Thistle’s Plumbing
Sump pump and drain cleaning work sits alongside frozen pipe repairs at this Saint John's plumber. Estimates are free on jobs of any size, and it keeps weekday hours.
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Basement flooding and sewer backup in St. John’s
Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.
3 pros in St. John's
In St. John's, the pipes that connect your home to the City's water and sewer mains are your responsibility, not the City's. That matters for basement flooding prevention, because a backwater valve, a drain repair or a new sump discharge usually sits on the part of the line you own. It also matters for insurance: the Insurance Bureau of Canada says damage from sewers and drains backing up is typically not covered by a standard policy, and most insurers offer optional sewer backup coverage. Before you hire, ask any tradesperson to show you exactly where the work falls on your service line, and confirm in writing whether a permit is needed. Ask for the scope of the job, the materials and the warranty on paper, and ask which fixes address sewer backup and which address groundwater seepage, since those are different problems. Check your own policy for sewer backup coverage before work begins, and keep the invoice for your records.
Wise Cracks NL
Foundation crack repair is the core of this Saint John's firm, which also handles sump pumps, basement waterproofing and flooded basements. It carries a lifetime warranty and is open evenings on weekdays and Saturdays.
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King’s Plumbing & Heating Ltd
Open around the clock, every day, this plumbing and heating firm also handles sump pumps and drain cleaning. It serves Saint John's, Paradise, Torbay and Mount Pearl, and offers free estimates.
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What to know in St. John's
After Hurricane Igor, Newfoundland Power estimated about 30,000 customers were still without power by lunchtime Wednesday, down from 50,000 households and businesses without power late Tuesday.
While post-tropical storm Fiona hit Atlantic Canada, Newfoundland Power was reporting around 6,000 customers without power.
Canada.ca says floods are the most common and costly natural hazard in Canada and account for about half of all home insurance claims. It puts the average cost of repairing a flooded basement at over $40,000.
Before you hire
Ask which permits the job needs and who will get them; your municipal building department can tell you before work starts.
Get written quotes from at least three contractors for the same work, and check references from recent clients.
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.
Questions about hiring in St. John's
Who is responsible for the sewer pipe between my house and the street in St. John's?
The City of St. John's says property owners are responsible for the water and sewer service lines on their property, including the pipes that connect the home to the City's mains. If a backwater valve or drain repair involves that line, you are the one who arranges and pays for the work. City of St. John's (source, opens in a new tab)
Will my home insurance cover a sewer backup in my basement?
Often not by default. The Insurance Bureau of Canada says damage from sewers and drains backing up is typically not covered by a standard policy, and most insurers offer optional sewer backup coverage. Call your insurer or broker to confirm what your policy includes before you commission any work. Insurance Bureau of Canada (source, opens in a new tab)
What should a quote for basement flooding prevention include?
A written quote should describe the work area, the equipment or materials to be used, who handles any permit, the timeline, the payment schedule and the warranty. It should also say which problem the work addresses, such as sewer backup or groundwater seepage, so you can compare quotes fairly.
How do I compare quotes from different trades?
Ask each one to quote the same scope in writing, then compare materials, warranty terms, permit handling and what is excluded. Ask whether they will inspect the existing drains first. A much shorter quote often leaves out steps that another quote includes, so check for gaps.