Basement Flood Prevention for Newmarket Homes

Topic

basement flood prevention

For

Newmarket homeowners

Need a hand?

(365) 990-3021

The reason it counts

Water reaches basements in two broad ways. Surface and ground water pushes in through foundation cracks or rises around the footings. Sewer water can also back up through floor drains when the municipal system is overloaded during heavy rain. Each needs its own defence, and a home in Newmarket can face both in the same week of April.

A flooded basement means wet drywall, spoiled storage, mould risk and sometimes damaged furnaces and heaters. Insurance claims for water damage can also affect future coverage, which is one more reason to prevent rather than repair. Older subdivisions and newer builds alike can be caught out, because the causes are as much about soil, slope and storm timing as about the age of the house.

Steps, in order

1. Walk the outside. Soil around the foundation should slope away from the house. Settled garden beds and sunken window wells are common culprits.
2. Extend the downspouts. Discharge roof water well clear of the foundation, onto ground that drains away. Keep gutters free of leaves, especially after autumn.
3. Look after the sump. If you have a sump pit, test the pump each spring and keep the discharge line clear and pointed away from the house.
4. Consider a backwater valve. Installed on the main sewer line, it closes when sewage tries to flow back toward the house.
5. Raise valuables. Store boxes on shelves or in plastic bins, not on the floor.
6. Know your shut-offs. Make sure everyone knows where the main water valve is.

Indoor checks

• Inspect the floor drain and its cover for debris.
• Check washing machine hoses for bulges or cracks.
• Look under sinks for slow drips that soak cabinets unseen.
• Note any new hairline cracks in poured walls after the frost leaves the ground.

A battery backup pump is worth thinking about if storms often knock out power on your street. For more on the sewer side, our circular on backwater valves and town programs explains how those valves work.

Ringing for help

Call us if your floor drain gurgles or rises during rain, if the sump pump runs constantly or not at all, or if you want a backwater valve fitted. We install backwater valves and battery backup pumps, and we can camera the sewer line to check if roots or a belly in the pipe are part of the problem. Renovations below grade usually involve a permit, explained in our circular on plumbing permits. Owners in Nobleton and other homes on septic face a different backup risk, which we are happy to talk through.