Floor Drain Check Valve Installation

October 25, 2022

The Check Valve: A One-Way Trip For Wastewater

A backwater valve installed on your main sewer line or drainage system connections prevents waste water from the municipal sewer line from flowing back into your basement through fixtures or floor drains during heavy storms. rains. Without a backwater valve, a flood can cause all kinds of costly damage. (Source: CMHC illustration)

Municipalities not responsible for sewer backups

Since 2006, it has been possible for municipalities to exonerate all liability for damage to buildings or their contents caused by sewer backups. If you own or rent a dwelling on the ground floor or if you have a locker in the basement of your building, you must add the “Sewer backup” endorsement to your insurance policy. Types of check valves

The most common type of check valve is a "normally closed" check valve. Some are designed to protect a single fixture, such as a washing machine, while others can protect multiple plumbing fixtures connected to the same drain line, for example, in a basement. Installing a backwater valve on your home's main sewer line is prohibited because it will prevent the airflow needed to ventilate the plumbing system. “Normally open” valves, which close only when there is a backflow, may be installed in some homes. They are installed in the main sewer line where a balloon inflates, blocking the main line as soon as a backup is detected. Installation and maintenance of check valves

Check valves should be installed in an accessible location. The best way to ensure that your backwater valve is properly installed and compliant is to have the work done by a qualified plumbing contractor. How to clean a horizontal valve

If you have a cast iron check valve with a bolt-on cover, you better hire a plumber. Otherwise, follow these steps to make sure your valve is working properly:

Remove the screwed or bolted cover or access cap. Remove the valve, clean it and check the condition of the rubber seal.

Does Your Check Valve Meet Your Municipality’S Standards?

Check valves, sewer pressure valves, non-return valves. Backwater valves prevent waste water from the municipal sewer line from flowing back into your basement through plumbing fixtures or floor drains during heavy rains. In this article, the plumbing experts at Plomberie Lalonde in Gatineau will share some ideas about backwater valves, including why we need them, what they do, who is responsible for their installation and maintenance, and how to locate them. the backwater valve in your basement. Without a check valve, raw sewage or sewage as it is more politely called will start flowing into your plumbing fixtures such as toilets, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers, resulting in a very unpleasant flooding in your house. This information is usually searchable on municipal websites using terms such as:

Check valve

Sewer backup

Check valve

Flood

Sewer and Wastewater Management

Who is responsible for the backwater valve in my home? The City of Gatineau, for example, lists these requirements for backwater valves in their municipality:

Municipal bylaws require all homeowners to install backwater valves in their homes, regardless of the age of the building. The municipal by-law stipulates that backwater valves must never be installed on the primary sewer network of a residence, but rather on the connection pipes to the secondary sewer. Once you have researched the type of valve your municipality needs, the next step is to identify what type, if any, is installed in your home. Here are some places to look for information on your sewer backflow check valve:

Visual Search: Backwater valves are usually located in the floor of your basement. While it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure that a backwater valve has been installed, installing a backwater valve is generally not a DIY job. We know the municipal requirements for backwater valves in Gatineau and the Outaouais region and would be happy to help bring your sewer backwater valve up to code.

Plugging Home Drains To Prevent Sewage Backup

For homes in areas of the country prone to flooding or heavy rain, it makes sense to take a few steps to prepare for water levels that could cause sewage to back up into a home. • In areas where stormwater and sewer systems are connected, rapid and excessive stormwater drainage can cause water and sewage to back up into your home.