Here’s how to prevent your basement from flooding:

Do you know if your home is protected from sewage and water flowing back into your basement?

There’s a plumbing system called a backwater valve and it’s an important part to any homeowners plumbing. A backwater valve ensures that water and sewage cannot flow backwards and into your home if the main sewer line becomes overloaded. A backwater valve works with gravity so it’ll work on its own to keep your home dry.

 

How do you know if you have a backwater valve?

Backwater valves are usually located in the basement floor and have a cover that can easily be removed for maintenance. The cover itself is likely round, but there may also be a rectangular panel on top. If you have a sump pump, the backwater valve is likely close by.

Backwater Valve located on the left – black structure

Image Source: CityOfWindsor

Why are backwater valves important?

Every time we flush the toilet or run the water down the kitchen sink, the water runs through your homes pipes to the main City Sewer pipes. Every single house is connect to the main City sewer line which means that’s a lot of sewage and water all going through one line. If that line backs up the sewage will have no where to go but back into your home and out your drains. The reason a backwater valve is important is because if prevents the backflow from the main City sewer by blocking it off. That way if the City has a problem, it won’t become your problem too.

How do I get a backwater valve in my home?

If you don’t have a backwater valve in your home already it’s important to make sure you get one. The last thing you want is your whole street’s sewage floating around your basement (sorry for the visual). To get a backwater valve installed, you’ll have to arrange an appointment for one of our Technicians to come out and see the layout of your basement. We can usually have someone out to see you the same day you call. They’ll then explain where and how the backwater valve will go and give you a quote. Most of the time, the installation can be completed in one scheduled day depending on the variables. Simple as that!

There’s a City of Toronto Rebate for the backwater valve

Not only do we think it’s important to have a backwater valve in your home but the City of Toronto also thinks that it’s important enough to offer a $1200 City rebate for the installation of one. We’ll fill out the rebate information for you and you mail it in to receive your rebate. For more info on this, please read here.

So if you’re making the important decision to install a backwater valve in your home please feel free to give us a call and we’ll have everything ready for you.

GTA   416-908-2892

 

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Are one of your drains backing up and causing a huge mess in your house? Luckily, with a simple phone call you can have a professional on the way to solve the issue but, did you know it’s important to have a camera inspection done before they use their drain snake to unclog the drain? Here are some reasons why it’s highly recommended:

1. There could be a foreign object that went down the drain and if that’s the case, it can be pushed further away rather than retrieved creating a bigger problem
2. Your pipes might not be in good standing. Pipes get old. They can crack, be intruded by tree roots, or even shift. It’s good for the technician to see what’s going on inside before they put their drain snake down and with the camera monitor they are also able to show you so you can see for yourself exactly what’s happening down there
3. Further action may need to be taken, and if the technician is aware of the integrity of the pipes, they’ll be able to inform you ahead of time so that you know what you’re dealing with. If a camera inspection isn’t done and the drain snake clears the drain you may have water running again but that doesn’t mean you’re free from any more clogs or backups. If it’s caused by tree roots they will continue to grow even after all the protruding roots have been removed. If there’s a shift or crack in the pipe it needs to be repaired.

These 3 reasons are why it’s important to proceed with a camera inspection prior to having your drains snaked. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us and we’ll be happy to answer them for you.

RENTING A DRAIN SNAKE FROM THE STORE – PROS AND CONS

PROS

Convenience

You can rent the snake whenever you need it. You don’t have to wait for someone to arrive.

Cheaper

Yes, renting a snake from store is cheaper than your standard service call.

CONS

It’s heavy

The drain snake weighs 60 lbs. That’s not easy to carry to-and-from your car, into your house, and where ever else it’s needed.

Only 50 feet long

The length of the drain snake is only 50 ft. long meaning if the clog is any further down the line (which you won’t know until you start) then you won’t be able to clear it and you’ve wasted your time and money.

Dangerous

For those who aren’t familiar with that type of equipment it can be dangerous to operate. Those machines are extremely powerful and can cause serious harm if they’re not operated properly.

The unknown

If you’re renting a drain snake then chances are you don’t have access to a drain camera to check out the pipes beforehand. Depending on whats clogged your drain you can actually make the problem worse by pushing it further down the line. Our Technicians are trained to be able to “retrieve” items if they’re blocking the way, rather than push it further.

These are just some basic points on renting a drain snake. Although it is possible to rent a snake and successfully clear your drain it’s worth it to call the professionals and have it done safely and effectively.

Are you a Coffee Lover?

Do you look forward to that fresh  cup of coffee first thing in the morning? Some people even have their brewer set on a timer so that they wake up to the bold aroma of a freshly brewed pot of coffee, without having to lift a finger. But, did you know that your love of coffee could be causing you problems with your drains every time you brew a pot?

Most people aren’t aware of the fact that they shouldn’t put coffee grinds down the drain. Coffee grinds are one of the biggest culprits for a clogged drain, alongside cooking grease, fats and oils. Unlike other food particles that get washed down the drain, coffee grinds don’t break apart once they’ve mixed with water – they actually clump up together. This forms a larger mass that becomes fairly difficult to break apart, and over time will clog your whole drainage system.

So, how do we prevent this from happening and also continue our beloved devotion to coffee? To prevent this from becoming a reoccurring issue in your home, always throw out coffee filters in the trash and use a paper towel to wipe out as many remaining coffee grinds from the filter compartment as possible. This will eliminate the amount of grinds that are being rinsed down the drain and decrease your odds of having your drains backed up.

Did you know?

You may be the reason why your toilet backs up and not even know it. A lot of people aren’t aware that there are plenty of items that shouldn’t go down the drain. Realistically, the only thing you should be flushing is toilet paper. Anything other than that is posing a risk for a backup. It may not happen right away, but what you don’t know is that all of those things that aren’t disintegration properly (like toilet paper does) are slowly getting caught on one another inside your drain and before you know it, your drain will be completely clogged.

This is a list of items that shouldn’t be flushed:

• Sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, or any non-organic material
• Tooth Floss
• Paper towel
• Diapers (even the flushable kind is no good)
• Baby wipes
• Cotton Swabs
• Hair
• Toilet bowl/Scrub pads
• Fats/Oils/Grease
• Any type of Pharmaceuticals

All of these items are being flushed daily and people need to be aware of the dangers. Another thing you should keep in-mind is that the drains that connect to your main drain are often no bigger than 4 inches wide. That’s a pretty small space considering how much stuff gets flushed down the drain.

Remember this TIP next time you go to flush something down the toilet!