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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Minneapolis–Saint Paul

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

100 pros in Minneapolis–Saint Paul

Basement water in the Twin Cities is tied to heavy rain. The Minnesota DNR reports that June 2014 brought 11.36 inches of rain to the Twin Cities, just short of the June record set in 1874, and it lists flooded basements among the impacts. In Minneapolis, the city says it has modelled flooding across about 90% of its area and also uses flooding complaints to find problem areas. When you hire, check the licence first: a plumbing contractor must have a licensed master plumber as the responsible individual, and that licence covers sanitary and storm sewer work within the property lines. Ask whether the quote includes a backwater valve where Minnesota Rules 4715.1160 requires one for below-curb fixtures, and whether a sump discharge line will have the valves that 4715.2440 calls for. Also ask your insurer about sewer back-up cover, since a typical homeowner's policy does not include it.

Sources: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (source, opens in a new tab), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source, opens in a new tab), Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source, opens in a new tab)

  1. AP Plumbing

    Its sump pump work includes rapid response to pump failures, with drain cleaning alongside. Evening hours run Monday through Saturday, and Fridley, Blaine, Ramsey and Spring Lake Park are among its towns.

    • Website checked

    Rated 5.0 out of 5 501 Google reviews · Nov 2026

    (612) 245-7341Website AP Plumbing (opens in a new tab)
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What to know in Minneapolis–Saint Paul

  • The City of Minneapolis says it has completed computer modelling of flooding on approximately 90% of the city, and that the models help identify flood-prone areas for future flood studies. The city also uses flooding complaints to identify problem areas.

    City of Minneapolis (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 Minneapolis–Saint Paul

Who is allowed to install a backwater valve or sump discharge line in Minnesota?

Plumbing work is done under a plumbing contractor, who must have a licensed master plumber as the responsible individual and keep the required bond and insurance. Ask to see the contractor's licence details before you sign anything, and confirm who will be on site. Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (source, opens in a new tab)

When does the code require a backwater valve?

Minnesota Rules 4715.1160 covers drainage piping for fixtures below the curb or property-line elevation where the building sewer crosses it. That piping must be protected by an approved backwater valve, installed only in the branch serving those fixtures. Ask your plumber how this applies to your basement. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source, opens in a new tab)

What should a sump pump quote say about the discharge line?

Minnesota Rules 4715.2440 requires an accessible backwater valve and a gate or full port ball valve on the discharge line. It also sets a minimum velocity of two feet per second. Ask that the quote list these parts and say how the line will be sized. Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes (source, opens in a new tab)

Will my homeowner's insurance pay if my basement floods from a sewer back-up?

Not usually. The Minnesota Department of Commerce says neither flood insurance nor a typical homeowner's policy covers sewer back-ups or a sump pump overwhelmed by runoff from a major downpour. A separate product or endorsement is needed, so ask your insurer before work or before the next storm. Minnesota Department of Commerce (source, opens in a new tab)

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