How the job runs
- 1Assesscheck the existing pit, weeping tile connection and discharge point
- 2Dig the pitcut the slab and install a liner where there is none
- 3Install the pumpset a submersible pump with a float switch and check valve
- 4Discharge outsideroute the outlet through the wall to grade, away from the foundation
- 5Backupfit a battery or water-driven standby pump on request
01Why older houses need one
Many Scarborough homes built in the fifties and sixties have weeping tile around the foundation connected straight into the sanitary sewer. In a storm, that floods the sewer with groundwater. Disconnecting the weeping tile and pumping it out to the lawn reduces the load on the city system and protects your basement.
This work is often part of the same flood protection subsidy as a backwater valve.
| Pump life | Many last around 7 to 10 years; test each spring |
|---|---|
| Discharge | To the lawn, not the sanitary sewer |
| Severing weeping tile | Often paired with a pump under city flood programs |
02Picking a pump
Cast-iron submersible pumps last longer than plastic ones. We size them to the volume of water the pit sees. A vertical float switch is less prone to sticking than a tethered one in tight pits.
03Power outages
Storms knock out power exactly when pumps are needed most. A battery backup pump sitting in the same pit takes over automatically.
04Testing each spring
Lift the float or pour water in the pit and watch the pump clear it.