The installation of backflow prevention devices is a great way to prevent basement flooding because the valves engage to stop rising water in the sewers from flowing back into your home. To completely flood-proof your Toronto home, however, you need to install backwater valve alarms to complement the use of the devices. Here’s why: How … Read more
With the arrival of the spring thaw and the anticipated rainy season, basement waterproofing becomes a primary concern for Toronto homeowners once again. Even if you’ve never experienced the unpleasantness of flooding, many homes have perpetually wet basements as a result of: poor workmanship aging infrastructure the use of inferior materials So how do you … Read more
With the spring rains on the way, it’s a good time to start thinking about the backwater valve installation. Long before you get the heavy downpours that cause blocked drains and backed-up sewers, get your local plumbing services to come around and do a camera inspection, service your hot water heater and install the necessary … Read more
Now that Spring is almost here, municipal crews are very busy filling potholes and doing drain repair in Toronto. Around almost every corner you find big rig equipment and guys in traffic vests standing around. Be patient – while it causes a real nuisance traffic-wise, it’s essential to keep municipal drains in good condition to … Read more
With the recent historic floods experienced across the GTA, Toronto plumbers have had their hands full with basement flooding and related problems. One of the issues that’s taken priority with city councils is the storm water system, and in Mississauga councillors recently approved a new “storm water fee” that is expected to bring in up … Read more
Torontonians have had a rough year, weather-wise. First, there were the heavy snows of February and March which hung around far into April; then there was the “storm of the century” in July, and now we have unseasonably cold weather with the first snow during late Fall. The weather gods have gone crazy, clearly. And … Read more
A small number of Toronto homes have still not complied with the City’s directive on mandatory downspout disconnection. Homeowners cite various reasons for not doing so including the financial cost, but the major argument is that they simply don’t see the point. It’s generally viewed as yet another attempt on behalf of the municipal authorities … Read more
Some Toronto residents had cars to recover from the flooded Don Valley Parkway on Tuesday morning; others had basement flooding to deal with, and as far afield as Mississauga up to 70,000 homes had no power. All this was a result of a record-breaking storm on Monday evening, which saw Pearson International Airport report 126 … Read more
Keeping your home’s foundations in good condition can be a costly process. The best way to make sure you keep ahead of any problems is to have regular inspections of your foundations and basement, but too often this gets side-lined ahead of other, more pressing issues. Here are 10 signs that you might need some … Read more
A rose by any other name.. whether you call it a French drain, a weeping tile or any one of the several other names for it, this is one of the most versatile designs invented for drains. Made popular in 1859 in Concord, Massachusetts and named after Henry Flagg French, the basic French drain is … Read more
Replacing sump pumps isn’t the most difficult thing to do. However, you should purchase a new one before your old one gives out, leaving you high and not very dry. The best time to replace a broken sump pump is before the next anticipated big storm. Replacing your sump pump after the next storm could … Read more
Global warming! It’s certainly taking a toll on Toronto, with record-breaking January highs again this week. At 14 C, Wednesday was the warmest January day since 1956 when it only reaches 9 C! But what does this mean for Toronto homeowners, and what’s the long-term prognosis for our city if climate change keeps getting exponentially … Read more