Backwater Valve Installation and Services
Flooded basement or drain backed up? It's time to get a backwater valve installed. OnJuly 8th, 2013great chunks of the Greater Toronto Area were hit by a massive storm, which lead to +100mm of rain and great amounts of flooding and water related damage. This day will always be remembered as it caused great chaos for many homeowners, business owners and municipality as water levels began to rise. Not only was the water causing massive damage but so did its side effects, one being lose of power. The lose of power also contributed to great amounts of water damage and lower elevations homes in Toronto and other areas lost the ability to remove the ground waters via the use of Sump Pump's which rely on external power supply.
The storm that took place on 8th of July, 2013 contributed to $850 million (CAD) worth of property damage. This flash flooding is one of the costliest natural disasters for the province according to information fromInsurance Bureau of Canada. The flash flooding was the initiator of great amounts of problems and damages, but the root of the problem was the Toronto Sewage system. With so much water the sewage system was overwhelmed by the massive amount of water flushing truth it, this lead to the system backing up and the excess pressure being released into residential and commercial drain pipes, causing basement flooding. This led to millions of damage and massive repair efforts to structures and to prevent spread and damage by fungi/mold from the sewage water and water damaged surrounding.
In the end this could all have been prevented, but we do not always look into the future and never know what is waiting for us. The way this could have been prevented is by installing a Backwater Valve. A rather simple device, but homes or businesses with Backwater Valve could have escaped the massive chaos that occurred on the 8th of July.
July 8th, 2013 was a turning point that taught many municipalities that homeowners and businesses should get Backwater Valves installed or to assure that there Backwater Valve is working properly. The July 8th, 2013 flash flooding of Toronto and surrounding Greater Toronto Areas also gave way to a Subsidy Program launched by local municipalities.The City of Toronto subsidy program subsidises 80% of Backwater Valve installation and other Backwater Valve related services, adding up-to $1,250 (CAD) dollars worth of rebate from City of Toronto. Meanwhile Region of Peel subsidy programprovides up-to $700 (CAD) dollars worth of rebate. Unfortunately Region of Peel subsidy program is only available until Dec 31st, 2015.
In the end you may ask "So what is this Backwater Valve thing and how does it work?". Well to put it into simple terms a Backwater Valve is a one way valve. It allows water to go out from the home or business drain system, and does not allow water to get back in. So during the July 8th, 2013 flash flooding the Backwater Valve would have denied the ability of the water from the City sewage system to enter homes and businesses, but would have allowed any access water to leave your home or business, preventing that chaotic flooding and property damage. When homes or businesses don't have Backwater Valve installed or there Backwater Valve is not properly operating or may be damaged it can lead to a lot of problems. One problem being that instead of your drain system being a one way road, it now becomes a two way road. Where the water can come in and out.
When the sewage pressure is massive do to heavy amounts of sewage and water the pressure needs to go somewhere, and because you have a two way road its going to take one path. This leads to flooding in most cases truth sewage backup from a toilet or any other drain system like floor drain. This is why it's highly beneficial to have a Backwater Valve and be safe from sewage backup and water/sewage flooding.
Our plumbing technicians are highly skilled people and most importantly homeowners as well, with that said they understand the need of having a Backwater Valve and its benefits. You can always ask us or our plumbers about Backwater Valves and should you choose to have a Backwater Valve installed or services you can rest assured that your Backwater Valve installation or service is behind done by a highly trained professionals who have done the job numerous times.
Give us a call and we will be more than happy to answer any question you may have about Backwater Valves and schedule for a plumber to install or service your Backwater Valve should you choose to do so.
