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Plumbing

Sump Pump Installation in Whitby

A sump pump moves groundwater from your weeping tile out and away from the foundation. The pit, the pump and the discharge line all need to work together.

  • Sump Pump Installation handled by a licensed plumber
  • Cause found and shown to you before any repair
  • Price explained before work starts
  • Tested, cleaned up and written down when finished
Rain droplets on a window with a blurred view of houses and greenery outside
  • Licensed plumbing trade
  • Camera before digging
  • Written job notes
  • Phone-only booking

Signs, filed under symptoms

  • Water entering the basement along the floor-wall joint
  • A pit with no pump or an old pedestal unit
  • Discharge pipe dumping water right beside the foundation
  • Plans to finish the basement

How the job is handled

We choose a submersible pump sized for your pit and the lift to the discharge point, add a check valve to stop the column of water dropping back into the pit every time it shuts off, and route the discharge to a spot where it drains away from the house. Lids should seal to keep debris out and reduce noise and odour.

Where the pump discharges matters. Many municipalities restrict connecting sump discharge to the sanitary sewer; we follow current Town of Whitby and Region of Durham requirements.

Signs you need this work

  • Water on the basement floor after heavy rain or snowmelt
  • Pit with no pump, or a pump with no check valve
  • Weeping tile with nowhere to drain
  • Finishing a basement over a damp floor

What the plumber brings

Tools and parts that come in from the truck for this kind of call, so the fix can usually be made on the first visit:

  • Submersible pump with a vertical float
  • Check valve and union
  • 1-1/2 inch ABS or PVC discharge pipe
  • Jackhammer and liner if cutting a new pit

The job, step by step

  1. 01

    We check where the weeping tile ties in and whether a pit exists

  2. 02

    The pit basin is set at the low point if a new one is needed

  3. 03

    Pump is placed on a solid base with clearance for the float

  4. 04

    Discharge is run up and out with a check valve, away from the foundation

  5. 05

    The pit is filled with a hose to test the start, stop and check valve

Symptom, cause and fix

Sump Pump Installation in Whitby: common findings
What you seeUsual causeWhat we do
Pump runs constantlyHigh water table or check valve not holdingCheck valve first, then pump capacity
Discharge freezesLine pitched back or no air gap outsideRe-pitch and add a freeze-relief fitting
Water near the foundation againDischarge dumping beside the houseExtend the outlet well away from the wall

Local card: Whitby houses

Neighbourhoods with heavy clay soils, common across parts of Durham Region, can hold water against foundations after storms and snowmelt. Homes near creek valleys, like those along Lynde and Pringle creeks, may run their pumps more often in spring.

The visit, in order

  1. Pit size, inflow and discharge path checked
  2. Pump and check valve installed
  3. Discharge routed and secured
  4. Float tested by filling the pit

Ring us when

Install or upgrade before the spring thaw if your pump is old or missing. A pump fails most often when it is working hardest.

Common questions

How long does a sump pump last?

Life varies with how often it runs. Many owners plan replacement within roughly seven to ten years.

Can I discharge into the floor drain?

Generally not. Sending groundwater into the sanitary sewer is restricted in many municipalities.

Keep reading

From the guide shelf

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