Flood Protection in Toronto

Protect your basement today | Flood Protection in Toronto

Dealing with a flooded basement is one of the most stressful, costly, and dangerous problems any homeowner can face.

Worry not! Mister Plumber is here to help you proactively protect your home from flooding and other water-related damage. Our flood protection services are comprehensive and tailored to meet the unique needs of your property, budget, and timeline.

✋ Wait right there homeowner! You could get up to $3400 (per property) to install flood protection devices for your single-family, duplex, or triplex residential homes with the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program.

Call us at 416 939 1530 or get in touch today.

⚠️ How to handle a flooded basement

1. Stay away from flooded areas with your family and pets. Flood water or sewer back-ups could expose you to waterborne diseases, corrosive cleaning agents, and irritants found in leftover sludge. The water could also trigger an electrical accident or gas leak.
2. Call 311 (Toronto’s 24/7 hotline) and inform them of your situation. The city will inspect the problem, assess the flooding, and determine the source(s).
3. Report flood-caused property damage to your insurance company ASAP. Take photos of the flooding damage so you can file an insurance claim. Keep receipts for emergency repairs or clean-ups.
4. Call in professional cleaners or take precautions to do it yourself. Wear overalls, gloves, protective eyeglasses, rubber boots, and a mask. Open the windows to let fresh air in. Let a qualified electrician handle electrical equipment.

1. Use hot water and liquid detergent to clean all surfaces, rinse, and dry thoroughly. Fans and dehumidifiers are helpful. Sanitize walls and floors with household bleach (mix 1 cup with 5 gallons of water). Dispose of sewage and flood-contaminated drywall and insulation.
2. After cleanup, wash all clothes with hot water and detergent (check the manufacturer’s instructions). Wash these clothes separately from uncontaminated clothes.
3. Foods in jars, canned foods, meats, dairy products, and any packaged foods that may have been impacted by flood waters should be thrown away – check for damaged packaging, leaks, and corrosion at seams and joints.
4. If your freezer’s power is off, move the frozen food to another freezer or toss it out if you can’t keep it frozen. If in doubt, throw it out. Do not consume potentially contaminated food.

What causes basement flooding? (Hint: Mother nature isn’t the only culprit)

Though natural disasters and excessive rainfall can wreak havoc on homes and cause flooding, there are many other ways that water finds its way into basements.

• Cracks or leaks in your home’s foundation, basement walls, or basement windows or doors that haven’t been properly sealed can all lead to water intrusion.
• Poor lot grading or drainage: if your property wasn’t sloped adequately, it’s more difficult for rainwater to be directed away from your home and into a drainage system.
• Failing foundation drains: if your home’s foundation drain isn’t installed correctly, or deteriorates over time, it won’t be able to direct accumulating water away from your home correctly. This can eventually lead to flooding.
• Overflowing eavestrough or a leaking/clogged downspout: if the gutter fixed beneath the edge of your roof is blocked or has insufficient capacity, or if your downspout isn’t working correctly, water can accumulate near your foundation and threaten to enter your basement.
• Back-up of wastewater in the sewer system: if the public sewer system is not functioning correctly, it can cause wastewater to back up into your home’s drains and toilets, resulting in a flooded basement.
• Broken sump pump: your home’s sump pump is designed to pump out water that accumulates in the pit beneath your basement. If it fails or isn’t operating correctly, your basement may flood.

When you work with Mister Plumber, our team of certified specialists will identify the source of your flooding problem and present you with customized solutions to protect your home and keep it safe.

Need someone to take a look? Call us at 416 939 1530 or get in touch today.

👨‍🔧 How we can flood-proof your basement at Mister Plumber

At Mister Plumber, we take a proactive approach to flood protection so your home remains resilient and secure for years to come against flooding.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Thorough inspection of your home’s foundation, basement walls, windows, doors, and drains for any cracks or leaks.
• Installation of a backwater valve: this specialized valve will prevent water from overflowing into your basement from the municipal sewer system. They’re designed to close the sewer line and prevent water from entering your home.
• A proper-fitted sump pump: our certified specialists will fit your sump pump with the correct size and power rating for your home. This will ensure that it is able to remove water from the pit beneath your basement efficiently. Pro tip: Sump pumps need power to operate, so consider installing a backup power source.
• Waterproofing systems and sealants: our team will tailor a comprehensive solution to meet your specific needs, including interior and exterior seals, sump pumps, weeping tile repair, and more.
• Regular maintenance checks: we’ll make sure that all of the solutions we’ve installed are working correctly and that your home remains safe and dry.

Ready to talk? Call us at 416 939 1530 or get in touch today.

Stop the flood before it starts: What you can do as a homeowner 🏡

Flood prevention tips for inside the home

1. Consider calling in a city-licensed plumbing contractor to conduct a detailed plumbing investigation to help assess and recommend options to reduce flooding. It is advisable to get estimates before going ahead with any work.
2. Consider installing shelves to help keep items off the floor in your basement. Keep valuables and important documents out of the basement. Put them in a watertight/water-resistant container, if you must. You’ll also want to avoid carpet in the basement, which retains water and is harder to clean up.
3. Avoid flushing non-biodegradable products down the toilet, including dental floss, condoms, tampons, and razor blades. Grease and cooking oil should be discarded in the green bin, not down the drain, where it can cause a blockage.
4. Have a qualified plumber install a backwater valve and a properly fitted sump pump and piping. Make sure your basement flooding devices are properly maintained after that. (We can help with both of those things)

Flood prevention tips for outside the home

1. Seal cracks or openings in walls, floors, windows, and foundations, and seal all window wells.
2. Clear eavestroughs and downspouts of leaves and other debris that prevent proper drainage. Where feasible, disconnect your downspouts from the sewer system and ensure they’re draining properly, ideally two meters (six and a half feet) from your foundation’s walls.
3. Ensure your home’s grading slopes away from the foundation wall to drain water away (without affecting neighboring properties).
4. Create more green space around your home by planting native plants and shrubs, and installing porous pavement that can absorb rainwater and snow.
5. Have a qualified plumber repair or replace your damaged weeping tile system.
6. Remove debris from catch basins (grates) to help water enter storm sewers. If it’s safe.

Last tip: Stay prepared and equipped for floods with Mister Plumber

From installing sump pumps, waterproofing systems and sealants, and conducting regular maintenance checks, our technicians are highly trained and will work with you to ensure that your basement stays dry.

With Mister Plumber, you can be sure that your home is safe from flooding and other water-related disasters.

Plus, you can take advantage of the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program to get up to $3400 per property to install flood protection devices.

Call us now at 416 939 1530 or get in touch today.