Why You Should Install Flood Protection Devices in Your Basement
Being the lowest part of your house, your basement bears the brunt damage when a flood or sewer backup occurs. A flooded basement does not only damage your home’s structure and your possessions, it also has the potential to encourage mold growth. After the recent flooding, the City of Toronto has taken several initiatives to encourage property owners to take the appropriate measures to minimize basement flooding. One of these measures is a financial subsidy of up to $3,200 per property to install flood protection devices, such as a backflow valves, sump pumps and pipe severance and capping.
What is a Sewer Backflow Valve?
A sewer backflow valve is a simple and effective flood protection mechanism for the basement. Placed at the point where the sewer exits the building, the valve allows sewage to flow smoothly out of the building but prevents it from flowing backward in case of an overflow. It is a one-way gate that opens only outwards and closes tightly as soon as there is a reverse flow. Since a single back valve is adequate for the entire building, installation, repair and maintenance is easier and a lot less costly.
The available subsidy to install a backwater valve is 80% of the total invoiced amount of up to $1,250. This includes the cost of the labour, materials, permit and taxes.
Drains seem to be one of those things in life where you don’t even really consider them if they’re working well, but they can really cause havoc when they are in disrepair. Obviously, the key is to catch any issues before they become larger problems, but that’s sometimes easier said than done.
Most of the time, a clogged sink is nothing more than a minor inconvenience during the course of your day. It may happen in the bathroom or it may happen in the kitchen, but more often than not, the water eventually goes down and you forget about it for a while.
Basements can be a source of family fun, a place to learn new hobbies, an escape or a great storage facility. They are also one of the most vulnerable parts of your house when it comes to water damage.
As many people have found out from the recent superstorm Sandy, serious basement flooding is no laughing matter. When water gets into your basement, it causes a lot of financial and emotional stress, and in extreme cases can alter your life. And while there isn’t a lot you can do if a megastorm comes calling, you can prevent 
