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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Detroit

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

99 pros in Detroit

Detroit's basement flooding problem has a specific history. On August 11, 2014, 4 to 6 inches of rain fell over a 4 hour period, and the National Weather Service lists Metro Detroit among the hardest hit areas. The city also runs a Basement Backup Protection Program through its water and sewerage department, open only to owner-occupied homes and landlords of occupied houses and duplexes in 11 identified neighbourhoods. Tenants cannot apply, and condos and apartments are excluded. Before you hire, find out whether your address qualifies. If it does, the work must be done by a licensed plumber contracted and scheduled by the department, and BSEED issues the permit and inspects the final work. The programme does not cover foundation or floor repairs, or replacing an existing backwater valve or sump pump. For work outside the programme, ask any trade for its plumbing licence, who pulls the permit, and a written scope that names each item.

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  11. Mega Dry

    Over 20 years in Metro Detroit, the company handles rod hole leaks and major foundation repairs. Sump pumps and basement waterproofing are its jobs, and service runs around the clock.

    • Website checked

    Rated 5.0 out of 5 123 Google reviews · Nov 2026

    (313) 500-2888Website Mega Dry (opens in a new tab)
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  30. AJ Danboise

    Trane equipment is among the brands it works on, and the business has operated since 1925. Sump pumps and drain cleaning are among its jobs, and Farmington Hills, Plymouth and Livonia are served.

    • Website checked

    Rated 4.8 out of 5 2,979 Google reviews · Nov 2026

    (248) 600-5048Website AJ Danboise (opens in a new tab)

  43. Gill Plumbing

    Plumbing and drainage company in Southgate, Michigan, offering sump pump and battery backup sump pump work, sewer line repair and drain cleaning for basement flooding, plus boiler and HVAC work.

    Also serves Windsor

    • Website checked

    Rated 4.8 out of 5 670 Google reviews · Nov 2026

    (734) 215-7955Website Gill Plumbing (opens in a new tab)

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What to know in Detroit

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 Detroit

Who can use Detroit's Basement Backup Protection Program?

Owner-occupied homes and landlords of occupied houses and duplexes in 11 identified neighbourhoods can apply. Multi-unit buildings such as condos and apartments, commercial property and nonprofits are not eligible, and tenants cannot apply. Check your address and ownership with the city's water and sewerage department before you request private quotes. City of Detroit, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (source, opens in a new tab)

Who does the work and handles the permit under the Detroit programme?

Eligible work, subject to available funding and on a first-come first-served basis, is done by a licensed plumber contracted and scheduled by the water and sewerage department. BSEED issues the permit and inspects the final work. You do not choose the plumber or arrange the permit yourself under this programme. City of Detroit, Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a written quote for a sump pump or backwater valve include?

A good quote names the exact work, the equipment to be installed, who is responsible for the permit, and what happens to the old equipment. It should also state the contractor's licence details and the warranty terms. Ask for the same items from each trade so you can compare quotes fairly.

Will my home insurance cover a sump pump failure or sewer backup?

Not necessarily, and the wording matters. Michigan's insurance regulator says the word flood may have a specialized meaning in a home policy. It adds that water damage from storm-related rainwater intrusion, sewer backup or a failing sump pump may be covered. Read your policy or ask your insurer before work starts. Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (source, opens in a new tab)

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