Installing Backwater Valve: Things You Need to Know

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Installing Backwater Valve - Things You Need to Know

What is A Backwater Valve?

A backwater valve is a one-way valve that allows water to only flow in one direction. It’s installed on a property’s lateral sewer, which is a privately owned line that connects your property to the public sewage system. If you have a properly installed and well-maintained backwater valve, you won’t have to worry about sewage back up and flooded basements. Expert plumbers recommend installing backwater valves to every property owner, especially if the property sits below the closest sewer manhole.

Do You Need to Install a Backwater Valve?

Most municipalities provide subsidies for backwater valve installation so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get one. Sewage backups can happen to anyone, even if your property is located uphill from the main sewer lines. Here are some reasons why you should consider installing backwater valves:

Property Location – Sewage follows the directions of gravity so it will move in a downward direction. You need a backwater valve if your property sits lower than the closest upstream manhole. If you don’t install this valve, you may face frequent basement floods and other such problems.

Basement Floods – Sewer backups is one of the most common causes of basement floods, especially during the storm season. This is the first thing a plumber will check when they try to determine the cause of the basement floods.

Storm and Sewer Drains – In homes that were built before the 1960s, the storm drains and the sewer lines are connected. If the storm drains are overwhelmed, the water can flow into the sewer lines and cause sewage to back up. This is not a problem with modern homes but expert plumbers will still recommend installing backwater valves.

Clogs and Sewer Blockages – Clogs are also a common cause of sewage backup. For example, if a tree root blocks the sewer, the sewage water can flow back into the main plumbing system and cause basement floods, odors, and other such problems. The backwater valve will keep the sewage water away from the main system until the problem is repaired.

You don’t have to spend much money or time on valve installation. A plumber will complete the task within a day and you don’t have to worry about sewage backup ever again.

Expert plumbers at Dr. Pipe Drain and Plumbing Services will be happy to answer any questions you have so give them a call at 613 791 5777 or contact them through the contact form today!

Why Dr. Pipe Drain and Plumbing Services?

Many companies offer licensed plumbers, but Dr. Pipe Drain and Plumbing Services also offers respect for your home and your time as our standard. This means from the time you call us, we are committed to making your entire experience as customer friendly as possible. We coordinate times that work with your schedule and call when we’re on our way. Our plumbers keep our areas neat and covered while working. In our projects, we use the most appropriate solutions to work quickly and efficiently.

Our strengths do not only lie in plumbing. We can also help to navigate the insurance companies and city red tape. You will receive all the necessary permits for our jobs. We will guide you through the City of Ottawa rebates for which you qualify.

Our customers love us, and our work is the best quality. Stop by our testimonials page, then give us a call to set up your free, no-obligation inspection.

Give us a call today: 613 791 5777 for a free upfront estimate!

Testimonials

Drain Work and Sump Pump Installation

Max was the first person to respond to our call for help after our basement flooded. He was quick in determining what the root of the issue was, and fixed the problem quickly. In addition to finding the issue, he also showed us a (potential) issue in our sanitary and storm water drains. He managed to find the possible issue with the drain-camera in a quick amount of time.

Max was courteous and professional when it came to helping us find future issues as well. He helped us alleviate concerns about future problems, thanks to his professional explanation. I have to admit I was also pleasantly surprised by the work of his crew. They cleaned their area thoroughly each time as well. Now I know that extensive repairs are never going to be cheap, but I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised at how reasonable the pricing was. Max even helped us fill out the necessary paperwork to file for our basement flooding prevention subsidy.

Stewart

Trenchless Sewer Pipe

I received two quotes for my plumbing. The quote from Dr. Pipe was good, but what I really appreciated was the fact that the professionals at Dr. Pipe took their time to look at the issue, do the research, and actually SHOW me the problem in real-time. The other company never did give me an exact quote, and I was quite worried about potential “unexpected costs.” Both Max and the rest of his crew were extremely professional, kept the area as neat and tidy as possible, and cleaned up after they were done. Despite the fact that I was not actually onsite during the entire three-day process, I felt comfortable enough to give them a key to the property. When someone actually came and took something from the property (I was expecting them to), Max actually called my private number and asked me whether this was OK. I would highly recommend the services of Dr. Pipe.

Rick S.

Drain Replacement, Backflow Valve, Sump Pump, Etc.

When I woke up this morning, I was not expecting my basement to have transformed into a full-blown lake. One of our neighbors recommended Dr. Pipe. Our neighbors had needed to replace some of the drains under their home and also recently had a backwater valve installed.

Max came to us and talked about the quote. One of the great things about the discussion was that he took his time and explained everything to me. I remember that Max took the time to make sure that both my partner and I were on the same page and understood everything.

I really want to be honest and admit that I was not particularly friendly that day, I had already received three different quotes, and I just wanted the work to get started. We still decided to go with Max’s company, despite the fact that we already had several other quotes. It was not just about money that we were going to pay, it was about quality, it was about trust, it is about wanting to give my business to a company that wanted ME as a customer.

I can tell you that both Max and his crew came across as polite, clean, honest, and reliable. They were extremely pleasant to work with. The quality of the work that they delivered is excellent, and it certainly added value to the home. Even our insurance rates went down because of the quality work.

It is extremely comforting to know that I have peace of mind the next time that the rain comes down. During the last late-fall storm, it was extremely comforting to hear the sump pump turn on, that sound really allows you to sleep soundly at night.

I have no doubt that the pipes are going to be fine once the tree roots are growing and the snow melts. It is comforting to know is that even if they are not fine, I know that Max is going to be a phone call away to help me set things right. I would honestly be shocked if Max somehow did not uphold the warranty that we have. Honestly, that is the level of trust that we have in Max.

Max

Backed-Up Drain

It is not often that a plumbing company is able to save you 10,000 dollars. We had experienced a serious drain backup and received quotes from five different drain and plumbing specialists. These included some of the more popular local names, and a few that received a very high ranking on HomeStars. Most of them scoped the drain and told me all the root issues and the critical deficiencies that would continuously lead to problems. They suggested that that we crack the floor, replace the drainpipe, and have the pipe from the front lawn excavated, I would be looking at around $5-10k!

Max did the same exact research that these other companies did, but he told me that the drain was not deficient at all; in fact, it had many more years left! I know that Max was honestly biting his tongue when we discussed what these other companies had said. He rooted the drain (very fast) and there has not been a single issue with our pipes since.

Grant

Contact Dr.Pipe:

Reach out right now at 613 791 5777 to learn more about how we can better meet your drainage and plumbing needs. You can also fill out the contact form bellow and we will respond within 24 hours.