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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Denver

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

100 pros in Denver

In Denver, basement flooding is often tied to the sewer system itself. The city's Flood Protection Handbook says the sanitary and stormwater sewers are interconnected in places, and some houses have downspouts, footing drains or sump pumps connected to the sanitary sewer service. In heavy rain, extra stormwater can enter the sanitary sewers and cause backups. The same handbook says the National Flood Insurance Program does not insure buildings for subsurface flooding, which includes groundwater seepage and sewer backup. For you, that changes what to ask before you hire. Ask the contractor to look at where your downspouts, footing drains and sump pump discharge actually go, and to put the answer in writing. If you want a sump pump, ask whether the quote covers a backup power supply, since the handbook lists that as a floodproofing project. Ask about permits for any drain or plumbing work, and check your insurance for water backup coverage before the work starts.

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Before you hire

  1. Ask which permits the job needs and who will get them; your municipal building department can tell you before work starts.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  2. Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

  3. Put it in a written contract: the work, price, deposit, start and finish dates, warranty, permits and clean-up. Paying cash to skip it leaves you no recourse.

    Source: ised-isde.canada.ca (source, opens in a new tab)

Questions about hiring in Denver

Why do Denver basements back up during heavy rain?

The city's Flood Protection Handbook says the sanitary and stormwater sewer systems are interconnected in some places. Some houses also have downspouts, footing drains or sump pumps tied to the sanitary sewer service, so heavy rain can send excess stormwater into the sanitary sewers and cause backups. Ask a contractor to trace your connections. City and County of Denver (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a sump pump quote include?

Ask for the pump type and size, where it discharges, the power arrangement, any permit work, and a written warranty. Denver's handbook lists a backup power supply, a larger pump or extra pumps, and redirected downspouts as options, so ask which of these the quote covers and which it leaves out. City and County of Denver (source, opens in a new tab)

Does flood insurance cover groundwater seepage or sewer backup?

Denver's Flood Protection Handbook says the National Flood Insurance Program does not insure buildings for subsurface flooding, including groundwater seepage and sewer backup. Check your own policy and ask your insurer about coverage before you pay for work, so you know what is and is not protected. City and County of Denver (source, opens in a new tab)

Is sewer or sump pump backup covered by a home policy?

The Colorado Division of Insurance describes water backup coverage as an endorsement that covers damage from sewer or drain backups or sump pump overflows. It is an add-on, so read your policy or ask your insurer whether you have it. A contractor cannot confirm this for you. Colorado Division of Insurance (source, opens in a new tab)

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