From the Archive: Keeping It Dry
Preventing Basement Flooding in Oakville
Most basement floods start outside the house or in the sewer. A handful of upgrades and habits stop the majority of them.
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Summary
Move roof water away from the foundation, keep the sump pump healthy with a backup, add a backwater valve, and know the difference between sewer, groundwater and surface flooding.
A step-by-step defence
- Downspouts. Run the extensions out two metres or more so roof water lands on ground that slopes away. Oakville and many Ontario municipalities have encouraged disconnecting downspouts from the sewer where it is safe to do so.
- Grading. Soil should fall away from the walls. Low spots and window wells collect water.
- Sump pump. Test it each spring and fall. Add a battery backup for power outages.
- Backwater valve. Halts sewage from flowing back into the basement during heavy storms. See backwater valve installation.
- Floor drain. Keep it clear and the trap filled with water.
- Storage. Keep valuables off the floor in waterproof bins.
Halton Region and the Town of Oakville have offered subsidies for some flood protection work. Check the current program terms before you start.
Keep this kit by the main shut-off
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Bucket and old towels
- Adjustable wrench and slip-joint pliers
- Flange plunger for toilets, cup plunger for sinks
- Label on the main valve so anyone can find it
Mistakes we see
- Installing a backwater valve but never checking or cleaning it.
- Sump discharge pipes that dump water right back against the foundation.
- Covering the floor drain under flooring during a renovation.
- Assuming home insurance covers every type of flood. Coverage for sewer backup and overland water is often separate.
Stop and phone a plumber when
- 1A ceiling or wall starts dripping
- 2More than one drain backs up at once
- 3You smell gas or sewage indoors
- 4A valve will not turn or drips when touched
When to talk to a plumber
If water has entered once, it will try again. Book a visit to inspect the sump system and drain, and consider a camera inspection. Our flood types guide helps you describe what happened.
Straight answers to common calls
Does a backwater valve stop groundwater?
No. It stops sewer backflow. Groundwater is handled by weeping tile and the sump pump.
Is basement flooding covered by insurance?
It depends on the policy and the type of water. Read your coverage and ask your broker.
Keep reading
- Backwater Valve Installation in Oakville
A summer storm overloads the sewer and it pushes back toward your basement.
- Battery Backup Sump Pump in Oakville
The storm knocks out the power at exactly the moment the sump pit fills.
- Sewer Backup vs Overland Flooding
Water in the basement is bad news either way.
- Basement Flood Plumbing Response in Oakville
Water across the basement floor.
Ready when you are
One call books the visit. Tell us what you are seeing and we will tell you straight what it likely is.