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Basement flooding and sewer backup in Ottawa

Plumbers for backwater valves, sump pumps and drains.

48 pros in Ottawa

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Ottawa–Gatineau sits on two sides of a river and two sets of rules. In Ottawa, the Residential Protective Plumbing program offers rebates for backwater valves and sump pumps, but only for homes built before set dates: January 1, 2004 for stormwater valves and January 1, 2012 for sanitary valves. Rebates do not cover maintenance, repair or replacement of existing devices. In Gatineau, a municipal bylaw requires every owner to have backwater valves whatever the year of construction, with the foundation drain protected too and the valves kept accessible for servicing at least twice a year. The 2019 Ottawa River flooding, which evacuated 155 homes in Ottawa and 111 in Gatineau, is a reminder of why this matters. Before you hire, confirm which side of the river your house is on, ask whether the work fits the rebate conditions for your build year, and ask who handles any permit or inspection. New builds need an inspector to confirm a normally open valve. Ask for the valve type and location in writing, and for access for servicing.

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What to know in Ottawa

  • In Ottawa, all new single, semi-detached, row house and townhome dwelling units need backwater valves on their sanitary service laterals (sanitary building drains). The building inspector must confirm that a normally open backwater valve is installed, in accordance with Ontario Building Code, Division B, section 7.4.6.4.2(a)(b).

    City of Ottawa (source, opens in a new tab)

  • During the 2019 Ottawa River flooding, 155 homes in Ottawa had been evacuated and more than 1.6 million sandbags distributed as of the Friday of the report. In Gatineau, 111 homes had been evacuated and 923 damaged, with more than 885,000 sandbags distributed.

    CBC News (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 Ottawa

Does my home qualify for an Ottawa backwater valve rebate?

It depends on when the house was built. A stormwater backwater valve rebate requires a build date before January 1, 2004, and a sanitary one before January 1, 2012. Rebates are not available for maintenance, repair or replacement of existing devices, so check the conditions with the City before work starts. City of Ottawa (source, opens in a new tab)

Do I have to install a backwater valve in Gatineau?

Yes. A Gatineau bylaw requires all owners to install backwater valves, whatever the year the house was built. The foundation drain must also be protected by a backwater valve, and the valves must stay accessible so they can be serviced at least twice a year. Ask your contractor how access will be kept. Ville de Gatineau (source, opens in a new tab)

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

Ask for the work described in plain terms: the device type, where it will be installed, what is included such as battery backup or an alarm, who handles any permit, and the warranty. Getting several quotes with the same scope makes them easier to compare.

What does the Insurance Bureau of Canada suggest for sump pumps and valves?

The Insurance Bureau of Canada says to install a backwater valve with at least a 2% grade and maintain it at least once a year. It also advises disconnecting foundation drains tied to sanitary or combined sewers, and installing a sump pump with battery backup and an alarm. Insurance Bureau of Canada (source, opens in a new tab)

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