Floor drain and backwater valve work in West Side, Saint Paul, MN 55107

On the flats around Cesar Chavez Street and down toward Harriet Island, basements sit low and close to the water table. During a hard spring rain or a fast snowmelt, the city sewer fills up and older laterals can't keep pace. Water then rises through the lowest opening in the house, which is usually the basement floor drain.

If it happens to you, stop running water, keep kids and pets out and avoid contact with whatever comes up. When the water drops, call us. We clear the lateral, run a camera to check for roots or breaks and talk about whether a backwater valve makes sense for your basement.

A backwater valve sits in your main sewer line and lets wastewater flow out but closes if sewage tries to come back in. For West Side homes with a history of floor drain backups, it's one of the most effective fixes. We cut into the line, install the valve with an access cover and set it so you can check it easily.

The valve needs a simple inspection now and then to make sure nothing is holding the flap open. We'll show you how. Combined with a clean, sound lateral, it keeps most backups out of the basement. A permit is usually part of the job, and we take care of it.

Up the hill from District del Sol, many houses date from the late 1800s and early 1900s. They often have galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains and some still run hot-water boilers. Low water pressure, rusty water and slow drains are common, along with radiators that need bleeding before winter.

We replace failing supply lines with copper or PEX, clear and repair old drains and service boilers. In duplexes, we map which fixtures share lines so repairs don't surprise the neighbor. Downtown is right across the Wabasha Bridge from here, so we're close. Call (651) 215-2087 when you need us.