Protect your home from basement flooding!
The basements of homes flood for a variety of reasons and often at the worst possible times. One of the keys to preventing basement flooding is understanding the home’s position with relation to the sewer system that serves the home and surrounding properties.
With increasingly severe weather, property owners are encouraged to take appropriate action to reduce their risk of basement flooding. To that end, the City of Toronto offers a financial subsidy program to assist owners of single-family, duplex and triplex residential homes in installing the protection devices necessary to minimize the risk of basement flooding.
All installations are to be performed in consultation with a certified plumber who is fully licensed by the City of Toronto.
Plumbing Services Eligible for the Subsidy
Property owners who engage a qualified plumber licensed by the City of Toronto and carry out the proper installation of the following items are eligible for the subsidy:
Backwater valves – in some situations such as flood-prone regions, a backwater valve can provide sufficient basement flooding protection. The available subsidy equals 80% of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $1,250 including labour, materials, permits, and taxes.
Sump pumps – many homes require a sump pump to manage the water that normally collects in the basement due to runoff, seepage, and other reasons. A sump pump is used to pull the collected water out of the basement and drain it into the storm sewer instead. The available subsidy equals 80% of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $1,750 including labour, materials, permits, and taxes.
Combination backwater valve and sump pump installation – many homes benefit from the combined installation of a backwater valve and sump pump. In those instances, the available subsidy equals 80% of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $2,800 including labour, materials, permits, and taxes.
Pipe severance and capping – in some situations, disconnecting foundation drains and capping the underground sewer connection pipe is necessary to entirely stop basement flooding. In those instances, the available subsidy equals 80% of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $400 including labour, materials, permits, and taxes.
Homeowners are encouraged to consult with licensed plumbers who guarantee their work and offer maintenance and inspection services in addition to installation services. Further, backwater valves and sump pumps must be inspected and properly maintained in order to ensure optimal performance year-over-year.
Subsidy Eligibility and Application Requirements
The City of Toronto will determine the eligibility of subsidies based on the following requirements:
The property must be registered as a single-family, duplex or triplex within the City of Toronto
Only existing homes are eligible
The property must have its downspouts properly disconnected from the city sewer system, where possible
The plumber must be currently licensed by the City of Toronto and hired to install a backwater valve, a sump pump or to perform severance and capping
Proper building permits must be obtained and inspections performed
The installation must be completed before applying for the subsidy
The invoices must show a cost breakdown and clearly marked ‘paid in full’
Further subsidy requirements and steps to apply for the subsidy can be reviewed at this site.
About the author
This article is authored by the content management team at Adrian Plumbing – a fully licensed and qualified Toronto plumbing services provider experienced with backwater valve and sump pump installations as well as a range of plumbing services including drain and sewage services, pipe, toilet and faucet repairs, and more.