Kitchen and bathroom seen as top home upgrades – but half of Toronto homeowners do nothing to prevent basement flooding

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release

May 8, 2014   

Kitchen and bathroom seen as top home upgrades – but half of Toronto homeowners do nothing to prevent basement flooding

According to a recent survey conducted for the City of Toronto, updating the kitchen and the bathroom were considered the top upgrades to improve the value of a home. Yet the survey found that almost half (47%) of Toronto homeowners have done nothing to prevent basement flooding. 

The survey found that more than half (52%) of respondents considered updating the kitchen a top upgrade, while 15 per cent indicated they consider bathroom updates a top way to improve a home's value. 

According to the survey, Toronto homeowners feel they know a lot about the condition of their furnace (60%) or roof (57%), while only one-third (32%) say they know a lot about their pipes and drainage system. A sizable proportion – almost a quarter of Toronto homeowners (22%) – say they know nothing about the condition of their pipes and drainage system.

Despite the significant rainfall event on July 8 last year, the survey also found the number of homeowners who say they are "very concerned" about basement flooding has decreased in the last three years. In 2011, 29 per cent of home owners were very concerned about basement flooding compared to only 11 per cent in 2014.

"Toronto Water is committed to maintaining and upgrading the infrastructure related to managing storms – our 10-year plan includes spending $3.1 billion on waste water and stormwater collection systems," said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34 Don Valley East), Chair of the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee. "The City also has the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program to help property owners flood-proof their homes."

"Toronto’s sewers are designed for most storms, but Toronto is experiencing more severe weather events with higher rainfall levels occurring over a shorter amount of time – which can lead to flooding," said Lou Di Gironimo, General Manager of Toronto Water. "The City is taking action to prevent basement flooding, but we also encourage property owners to be aware of steps they can take to protect their homes. Just like the shingles on your roof, your home's plumbing and drainage need to be properly maintained."

During emergency preparedness week (May 5 to 9, 2014) and all year long, the City encourages residents to learn what can be done around their homes to help prevent basement flooding. These tips can be found online at toronto.ca/basementflooding (http://www.toronto.ca/basementflooding) and are currently being advertised across the city.

Tips to help prevent basement flooding

Part of reducing the risk of basement floods is to understand how your drainage and plumbing work and how to maintain it. Every home is different and homes over time have been built with different building practice and building codes. Some of what you should know about your home includes:

- Knowing the location and condition of your sewer lateral (pipe).

- Knowing the location and condition of your storm sewer lateral (pipe).

- Finding out if you have a backwater valve or sump pump, and if so, how to maintain them.

- Finding out if you have weeping tiles and if so, their condition and where they are connected.

- Inspecting your eavestroughs and downspouts to ensure they are clear of debris and functioning properly. If your downspouts are connected to the sewer system, disconnect them if it is safe to do so and have the water drain on to your lawn, at least six feet away from your foundation.

To understand some of these elements of your home’s plumbing, you may want to hire a licensed plumber who can conduct specialized testing or inspection, often through video camera inspection.

Once you understand your plumbing and drainage system, you also have to maintain it. 

- Fix any cracks or other condition problems.

- Avoid creating clogs. Items such as dental floss and personal care products including "flushable" wipes should not be flushed down the toilet. Also, never pour any fats, oils and grease down the drain.

Other things a homeowner can do are:

- Seal cracks or openings in basement walls, floors, windows, doors and foundations.

- Ensure the grading around your home slopes away from the foundation wall. 

- Install flood prevention devices including a sump pump and backwater valve.

What to do if your basement floods

- Stop all household water use.

- Call your insurance company as soon as possible to report property damage caused by flooding.

- Call 311 immediately to report basement flooding. During extreme weather, call volumes will be high. 311 is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

- Do not enter a flooded basement, as you may be exposed to sewage or come in contact with water and electricity.

- Be mindful of your health and safety when cleaning up a flooded basement. Do not stand in flood water. Call a professional for assistance.

What the City is doing

- The City of Toronto is working to make improvements to its complex system, with a 10-year plan (as of the 2014 budget) that includes spending $3.1 billion on waste water and stormwater collection systems.

- However, these improvements alone cannot completely protect a home from basement flooding. Those who act to prevent flooding on their own property can significantly reduce the risk of basement flooding.

- To assist homeowners, the City offers the Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, which offers eligible owners of single-family, duplex and triplex residential homes a financial subsidy of up to $3,400 per property to install flood protection devices. Devices include backwater valve, sump pump, and pipe severance and capping of the home's storm sewer or external weeping tile connection.

About the survey: The survey was conducted online by Ipsos Reid for the City of Toronto between April 16 and 24, 2014.  A total of 500 interviews were completed among Toronto homeowners. The survey is considered accurate to within +/- 5.0 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

This release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1ivn27E

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Ellen Leesti, Strategic Communications, 416-397-1403, eleesti@toronto.ca