While we may make this work look easy…

We handle some of the toughest and dirtiest jobs in the plumbing business.

This includes the installation of new and replacement sump pumps, battery operated back-up pumps, and backflow valves. A to Z Plumbing & Drain Service is certified to install and repair sanitary backflow valves, as well as conduct annual testing for backflow valves and other components of your drainage system.

What is a Foundation Drain?

Weeping tiles may also be referred to as foundation drains. Foundation drains, or footer drains, are located underneath and around the basement walls.

They collect ground water and divert it from seeping through to the basement floor and walls. Many homes now have sump pumps that collect the water from the foundation drains and divert it elsewhere, like the lawn or storm drain. Many homes built prior to 1954 have foundation drains that connect directly to the sewer lateral, the pathway to the sanitary sewer system (these must be disconnected before installing a backwater valve). Some homes built before 1920 have no foundation drains at all.

Thankfully, the experts at A to Z can help you find the best solution to your drainage problem, regardless of if your home is a year old or a hundred years old.

What is a Sump Pump?

The sump pump is a small electric pump that is placed into a circular pit at the lowest part of the basement or crawlspace, where water would naturally flow to.

Excess water from rain, melting snow, and the foundation drainage system are piped into this pit. As the sump pump pit fills with water, the pump is activated. The water is then pumped out of the pit through piping that expels the water outside, away from the home. Sump pumps are not found in all homes, but sump pumps are required in homes that might have flooding issues since the U.S. Federal Clean Water Act and its amendments have been enacted.

Sump pumps tend to go hand in hand with installing backwater valves. The foundation drains can no longer be connected to the sanitary sewer line once a backwater valve is installed. If the foundation drains remain connected to the sanitary sewer line, the weeping tiles or foundation drains can become backed up and leak into the house when the backwater valve is closed. The foundation drains, therefore, must be connected to the sump pump. Without a sump pump, there’s nowhere else for the backup to go, but into the house. This back up can cause structural damage.