What is a Backwater Valve?
Every plumber Kanata has to offer would agree that backwater valves can make the difference between a dry home and thousands of dollars of damages.
Backwater valves are often confused with a backflow preventer. Though they do essentially work in the same manner, they are two different things. Sudden downpours and pressure changes can cause your sewer system to backup. Clear water flooding into the basement is already a bad thing. Dirty sewage water in your basement is a whole different story altogether.
Essentially, a backwater valve installed on your sewer line in your Kanata home has one primary function… To ensure that any sewer water runs in one direction, out of your home and never backwards into your home.
Why Do I Need a Backwater Valve?
Have you ever hired a drain cleaning in Kanata or sewer video inspection and seen all the nasty sewage?
If there is a very heavy rainfall in a short amount of time, sometimes the city water lines can become overwhelmed. Water and sewage may suddenly start flowing back into your home through the floor drain in the basement. In many areas of Kanata, they are doing sewer line work at the city street level to upgrade the system and prevent this from happening. But it is not a foolproof system, especially in older parts of Kanata. This is a fantastic time to install it backwater valve in your home. The city often has grants and incentive programs available to make it more appealing to the homeowner to install a backwater valve in their basement. Your insurance may require you to have a backwater valve in your home as well.
Installation
Installation of a backwater valve in a new-build is quite inexpensive. They can definitely also be retrofitted into an older homes main sewer line in the house. Though this is often more expensive as it requires breaking the concrete and some extra plumbing work. If the ground floor of your home is less than 30 cm above the street level or you have a basement in Kanata, you are at an increased risk for a sewer backup.
Many backwater valves have a window where you can actually see the water leaving your home and also allow any sewer gas be vented out. If the system becomes overwhelmed, the flap drops in place and close it off, preventing any backflow. If you notice it is closed, it is recommended that you do not use your plumbing as it is affecting all water leaving your house at this time. Gravity allows the valve to go back to an open position again once the threat is over. Allowing water and sewage to resume leaving your home without worry of it backing up. Always have a licensed plumber in Kanata to install a backwater valve as they require experience; additionally, you’ll require a permit from the city to install one.
John the plumber Kanata has years of experience in installation of backwater valves and can do an estimate for you quickly and efficiently!
