sump pump tested each spring
- Floor drains clear and trapped
Questions? Call(365) 517-7215. A plumber picks up, day or night.
- Open 24/7. Phone answered every hour, holidays too.
- Licensed & insured. Trade licence details given on request.
- Shown before cut. You see the fault and the plan first.
- Gas by gas techs. Licensed gas technicians on gas heaters.
Sewer backup protection
- A mainline backwater valve stops sewer water from coming back into the house.
- It needs a permit and has to be installed in the right spot on the building drain so that every fixture is upstream.
- Keep the floor drain clear and make sure the cleanout is reachable rather than buried under a finished floor.
Groundwater and the weeping tile
- Older houses often had downspouts connected to the weeping tile around the foundation, which sends roof water straight to the footings.
- Disconnecting them and sending the water well out past the flower beds lowers the load.
- A sump pit and pump give groundwater somewhere to go other than your carpet.
Grading and window wells
- Soil should slope away from the house.
- Window wells need covers or drains, and driveways that slope toward the garage need a trench drain that actually flows.
City programs
- Toronto has offered homeowners a subsidy covering backwater valves, sump pumps and downspout disconnection.
- Programs change, so check the current eligibility and paperwork before you sign a contract.
Close the main valve first, phone second.