Signs you need this fixed
- Check flap bangs each cycle
- Carpet edge damp after a thunderstorm
- Floor drain bubbling up during rain
- Float wedged on the liner wall
Do you need a sump pump?
Not every house needs one. A sump pump makes sense when weeping tile around the foundation drains to a pit instead of the sewer, when your basement has taken water through the floor or the base of the walls, or when you are disconnecting the weeping tile from the sanitary sewer to reduce backup risk. Many Toronto homes built before the 1980s have weeping tile tied into the sewer lateral. During a big storm, that connection can bring sewer water back toward the foundation.
Pit, pump and check valve
- Pit. A sealed plastic liner set into the floor, deep enough to hold the pump with room for water to collect.
- Pump. A submersible unit with a cast housing lasts longer than a pedestal type and runs quieter.
- Check valve. Keeps the column of water in the outlet pipe from dropping back after each cycle.
- Float switch. Vertical floats work best in narrow pits; tethered floats need more room.
- Dedicated outlet. On its own circuit, so a tripped breaker elsewhere does not kill the pump.
Where the discharge should go
Pumped water must go outside onto your own property, well away from the foundation, and flow over ground toward the street or a garden. It cannot go into the sanitary sewer. A discharge too close to the wall just cycles back into the weeping tile. In winter, the outside line should drain freely so it does not freeze and block.
Battery and water-powered backups
Big storms and blackouts often show up on the same night. A battery-run second pump waits next to the first and kicks in during a blackout. Water-powered backups use city water pressure to run, with no battery to replace, but use a fair amount of water. We help you pick the right type for your house and test it before we leave.
What is included on the visit
Tools on the truck
- Camera for the weeping tile and lateral
- Submersible pump and check valve
- Wet vac and floor squeegee
What we open
Sump lid, the backwater valve access cap or the floor drain
How we test it
Hose water into the pit until the switch trips, twice
How the job runs
Ring the line
Say what is dripping, backing up or banging. Water still flowing? We guide your hand to the valve first.
Find the cause
The plumber traces the fault, with a scope or gauge where one earns its keep.
Pick the fix
Options come in everyday language, and nothing starts until you choose.
Repair & prove it
We finish, run the water to prove it, wipe up and leave a short written record.
Calls we field, answered plainly
How long does installation take?
Usually one full day for a new pit, including cutting the floor, setting the liner and running the discharge outside.
Does a sump pump need a permit in Toronto?
Disconnecting weeping tile and installing a pump is plumbing work that typically needs a permit. We handle the application.