Backwater Valve Installation in Brooklyn, NY

Why sewers back up during storms

Much of New York City is served by combined sewers, which carry both rainwater from the streets and wastewater from buildings in the same pipes. In an intense storm the system can briefly fill up, and the pressure pushes back up the building sewer toward any opening that sits low enough: a floor drain, a basement toilet or a shower on the garden floor.

What a backwater valve does

A backwater valve is a one-way valve installed on the building sewer. Normally a flap inside stays open and waste flows out to the street. When the sewer pushes back, the flap closes and seals the line. Elite Pipe Solutions installs them with an access lid so the valve can be inspected and cleaned.

While the valve is closed, water used inside the building has nowhere to go either. During a heavy storm it is sensible to avoid running washing machines, dishwashers and long showers until the street has drained.

Does your building need one?

• The cellar or basement has drains or fixtures below street level
• There is a finished basement or garden apartment
• Water has come up through a floor drain during a storm before
• Neighbours on the block have had storm backups

We look at where the building sewer runs, where the house trap is, and which fixtures sit below the street, then recommend where the valve should go, or tell you it is not worth it for your building.

Looking after it

A backwater valve needs occasional attention. Debris can stop the flap sealing, so check it through the access lid a couple of times a year and after any backup. Cleaning is straightforward when the valve has been installed with good access, which is why we never bury one under a slab.