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From the library

How to Maintain a Backwater Valve

This device does its job only when its flap swings easily and closes tight. Debris, grease and a forgotten lid are its worst enemies.

  • Arrival window set on the first call.
  • You see the fault with your own eyes.
  • The cost is settled before tools come out.
  • Drop cloths down, floors left dry.
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Booking is by phone only. Tell us the fixture and the floor.

Single-lever faucet on a bathroom basin
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How the valve works

Below the slab, a normally open valve is fitted inline on the building drain. Waste flows out past a hinged flap. If the city sewer surcharges and water starts flowing back, the flap floats up and seals, keeping sewage out of the house.

Routine check

  1. Find its access lid, a round or square cover set into the slab, often toward the street side of the house.
  2. Lift it off and shine a light inside. Wear gloves.
  3. Push the flap gently; it should swing without sticking and its sealing edge should be clean.
  4. Check the floats, if your model has them, and the clear inspection lid.
  5. Replace the cover and confirm the seal sits flat.

Cleaning

Follow the maker's instructions. Many models let you lift the flap assembly out for rinsing with a garden hose over a floor drain or utility sink. Do not run water down the house drains while the valve is open.

During a storm. While the flap is shut, your own waste water has nowhere to go. Avoid laundry, showers and dishwashers during heavy rain if you suspect the city sewer is surcharged.

How often

Look at it at least once a year, typically in spring. Homes with heavy grease use or a history of backups may need more frequent checks.

If you need help

If the flap is stuck or the seal is cracked, our backwater valve page explains repair and replacement options.

Tools worth keeping in the basement

  • Two plungers: a flanged one for bowls, a flat cup for basins
  • A hand snake around twenty-five feet long
  • Adjustable and basin wrenches
  • A bucket, rags and a flashlight
  • A tag on the main shut-off valve

Ready when you are. One call, a real plumber, an arrival window.

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