Regardless of where you live in the GTA, houses with sump pumps have a reduced risk of basement flooding. The mechanism behind the successful operation of a sump pump involves a sump pit which collects excess water coming from a home’s weeping tile. The rising water in the sump pit starts the sump pump which drains the sump pit through the discharge pipe, taking the water away from your house.

If your basement is prone to wetness during heavy rains, installing a sump pump system will be one of your best defenses against basement flooding. Considerations like your homes grading, where your house sits on the water table, coupled with the heavy rains we experience here in Toronto during the spring and summer, a sump pump system may likely be the most feasible way to ensure excess water entering your house gets removed before it causes a flooded basement. There are really only two types of sump pumps – submersible sump pumps and pedestal sump pumps. Figuring out which one to get will depend mostly on your budget and the longevity and quality you desire.

Submersible sump pumps are installed below the floor allowing you to place flooring and furniture right on top of it, effectively making it invisible in a finished basement. Generally, submersible sump pumps are quieter than pedestal sump pumps and can pump up to 7000 gallons per hour. They can last significantly longer than a pedestal sump pump due to the absence of failure-prone seals within the body of the pump.

Pedestal sump pumps seem to be old technology that people are moving away from. They’re loud and bulky but their lower cost causes most people to choose them. Some homeowners are attracted to the minimal plumbing work required to install them and to the idea that the motor is less prone to damage since it sits above the water.

In most cases, waterproofing and plumbing professionals will prefer homeowners in the GTA to go with a submersible sump pump. Since it does not take up any floor space in your basement, this valuable real estate will be available for you to place carpeting, a freezer, furniture…etc giving you cart blanch of what can be done in your basement.

Since sump pumps help protect houses from basement flooding during heavy Toronto rainstorms by removing the water that collects in the sump pit brought by gravity from the weeping tile; the thing to remember is that sump pumps are powered by electricity and during heavy rainstorms, power outages are commonplace. That’s why having a battery backup for your sump pump, whether submersible or pedestal is a good idea for added protection.

The city of Toronto is now offering a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program which now includes a subsidy for a sump pump system installation. Work performed by a licensed plumbing contractor is eligible for a subsidy of up to 80% of the invoiced cost up to a maximum of $1750 including eligible labour, materials and taxes. For further details click here.