ResidentialBasements
Putting In a New Sump Pump
A sump pump catches water gathering under the slab and sends it outside. In much of Markham it is the first defence for a finished lower level.
A clean white radiator mounted on a textured brick wall, indoors and well-lit.
- Pit, float, check valve and discharge line all inspected
- Pump cycled with a bucket test, not assumed to work
- Backwater and sump layout explained for your basement
- Advice on City of Markham flood programs (confirm current terms)
- Licensing details confirmed when you call
- Residential
- Commercial
- Markham & York Region
How the job runs
- Damp patches along the base of basement walls after rain.
- A musty smell or white mineral streaks on the foundation.
- Water in the basement during spring thaw.
- Your house has weeping tile that drains to nowhere since a disconnection program.
What's included on this job
What we open
The basement slab where the pit goes, the weeping tile tie-in, and an exterior wall for the discharge.
What we bring
Concrete saw, jackhammer, a pit liner, PVC pipe, a check valve, and a dedicated outlet run if needed.
What we replace
Pit liner, pump, check valve, discharge pipe and a lid that seals the pit.
How we prove it
Pit filled with a hose until the float trips, the cycle timed and the discharge watched outside.
Signs you need this
- Damp seam along the base of the foundation wall
- Damp basement after every rain
- No pit in a house built before sumps were standard
- Weeping tile with nowhere to drain
Why sumps matter here
Much of Markham sits on dense clay that drains slowly. After a big storm or a fast spring melt, water collects in the backfill around foundations. Weeping tile collects it, but it has to go somewhere. Many newer homes were built with sump pits. Some older homes, once connected to the sanitary sewer, have been or may be disconnected under municipal flood reduction programs, which then calls for a sump.
How we install a sump pump
- We choose a corner where the weeping tile is easy to reach, often a corner close to an outside wall.
- We break the basement slab and dig a pit deep enough for a proper liner.
- We connect the weeping tile to the pit and set the liner on gravel.
- We install a pump sized for the inflow, with a check valve on the discharge.
- We run the discharge outside and clear of the foundation and never into the sanitary line.
- We add a sealed lid and test the float.
Pump types
| Type | Good for |
|---|---|
| Submersible | Finished basements, quieter, sits inside the pit |
| Pedestal | Easy to service, motor sits above the pit |
The City of Markham has offered a subsidy for sump pumps and related flood protection. Check the current terms and rules before installation, as some programs require approval first.
What changes the cost
Slab thickness, access, distance to an outside wall, and whether a battery backup goes in at the same time all play a part.
From the van: Discharge onto your own lawn or a dry well, at least a few metres from the house, and never toward a neighbour's yard.
A sump is only as good as where it sends the water. Discharge near the foundation just comes back in.
Call before it gets worse
Installing a sump in dry weather is easier and cheaper than doing it while the basement is wet.