Toronto & the GTA

Sump pumps and waterproofing

Sump pump installation and repair, and waterproofing where a basement takes on groundwater. When a pump stops in the middle of a storm, someone answers 24/7.

Call (289) 901-4881 Request service
An unfinished basement with exposed plumbing along the foundation wall

The pump only matters on the worst day of the year

A sump pump sits in a pit in the basement floor. Groundwater from around the foundation drains into the pit, and the pump pushes it out and away from the house. Most of the year it barely runs.

That’s why pumps tend to fail when they’re needed most: during heavy rain or snowmelt, after years of sitting idle, or when the power goes out. A pump that is old, undersized, or has a stuck float switch can’t keep up.

If water is getting into the basement through the foundation, the first job is to find where and why. Then you’ll hear what it would take to keep it out.

How it works

What a sump pump does in a storm

It only matters on the worst day of the year. Every step has to work.

Rain soaks into the ground beside a house and collects in a weeping tile pipe at the footing. It drains into a sump pit under the basement floor, where the pump lifts it up through a check valve and out to the yard, away from the house. The finished basement stays dry. 1Rain soaks in 2Weeping tile collects 3Pump switches on 4Water leaves the yard Basement stays dry 1234

  1. Rain soaks in beside the house

    Heavy rain and snowmelt saturate the ground around the foundation.

  2. The weeping tile collects it

    A perforated pipe along the bottom of the foundation gathers the water before it can come through the wall.

  3. The pit fills, the pump starts

    Water drains into the sump pit. When the float rises, the pump switches on.

  4. Water leaves, away from the house

    The pump pushes it up and out through the discharge pipe, so it doesn’t soak straight back in.

What we do

How a visit goes

  1. Call

    Tell us whether the pump is running and whether water is rising. If it is, it’s an emergency call.

  2. Inspect

    The pit, pump, float, check valve and discharge are all checked.

  3. Repair or replace

    You hear whether a part or the whole pump needs replacing.

  4. Test with water

    The pit is filled to confirm the pump starts, empties it, and shuts off.

What homeowners say

5.0 from 41 reviews on Google.

Questions homeowners ask

How do I know if my sump pump is working?

Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit. The pump should start on its own, empty the pit, and shut off. If it doesn’t, call before the next heavy rain.

How long does a sump pump last?

It varies with the pump and how often it runs. A pump that is the original one in an older house, or that has started making new noises, is worth having checked.

Do I need a sump pump and a backwater valve?

They protect against different things. A sump pump handles groundwater around the foundation. A backwater valve stops sewage backing up from the city sewer. Many basements benefit from both.

Are there subsidies in Toronto?

The City of Toronto runs a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program that has covered sump pumps and backwater valves, with conditions. Check the City’s program page for current amounts and requirements before work starts.

Where we work

Homes across Toronto, North York and York Region.

Toronto

North York

York Region

All service areas · Based in North York, working across Toronto and the GTA.

Call, or leave a number.

The phone is the fastest way in. For a same-day visit, or a 24/7 emergency, call Mayan Plumbing. If you’d rather we call you, leave a name, a number, and what’s going on.

Phone
(289) 901-4881
Email
mayanplumbers@gmail.com
Service area
Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Thornhill, Vaughan, and Richmond Hill.