Outside the house
- Downspouts. Each one should discharge at least a couple of metres from the foundation onto ground that slopes away. Extensions are cheap.
- Grading. Soil around the house should slope away. Settled flower beds and walkways that tilt toward the wall send water straight to the footing.
- Window wells. Rake out leaves each autumn, and fit clear covers if they collect water.
- Eavestroughs. Clean them each fall so they do not overflow onto the foundation.
Inside the house
- Sump pump. Each April and October, refill the crock by hand with a pail and see the switch trip. Replace an aging pump before it fails.
- Battery backup. The worst downpours tend to arrive with outages. A backup pump keeps water moving.
- Backwater valve. Stops sewage from the municipal sewer backing up through floor drains during heavy storms.
- Floor drain. Keep it clear and its trap filled.
- Water heater. Place a pan under it and a leak alarm beside it if the basement is finished.
- Washing machine. Replace rubber supply hoses with braided ones, and check them yearly.
Field note. A cheap battery-powered water alarm on the floor near the sump, water heater and laundry gives early warning before the carpet is soaked.
Storage habits
Keep valuables and paper records off the basement floor, in plastic bins on shelves. If the basement is finished, consider flooring that tolerates water, such as vinyl plank on a raised subfloor, rather than carpet.
Insurance
Sewer backup coverage is often an optional add-on to home insurance in Ontario. Read your policy, and ask whether installing a backwater valve affects your premium or eligibility. Our note on sewer backup and insurance has more.
When to call
If your sump runs constantly, your floor drain gurgles, or you have had water in the past, a plumbing review can identify weak points. See backwater valve installation and sump pump installation.