Signs you need sump pump installation
Not every house needs a sump pump. The ones that do usually show it in spring, when snowmelt and heavy rain arrive together.
- Damp patches or efflorescence, the white chalky crust, along the base of basement walls
- Water seeping up through cracks in the floor after a storm
- A musty smell that a dehumidifier cannot keep up with
- Downspouts recently disconnected from the sewer, with nowhere better for foundation water to go
- A basement you are about to finish and want to keep dry
Why it happens in Scarborough homes
Scarborough sits on a mix of glacial till and clay, with sandier ground near the Bluffs and the Rouge valley. Clay holds water against the foundation, and a high water table in low-lying pockets keeps it there. Toronto's mandatory downspout disconnection program sent roof water onto lawns instead of into the sewer, which helps the sewer system but can push more water toward a foundation if the grading is poor.
Many older homes have a weeping tile around the footing that originally drained into the sanitary or storm sewer. Redirecting that tile to a sump pit is a common way to reduce the risk of sewer backup and basement water at the same time.
How the job is done, step by step
- We choose a spot for the pit that can tap into the foundation drainage and has a sensible exit route outdoors.
- A section of basement floor is cut out and the hole is dug to depth.
- A perforated liner is set in gravel and the weeping tile is connected to it.
- A one-way check valve on the outlet pipe stops pumped water from falling back into the pit.
- The outlet pipe leaves the house and empties onto open ground a good distance from the walls. It is never tied into the sewer.
- The floor is patched with concrete and the pump is tested by filling the pit.
What changes the cost
Digging through a thick slab, or a finished floor, takes longer. So does a long discharge run or a pit far from the weeping tile. Pump choice matters too: a pedestal pump is simple, a submersible is quieter, and a battery backup adds protection when the power fails in a storm. When there is already a pit and only the pump has died, sump pump repair is the simpler job.
When to call right away
Water spreading across the basement floor during a storm cannot wait for a quiet week. Move valuables up, keep clear of any wet area near outlets or the panel, and call. Townhouse and condo owners should speak to management before calling anyone, since drainage there is often a shared system. Our condo plumbing tips explain why.