Safety, Sump Pumps & Basement Flood Protection 2020

As 2020’s winter thaw rapidly approaches, it’s important to remember protecting your basement from
flooding is essential. The Kingston area is no stranger to high water levels. April 2019 subjected many an Kingston home and commercial owner alike to basement flooding. Water damage can cause the development and spread of mold within your home or business, which in turn can present potential respiratory health hazards among other illnesses you would never want for your family or employees. As part of Kingston’s Community over the past fifteen years, we have taken much pride in our work as well as our dedication to contributing as much as we can in terms of promoting safe and healthy home and work environments.

Tips & Information for Basement Flood Prevention

Our Kingston Plumbing Company already offers 24/7 emergency services year round, and as part of Canada’s Community we are even more committed to help keep everyone safe and healthy at this time. Given that potential illnesses associated with mold stemming from water damage and flooding can cause flu like symptoms, we felt it may be timely and helpful to provide the public with some tips on flood prevention, as well as information on an important yet rarely thought of piece of preventive flood equipment found in many basements: The Sump Pump.

What Is A Sump Pump?

Underneath your home there is a point of depth where the ground is completely saturated with water; that area is known as your water table. During events such as heavy rainfall, the water level will rise further above the water table. When this occurs, your sump pump is triggered to begin pumping all the excess water away from your home to avoid flooding. It is submersible, meaning it can operate under-water to keep your basement dry when too much water has collected under your home’s foundation.

Sump Pump Installation

To begin installation, a jackhammer opens a space in your basement concrete floor, preferably within the lowest part of your basement. A hole is then dug in the soil for the sump pump’s basin to be set in, followed by the actual sump pump secured within the basin with the distribution of gravel. Pipes are then attached to the pump which will discharge the overflow of water away from the pump, up the wall and then out of your home or business.It’s important to confirm with your Kingston plumbing expert that your excess water will hit your outdoors in an area where it can be absorbed properly such as your lawn so it doesn’t run onto your neighbour’s property, driveway, into the streets or back into your own drainage system.

Whether your home has the ability to easily keep your sump pump plugged in or not, it is worth considering a sump pump with a battery back-up. They are more expensive, but they do provide the extra insurance that your pump will turn on with or without power. It could save you many pennies and a huge headache in the long run.

Tips to Freshen Your Pits!

John THE Plumber recommends the following annual tips on maintaining your pump and its pit:

• Clean your pit after the winter thaw
• Flush the pit by adding fresh water until the pump removes the stale water/moldy smell
• Disconnect the pump from the power source, then remove it and clean it
• Check your floor drain trap for any blockages and that it is clear
• Test your pump by pouring water into the pit and triggering it to operate; ensure that you do this before the rainy season

Further Sump Pump Tips:

• Occasionally check for debris in the pit and that the screen covering the water intake is clean
• Check the discharge point regularly to make sure that nothing is blocking the flow to the outdoors
• Test your sump pump if and when you plan to be gone for a while

John On Basement Flood Prevention

Maybe your sump pump stopped working. Maybe you have a burst pipe or a blocked drain –maybe your weeping tile failed or there’s an issue concerning your home’s foundation. These could all be reasons that caused your basement to flood. Heavy rain or thaw in a short amount of time can overload our city’s sewer systems and back up your home or businesses sewer lines, circling contaminated water back into the basement. These scenarios vary between neighbourhoods; even if you haven’t heard of these types of problems cropping up in your area, it’s still critical that you do your homework and ensure that your home is ready to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

We offer the following tips to aid in keeping your home dry and your family healthy:

Improving Your Home’s Drainage System:

• Clear all debris from your eaves troughs on a regular basis
• If you notice continued quick overflow after they are cleaned, replace them with a larger size
• Extend your downspouts so that water flows away from your house; this will stop water from collecting near the basement walls or its windows
• Build up the ground all around your home so that water will naturally flow away from your basement

Installing a Back Water Valve

A backwater valve is a device that prevents sewage in an overloaded main sewer line from backing up into your basement. The City of Kingston implemented a Backflow Prevention Program several years ago. It became mandatory that a device called a backwater valve be installed. This device is able to recognize when water pressure/sewage backup is coming from the main sewer. It will automatically close and remain that way until the unbalance pressure/ threat of flood is gone. You should ensure that you are able to easily get to the valve and make a point of removing any debris that may hinder the valve’s performance on a regular basis.Be it a sump pump or a backwater valve (or both!), if you are unsure as to what you are doing you may do your home more harm than good. We recommend that you hire a professional plumbing expert to ensure that the work is done properly and efficiently. If you have any questions or concerns about the current state of your basement, are experiencing basement flood or a moldy smell, give us a call at John THE Plumber and we’ll send over one of our licensed and knowledgeable professional right away.

Water damage can cost a lot of money in terms of repairs but beyond that everyone needs to know that it is truly a matter of health. Stay dry and call us today – You’ll be glad you did!To discover more on the full range of emergency services offered by our Kingston-based John the Plumber, please call our offices today at 343-477-1970 or visit our business website at johntheplumber.ca/kingston