Backwater valve installation
Including the full City of Toronto subsidy process: paperwork, permit, and inspection.
Backwater valves
Keep sewer water out of your basement
During heavy rain, the city sewer can fill up and push water back up the pipes into the lowest drain in your house, usually a basement floor drain. A backwater valve is a one-way valve on your main drain. Water can leave the house, but it can’t come back in.
Daniel’s Plumbing Services installs backwater valves in homes across Toronto and the GTA. For Toronto homeowners, Daniel handles the full City subsidy process, from the paperwork to the building permit and the inspection.
Why homeowners call Daniel
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Red Seal plumber
Daniel holds his Red Seal in Ontario and has about 10 years in the trade.
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Homes and buildings
Houses, condos, restaurants, and offices across Toronto and the GTA.
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Emergency and after-hours calls
Available when something can’t wait until morning.
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Workmanship warranty
Daniel stands behind his work. Ask what applies to your job.
How the subsidy process works
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Look at your plumbing
Daniel checks where your main drain runs and where the valve should go.
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Building permit
The permit is in place before the work starts.
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Installation
The floor is opened and the valve goes in on your main drain.
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City inspection
The City inspects the valve before the floor is closed.
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Your application
You apply online with the itemized, paid-in-full invoice, within two years.
Thinking about a backwater valve?
Call (437) 475-3798Sewer water in the basement?
Emergency and after-hours calls are available. Stay out of standing water, keep away from outlets and cords near it, and call.
Call (437) 475-3798- Water coming up through a floor drain
- Toilets or drains backing up in the basement
- A sewer smell after heavy rain
Questions about backwater valves
How much does the City of Toronto subsidy cover?
For work completed on or after November 12, 2025, the City covers 80% of the cost, up to $1,600 per backwater valve, for up to two valves per property. The City sets these amounts and can change them.
Who is eligible for the subsidy?
Registered owners of single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes in Toronto, as long as the property meets the City’s other conditions, such as disconnected downspouts and no unpaid taxes owed to the City.
Do I need a permit for a backwater valve?
Yes. In Toronto, a backwater valve needs a building permit and a City inspection before the valve is covered. Daniel handles both.
How long do I have to apply?
Within two years of the installation, for work completed on or after November 12, 2025.
Does a backwater valve need maintenance?
Yes. Like any valve, it needs to be checked and kept clean so the flap can close properly.
Do you install backwater valves outside Toronto?
Yes, across the GTA. Subsidy programs outside Toronto are run by each city and have their own rules.
Related services
Want a backwater valve?
Call Daniel, or send a request and he’ll follow up about your home and the City subsidy.