Basement Flood Prevention in Burlington

When you need basement flood prevention

The best time is before water arrives. The second best is right after a close call: a damp corner after a downpour, a floor drain that gurgled during a storm, or a neighbour down the street pumping out. If you are finishing a basement, buying an older house, or simply noticed your sump pump running constantly last spring, a methodical review is worth the hour it takes.

How the job is done

Basement water comes from three main places: groundwater through the foundation, surface water from the lot, and sewage backing up from the municipal sewer. We look at each one.

1. Outside. Downspouts, their extensions, and the grade around the house. Water should run away from the walls, not pool against them.
2. The sump system. Pump condition, check valve, discharge route, float operation and whether a backup exists.
3. The sewer connection. Whether a backwater valve is installed, and if so, whether it is accessible and clean.
4. Inside drains. Floor drains, laundry standpipes and any basement fixtures below street sewer level.
5. The lateral. A camera inspection where root intrusion or breaks are suspected.

You get a written list of what we saw, ranked by how much risk each item carries.

Burlington homes and this work

The August 2014 storm flooded thousands of Burlington basements, many of them through sewer backup rather than groundwater. Older neighbourhoods built before backwater valves were routine were hit hard, and some of those houses still have none. Since then, Halton Region has run subsidy programs that cover part of the cost of certain protective work for eligible homes. Rules change, so check the current terms or read our letter on plumbing permits in Burlington for the permit side of things.

What affects the scope

• Whether the review leads to small fixes, such as a downspout extension, or larger ones like a new valve
• The age and material of the sewer lateral
• Finished basement surfaces that need protecting during any work
• Permit and inspection requirements for backwater valves and drain changes

Before we arrive

Take a walk around the outside of your house after the next rain and note where water collects. Find your sump pit, main cleanout and floor drains, and clear a path to each. Old photos or records of past water problems help us a great deal.

Order of work

When several items need attention, we suggest starting with the cheapest fixes that carry the most risk, such as downspouts and a failing pump, before larger jobs like a valve or lateral repair.