Plumbing Repair

What Is a Backwater Valve and Does Your Calgary Home Need One?

How it protects a finished basement from a sewer backup, and which homes should have one.

A backwater valve is a one-way gate on your main sewer line that stops sewage from flowing back into your basement during a city sewer surge or a heavy storm. If you have a finished basement, it is one of the cheapest forms of insurance against a very expensive mess.

How it works

Under normal flow, water and waste pass out through the valve. If the city line surges and tries to push back, a flap closes and keeps it out of your home.

Which homes should have one

  • Older Calgary homes, many of which were built without one.
  • Any home with a finished basement.
  • Homes that have had a backup before.

We can assess your setup and install a backwater valve where it makes sense, and it is worth asking whether a city rebate applies.

Ask about a backwater valve

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