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A metal drainpipe against a striped wall

A One-Way Gate on Your Main Drain

Backwater Valve Installation for Newmarket Homes

During a heavy storm the municipal sewer can surcharge, pushing sewage back up the house lateral and out the lowest drain. A backwater valve closes automatically and keeps it out of your basement.

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  • Options explained before anything is cut or replaced
  • Parts for common repairs carried on the van
  • Older Main Street homes and newer subdivisions alike
  • Floors covered and the work area wiped down after
  • Licensed trade plumbers
  • 7-day call line
  • Newmarket & York Region
  • Residential & commercial
Service
Backwater Valve Installation
Category
Drains and sewers
Where
Newmarket and nearby York Region
Booking
By telephone

Clues that point to backwater valve installation

  • Your basement has had a sewer backup before.
  • Neighbours report backups during big storms.
  • You are finishing or renovating the basement.
  • Your insurer has asked about backflow protection.

Our method, in order

We fit a normally-open backwater valve, which lets water flow out freely and closes only when water tries to flow back. Unlike older flap gates that closed constantly, a normally-open valve does not interfere with venting or everyday drainage.

  1. Camera the main drain to find a straight section with good access, downstream of all fixtures where possible.
  2. Cut and remove the concrete floor in a neat rectangle.
  3. Cut out a section of the main drain and install the valve body level, with a removable cover reaching the finished floor.
  4. Arrange inspection with the Town, since a permit is required.
  5. Backfill, pour new concrete and leave a clear access lid.

Bench note

While the valve is closed, water you use in the house has no way out. During a storm, keep laundry, dishwasher and long showers to a minimum.

Newmarket houses and this job

The Town of Newmarket has run a subsidy program for backwater valves and related flood protection work. Programs like this change over time, so check the current terms with the Town before work starts; some require pre-approval. Our circular on the subsidy sets out what to look for.

Older homes sometimes have weeping tile connected into the sanitary drain. A backwater valve placed in the wrong spot could then hold back foundation water against the house. Part of our assessment is working out what drains where, and occasionally the right answer includes a sump pit as well.

Looking after the valve

  • Lift the cover twice a year or so and check the flap moves freely.
  • Clear any debris caught near the seat.
  • Keep the access lid visible, not under carpet or furniture.

Booking an assessment

Call and we will camera the drain, look at the floor and explain where the valve would go and why.

Phoned-in questions

Will a backwater valve stop every kind of flooding?

It protects against sewer backup through the drain. It does not stop groundwater seepage or overland flooding, which need other measures.

Can I install one in a finished basement?

Yes. We cut a small area of floor and leave an access lid that can sit flush with the finished surface.

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