Backwater Valves

A backwater valve is a device that allows sewage to flow in only one direction – from your home to the sewer. When installed and functioning correctly, it should prevent sewage from backing up into your home.

Because these devices are the property and responsibility of the homeowner, it's important for anyone who has one in their home to understand how to keep them working properly.

How It Works

Under normal conditions, the valve is open to allow sewage to flow through the device and out of the home. If sewage starts flowing backwards, the valve is pushed closed, reducing the risk of sewage entering the home. Once backflow stops, the valve reopens to allow normal flow of sewage out of the home.

Backwater Valve

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes backflow?

Sewage backflow may occur in several circumstances:

Heavy rainfall event (more commonly in flood-prone areas)
Sewer blockage in sewer system or internal plumbing
Sewer pipe breaks causing a pressure difference
Unmaintained backwater device

How do I maintain my backwater valve?

Maintenance of your backwater valve is very important to ensure it is properly functioning and will not cause an issue within your internal sanitary plumbing.

Regular cleaning and maintenance should be conducted to best ensure proper operation.
Maintenance is dependent on the type of backwater valve. Manufacturers' recommendations should be followed for the type and frequency of maintenance.
An unmaintained backwater valve can cause a sewer back-up within your home.

How do I prevent blockages around the valve?

To prevent a blockage in the sewer system and the backwater valve, ensure only toilet paper and human waste are flushed down the toilet. Items that should not be disposed of down any drain include hygiene products, food scraps and any fat, oil or grease (FOGs).

Visit www.idontflush.ca for more information on what can happen when FOGs enter your sewer system.

What can happen if the backwater valve is not maintained properly?

If the backwater valve is not maintained properly it could lead to:

Unpleasant odours from the drain
Flooding in basements
Decreased drainage rate
Damages to the backwater valve itself
Obstructions that prevent the valve from properly functioning

How do I prevent backflow from entering my home?

Unfortunately, backwater valves do not guarantee that a sewage backup will not occur. To maximize the valve's effectiveness, it is important to:

Ensure the device is properly installed in an appropriate location, orientation, position and slope.
When functioning properly, if a backflow condition is occurring in the sewer system, the valve will close to prevent sewage from entering or leaving the home.

Who is responsible for maintaining the backwater valve?

The owner of the property or the property manager is responsible for maintaining the backwater valve.

All the internal plumbing of a home, including a backwater valve, is privately owned by the home owner.