When you need it
Consider a backwater valve if:
- Your basement floor drain has backed up during a heavy storm
- Neighbours on your street have reported sewer backups
- A rec room or rental suite is planned downstairs
- Your insurer has asked about flood protection
- A camera inspection is already planned and the line is exposed
How we do the job
- We confirm the main drain route with a camera and locate the best spot inside the foundation wall.
- A permit is arranged with the City of Brampton, since this is drain work below the floor.
- The slab is cut and the main line exposed.
- A normally open valve is set level in the line, with an access cover at floor height.
- The trench is backfilled, inspected and the floor patched.
What affects the work
The depth of the main line under the slab, the floor finish above it, and whether other fixtures tie in downstream all change the scope. Any fixture connected between the valve and the street is not protected, so we sometimes reroute a floor drain or laundry line. Homes with weeping tiles connected to the sanitary sewer may also need a sump pump, since the valve will block those tiles from draining while closed.
Brampton specifics
Brampton's sanitary system belongs to the Region of Peel. During intense rain, water can enter sewers through cracks and illegal connections faster than they can carry it away, and the lowest basements get the overflow. The Region has offered subsidies toward backwater valves and related work; our subsidy guide explains how to check the current program before you start. After the install, a little routine care keeps it working, as covered in caring for a backwater valve.
Living with the valve
During a storm, with the flap shut, hold off on using water. Anything you drain just sits in the pipe until the street level falls and the flap lifts again. Most of the time you will never notice it is there.
Asked at the shop counter
Is a permit part of this job?
Yes. Brampton requires a plumbing permit, and the work is inspected before the floor is closed.
Will it stop all basement water?
It stops sewer backflow. Groundwater seepage and surface water need other measures, such as a sump pump and grading.
How often should it be checked?
Lift the lid each spring and fall, and again after a severe storm.
Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.