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Burst pipe or backup? Close the main valve, then call.A plumber answers (365) 363-2754Call now
Ajax Plumbing Company Ajax PlumbingCompany · Durham Region
Pipes and fittings under a fixture in a tight space
Pipes and fittings under a fixture in a tight space

A flap between you and the sewer

Backwater Valve Installation in Ajax

In a severe storm the municipal sewer can surcharge. Without protection, the floor grate in your basement becomes the overflow. The valve's flap swings shut first.

  • A previous sewer backup in your basement or a neighbour's.
  • A finished basement with a floor drain and a basement bathroom.
  • You are in an older area where sewers are combined or near capacity.
  • Your insurer asks whether you have one.
Call a plumber now(365) 363-2754A plumber answers the phone
  • Licensed & insureddetails on request
  • A plumber answersnot a call centre
  • See the problem firstthen choose the fix
  • Ajax · Pickering · WhitbyDurham Region

At a glance

Category
Drains & Sewer Lines
Who it is for
Homes and basement units

Telltales that call for backwater valve installation

  • A previous sewer backup in your basement or a neighbour's.
  • A finished basement with a floor drain and a basement bathroom.
  • You are in an older area where sewers are combined or near capacity.
  • Your insurer asks whether you have one.

How we do the work

A mainline backwater valve goes in the building drain inside the house, between the last basement fixture and the sewer connection. Installing one means breaking a section of basement floor, exposing the drain, splicing the housing into the pipe dead level so the flap can move freely.

  1. Confirm location with a camera and mark the floor.
  2. Cut and remove concrete, then excavate to the pipe.
  3. Install the valve with an access cover at floor level.
  4. Backfill and pour new concrete around the access box.
  5. Arrange inspection as the permit requires.

We also check that the sump pump and downspouts do not discharge into the sanitary sewer, since a closed backwater valve would leave that water with nowhere to go but your basement.

On Ajax streets

Durham Region and its municipalities have at times offered programs to help homeowners with flood protection. Programs come and go, so confirm today's terms with the Region and the Town before you count on any subsidy. A permit is normally required for a backwater valve in Ajax.

Local tip Once installed, a backwater valve needs a look inside the access box once or twice a year. Our backwater manual explains how.

Price swings on

Floor type and thickness, depth of the drain, access and whether anything (like a bathroom) sits in the way.

Worth asking the plumber

  • Where will the access cover be?
  • Will any fixtures be on the wrong side of the valve?
  • Who arranges the permit and inspection?

Questions we hear on the phone

Can I use the toilets when the valve is closed?

Not much. While the valve is shut, house drains are effectively capped, so hold off on laundry, showers and flushing until the street drains.

Call now(365) 363-2754