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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Indianapolis

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

80 pros in Indianapolis

Indianapolis gets about 43.63 inches of precipitation a year, with June the wettest month, and the National Weather Service has recorded 7.20 inches in a single 24 hours. Heavy rain like that is when a full sewer can push water back toward a basement. Citizens Energy Group says a backwater valve sits in the sewer pipe to stop sewage and stormwater backing up into basement plumbing fixtures, and it recommends one for all homes with basement plumbing fixtures. Before you hire for a backwater valve, ask whether a plumbing permit and inspection will be needed. Citizens Energy Group says one may be required, and it points you to the City of Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement to confirm. Ask for the permit step to be written into the quote. For sump pump work, also ask where the discharge will go, because Citizens Energy Group says sump pumps and downspouts should not be connected to the sanitary sewer line.

Source: National Weather Service Indianapolis (source, opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Indianapolis

  • The National Weather Service reports that thunderstorms on the evening of June 6 to the morning of June 7, 2008 produced very heavy rain across portions of Central Indiana, with amounts of nearly 11 inches in some areas. It says the rain led to record river flooding in some areas during the following week.

    National Weather Service Indianapolis (source, opens in a new tab)

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 Indianapolis

Do I need a permit to have a backwater valve installed in Indianapolis?

It may be required. Citizens Energy Group says a plumbing permit and inspection may be needed for a backwater valve, and it advises calling the City of Indianapolis Department of Code Enforcement to confirm. Ask the installer who will pull the permit and whether the inspection is part of the quote. Citizens Energy Group (source, opens in a new tab)

Where should a sump pump discharge?

Not into the sanitary sewer. Citizens Energy Group says roof gutters, downspouts and sump pumps should not be connected to the property's sanitary sewer line, and downspouts should be directed away from the foundation. Ask any contractor to show you where the discharge line will end before work begins. Citizens Energy Group (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a basement flooding quote include?

A good quote names the work in plain terms: what will be installed or repaired, where, and with which equipment. It should state who handles permits, what is excluded, how long the work will take, and what warranty applies. Get the same scope from each contractor so you can compare like with like.

Will my homeowners insurance cover sewer backup?

Maybe. The Indiana Department of Insurance says some homeowners policies cover sewer or drain backup, but most exclude backup caused by flood, and most limit payment for backup loss. Check your policy and ask your insurer before you decide how much work to do. Indiana Department of Insurance (source, opens in a new tab)

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