Flood protection
Sump pump installation and repair in Toronto
A sump pump only matters during the worst storm of the year. That’s why the installation details, from the check valve to where the water goes, decide whether your basement stays dry.
or dial (365) 363-3352Answered day and night
- A sealed sump pit sized for the pump, with a lid
- A pump matched to how much water your foundation drains collect
- A check valve so pumped water doesn’t fall back into the pit
- Discharge onto your own lawn or garden, well away from the foundation, never toward…
A price before we startNothing cut or opened until you say yes.
- Licensed & insureddetails confirmed on the call
- Phones answered 24/7a person, not a queue
- Price before we startcall-out rate on the phone
- Old Toronto & East Yorkhouses, condos, businesses
Does your home need a sump pump?
A sump pump collects water from the drains around your foundation and pumps it outside. Many older Toronto homes were built with their foundation drains (weeping tiles) connected straight into the sewer. In heavy storms, that sewer can back up into those same drains. Cutting the weeping tiles off the sewer and pumping that water out with a sump is one of the main ways to reduce basement flooding.
Toronto has run a basement flooding subsidy program that can cover part of the cost of this work, subject to its rules.
Signs you need sump pumps
- Water at the floor drain after heavy rain
- Sump pump cycling every few minutes
- Damp walls along the foundation
- Neighbours on the street flooded before
- Finished basement with no backwater valve
What a good installation includes
- A sealed sump pit sized for the pump, with a lid
- A pump matched to how much water your foundation drains collect
- A check valve so pumped water doesn’t fall back into the pit
- Discharge onto your own lawn or garden, well away from the foundation, never toward a neighbour or onto a walkway that will ice up
- A high-water alarm
- A battery backup or second pump, since the worst storms are often the ones that knock out power
Sump pump repair
Pumps fail when the float switch sticks, the motor burns out or the pit fills with debris. If your pump runs constantly, switches on and off rapidly or hums without pumping, call before the next storm. We check the switch, the non-return valve and the outlet pipe, and replace the pump if it’s worn.
Test it twice a year
Each spring and fall, fill the pit slowly with a pail of water. A healthy pump kicks on, drains it and stops without help. If it doesn’t, call us.
On the job, step by step
- 1Find the entry point
Floor drain, cracks, sump pit and discharge line checked in order.
- 2Open the floor
Concrete saw-cut around the drain line, pipe exposed to the stack.
- 3Install the hardware
Backwater valve or sump basin set to grade, check valve on the discharge.
- 4Pour and test
Floor patched, pump run with a bucket test, cover access left clear.
Questions we get about sump pumps
What lifespan should I expect from a sump pump?
Seven to ten years is typical, and pumps that cycle constantly fall at the short end. A pump that works hard every wet season will wear out sooner.
Can my sump pump discharge into the sewer?
Discharge is normally directed onto the ground on your own property, not into the sanitary sewer. The City’s rules on where sump water can go are part of any permit or subsidy application, and we follow them.
Do I need a backwater valve as well?
Often, yes. A sump pump handles groundwater; a backwater valve stops sewage flowing back into the house. Many Toronto homes benefit from both.
Storm on the way? Call to check your pump.
A plumber answers day and night, and the call-out rate is quoted before anyone drives over.