Toronto Renovation Stories & Expert Advice

Basement flooding and the city's responsibility.

It’s "April showers" time! Just what we need after a record breaking snow filled winter... more water! Sure we’ll get those flowers in May, but we may also be stuck with the not so pleasant flooded basement before that happens. The city provides information on how to avoid flooding in your basement to the best degree possible. The basic points are:

• Grade your land so that water flows away from your house.


• Disconnect your downspout from city sewers and make sure the downspout drains at least six feet from your foundation -- and preferably into lawn or soil.


• Clear snow away from the edge of your house. When the ground is frozen, water will find its way into any cracks in a home's foundation.


• Clear eavestroughs and downspouts of debris.


• If your house has a sump pump, make sure it’s working.


• Have a backwater valve installed on the main drain to prevent sewage back up into your house.
  

The city also suggests checking your foundation for holes and cracks and making sure your weeping tiles are still working, however, let me just say that having lived in a house with chronic flooding, these steps are next to impossible without excavating. Basically you won’t know until flooding occurs.

If your basement does flood, the city is only responsible for fixing it if the problem is a blocked sewer arising from a city tree on your property. The city will pay a "life-time maximum of $2000 per house." Call the city if you’re unsure of what to do. (416) 338-8888.
For more information on the city’s tree root program, click on the link below.

http://www.toronto.ca/faq/trees.htm#q5

Need a basement waterproofer? Check out homestars.

Labels: basement flooding, Toronto

Posted by Cathy
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