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How Much Do Sump Pumps and Backwater Valves Cost in Toronto in 2026?

Last updated: By Below-Grade Records Desk

A sump pump in an existing pit runs $1,400 to $2,400 in Toronto, rising to $2,800 to $4,500 when a new pit is cut into a finished slab, per Tornado Plumbing & Drains. A mainline backwater valve retrofit is $2,800 to $4,200 before subsidy. The City pays up to $2,250 toward a pump and up to $1,600 per valve.

Prices

What do sump pumps and backwater valves cost in Toronto?

WaterproofingIndex compiled this table from 14 named Canadian sources; where they disagreed, we widened the range rather than pick one.

Every figure below was read off the page named in its own row, in August 2026. Canadian dollars, before Ontario’s 13% HST unless a row says otherwise.Some of these prices are published by contractors this directory also lists. Those rows are marked. A company cannot buy a ranking position by supplying a figure.

ItemTypical rangeUnitSource
Primary sump pump installed in an existing pit (replacement, no concrete work)$1,400–$2,400per installed systemTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
New sump pit cut into a finished basement slab, basin and pump installed, discharge plumbed to exterior, slab restored$2,800–$4,500per installed systemTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Sump pump replacement in an existing pit (lower-end GTA quote)$500–$1,200per installed systemMBM Plumbing (Markham)
New basic sump pump installation (pit plus pump)$1,200–$2,500per installed systemMBM Plumbing (Markham)
Sump pit excavation add-on where no pit exists (on top of the pump cost)$1,050–$2,700add-on to the pump priceCanada Waterproofers (Ontario, Toronto and GTA)also listed in this directory
Battery backup retrofit added to an existing primary sump pump$1,200–$2,400per installed systemTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Primary pump plus battery backup as one combined system (both pumps in one basin, dual check valves, battery pack)$3,500–$6,500per installed systemTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Mainline backwater valve, standard retrofit in a finished basement (saw-cut, dig, valve, slab restored)$2,800–$4,200per installed valve, before subsidyTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Interior backwater valve installation$2,000–$3,500+per installed valve, before subsidyCanada Waterproofers (Ontario, Toronto and GTA)also listed in this directory
Single-fixture branch backwater valve (protects one drain, e.g. a basement floor drain)$650–$1,400per installed valveTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Toronto plumbing permit plus inspection coordination for a backwater valve$190–$340per permitTornado Plumbing & Drains (Toronto)also listed in this directory
Annual sump pump inspection$150–$250(typ. $185)per visitCanada Waterproofers (Ontario, Toronto and GTA)also listed in this directory
Sump pump unit only, no installation: Powerfist 1/3 HP thermoplastic submersible (equipment only)$149.99–$149.99(typ. $149.99)per pump, equipment onlyPrincess Auto (Canadian retailer)
Sump pump unit only, no installation: Bur-Cam submersible sump pump (equipment only)$179.99–$179.99(typ. $179.99)per pump, equipment onlyPrincess Auto (Canadian retailer)

Prices

What drives the price?

Not every quote is the same job. These are the variables that move sump pump and backwater valve work pricing most in Toronto, so you can read a quote and see where the money goes.

  • Whether a sump pit already exists: cutting a new pit into a finished basement slab adds roughly $1,050 to $2,700 per Canada Waterproofers, and Tornado Plumbing's new-pit price is about $1,400 higher than its existing-pit price
  • Finished versus unfinished basement: Tornado Plumbing's easiest backwater valve case (existing pit or unfinished slab) is $1,800 to $2,800 while the standard finished-basement retrofit is $2,800 to $4,200
  • Access difficulty: a lateral running under a load-bearing wall, mechanical equipment in the way, or an unusually deep service pushes a backwater valve to $4,200 to $6,500 (Tornado Plumbing)
  • Pump type: Canada Waterproofers prices a pedestal system at $600 to $900 installed and a submersible system at $900 to $1,500 installed
  • Battery backup: adds $1,200 to $2,400 as a retrofit (Tornado Plumbing), or $400 to $1,500 installed as a component add-on (Ontario Plumbing Quotes)
  • Permit and inspection on a backwater valve: $190 to $340 (Tornado Plumbing). Toronto requires a building permit and an inspection before the valve is covered up
  • Electrical work: Ontario Plumbing Quotes puts a dedicated 15-amp circuit at $200 to $500 where the panel has no free slot, and Canada Waterproofers puts a new outlet at $150 to $400
  • Optional extras: a high-water alarm runs $150 to $400 and a check valve upgrade $75 to $200 (Canada Waterproofers), while a smart Wi-Fi controller adds $200 to $400 and a sealed radon-rated basin lid adds $300 to $600 (Tornado Plumbing)
  • Timing: emergency and same-day work adds $150 to $400, and after-hours or weekend work adds $200 to $400 (Canada Waterproofers)

Record

What's specific to Ontario and Toronto?

Ontario rules and Toronto's climate change the math in ways national price guides miss. Here is what applies locally, from HST to permits to freeze-thaw.

  • City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, as published on the City's page (page last modified June 18, 2026): as of May 1, 2026 the City expanded the programme and is offering up to $6,650 in subsidies per property. The expanded amounts apply to eligible work completed on or after November 12, 2025.
  • Current maximums per item, each paid at up to 80 per cent of the invoiced cost: home plumbing assessment up to $500 (one time); backwater valves up to $1,600 per device to a maximum of two devices; sump pump up to $2,250 for one device; battery backup for that sump pump an additional up to $300; foundation drain (weeping tile) pipe severance and capping up to $400. Eligible costs include labour, materials and taxes.
  • For eligible work completed BEFORE November 12, 2025 the older maximums still apply: backwater valve up to $1,250 for one device only, sump pump up to $1,750 for one device, and severance and capping up to $400. Applications for that older work must be submitted within one year of installation, versus two years for work on or after November 12, 2025.
  • Subsidy conditions the City lists: you must be the registered owner of a single-family, duplex, triplex or fourplex residential property in Toronto; the property must not have exceeded the lifetime maximum for each type of work; your downspouts must be disconnected from the City's sewer system or you must hold a City exemption; all front yard paved areas including parking pads must comply with the City's Zoning By-law; you must supply the original electronic invoices from every licensed contractor and sub-contractor; and you must have no outstanding taxes or debts owed to the City when the application is processed.
  • The contractor matters. The City states that your contractor and any sub-contractors must hold a valid City of Toronto business licence at the time of the work, and that if they do not, funding will be denied. The City's own table shows a Plumbing Contractor (T94), Plumbing and Heating Contractor (T92) or Drain Contractor (T87) can perform all four types of eligible work, while a Building Renovator (T85) is listed only for sump pump work and pipe severance and capping. Verify the licence with the City's Business Licence Lookup or by calling 416-392-6700 before work starts.
  • A backwater valve needs a City of Toronto building permit. The City instructs homeowners to obtain a building permit to install a backwater valve and to request an inspection once installation is complete, and not to enclose or cover the valve before the inspection is done. Contractors quote $190 to $340 for the permit plus inspection coordination (Tornado Plumbing). The permit fee itself is the City's own number, not a contractor's: the City of Toronto's building permit fee page states "Minimum fee of $214.79 (2026) shall be charged for all work."
  • If you install a sump pump and a built-in or separate battery backup, the City requires your contractor to itemise the cost of each component separately on the invoice, otherwise the extra $300 battery backup subsidy cannot be applied. After installation you also need photos of the sump pump and of the discharge pipe at the exterior of the property for the application.
  • The subsidy is not guaranteed. The City states that submitting an application does not guarantee a subsidy, that subsidies are issued on a first-come, first-serve basis, and that they are subject to annual funding approved by City Council. It can take up to 10 weeks to receive the subsidy.
  • Downspout disconnection is explicitly NOT eligible for a subsidy under this programme, even though disconnected downspouts are a condition of receiving one.
  • The City's guidance on discharge: make sure the sump pump empties onto a permeable surface such as a lawn, garden or gravel, at least two metres from the foundation wall.
  • HST: Ontario charges 13% HST on plumbing and waterproofing work. Contractor price ranges are normally quoted before tax, so add 13% before you compare. The City counts taxes as an eligible cost inside the subsidy caps.
  • Outside Toronto the GTA rebates differ and are published by each municipality. Markham's Private Plumbing Protection Rebate does reach $5,000, but only for one scope: disconnecting the weeping tile from the sanitary lateral AND installing a sump pump, together. A backwater valve on its own caps far lower, at $2,000 outdoor or $1,750 indoor on either lateral, and disconnecting the weeping tile to a gravity storm connection caps at $3,000. Relining or repairing a lateral caps at $2,500. Markham also sets deadlines the rebate depends on: the building permit must be obtained by April 30, 2027 and the application submitted by July 31, 2027. Figures read from the City of Markham's own rebate table on 2026-08-08. Ontario Plumbing Quotes cites Mississauga at up to $7,500 and Hamilton at up to $2,000 through its Residential Protective Plumbing Program. Confirm current amounts with your own municipality before booking.

Prices

How can I pay less?

You can keep sump pump and backwater valve work costs down without cutting the parts that matter. These are the levers GTA homeowners actually use, each tied to a real number above.

  • Apply for the City of Toronto subsidy before you pay the balance, and read the rules first. It covers up to 80 per cent of the invoiced cost to a maximum of $2,250 for a sump pump, $300 more for a battery backup, and $1,600 per backwater valve for up to two valves, to a total of $6,650 per property.
  • Check your contractor's City of Toronto business licence before work starts, using the Business Licence Lookup or 416-392-6700. The City says an unlicensed contractor means no funding at all, which is a bigger loss than any discount you were offered.
  • Do not skip the building permit on a backwater valve. The City requires a permit and an inspection before the valve is covered up, and the permit plus inspection is only $190 to $340 (Tornado Plumbing) against a subsidy worth up to $1,600 per valve.
  • Ask for the sump pump and the battery backup to be itemised separately on the invoice. The City requires that split to release the extra $300 battery backup subsidy.
  • Bundle the work into one visit. MBM Plumbing publishes $3,500 to $7,000 for a combined sump pump and backwater valve installation, and you pay the mobilisation, concrete cutting and cleanup once rather than twice.
  • Reuse the pit if you have one. A replacement in an existing pit runs $500 to $1,200 (MBM Plumbing) or $1,400 to $2,400 (Tornado Plumbing), against $2,800 to $4,500 for a new pit cut into a finished slab.
  • Maintain instead of replacing. An annual inspection is $150 to $250 and a pump cleaning is $275 to $375 (Canada Waterproofers), while Ontario Plumbing Quotes puts a backwater valve flapper replacement at $200 to $500 versus $1,800 to $4,500 for a whole new valve installation.
  • Avoid emergency call-outs by booking ahead. Canada Waterproofers adds $150 to $400 for emergency same-day service and $200 to $400 for after-hours or weekend work.
  • Buying the pump yourself saves less than it looks. Canada Waterproofers charges $450 to $800 for labour only on a customer-supplied pump, and a DIY install does not qualify for the City's subsidy at all.
  • Get at least two quotes. The City itself recommends a minimum of two quotes plus references before hiring, and published GTA ranges for the same job differ by thousands.

Method

How did we research these numbers?

Every price on this page comes from a named Canadian source, and where sources disagreed we widened the range rather than pick a favourite. Here is how WaterproofingIndex reconciled the numbers.

  • Sump pump quotes in the GTA split hard on one question: does a pit already exist? Tornado Plumbing puts a primary pump in an existing pit at $1,400 to $2,400 and a new pit cut into a finished slab at $2,800 to $4,500. Canada Waterproofers prices the pit excavation itself as a $1,050 to $2,700 add-on. Ontario Plumbing Quotes puts pit excavation and concrete cutting at $500 to $1,500. Get the pit line itemised before you compare quotes.
  • Sources conflict on the cheapest end of a straight pump swap. MBM Plumbing (Markham) publishes $500 to $1,200 for a replacement in an existing pit, while Tornado Plumbing (Toronto) publishes $1,400 to $2,400 for the same job description. Both are 2026 GTA figures. Treat the low end as a bare like-for-like swap and the high end as a swap that includes a new check valve, alarm and discharge work.
  • Backwater valve pricing clusters between roughly $2,000 and $4,800 before subsidy across Toronto sources: Tornado Plumbing publishes $2,800 to $4,800 gross for a mainline valve and $2,800 to $4,200 for the typical finished-basement retrofit, Canada Waterproofers publishes $2,000 to $3,500+ interior and $2,700 to $4,500+ exterior, and Ontario Plumbing Quotes puts the Toronto and GTA average at $2,800 to $4,000 before rebates.
  • Two outlier sources sit well below that cluster and were kept out of the price table. Crystal Drain publishes $1,600 to $2,600 for an interior backwater valve and $2,400 to $4,200 exterior. Toronto Plumbing Pros publishes $1,000 to $2,500 installed, and the same page still quotes the old $1,750 subsidy figure that no longer matches the City's published amounts, so its numbers were not used.
  • Tornado Plumbing gives an easier-case backwater valve price too: $1,800 to $2,800 where there is an existing pit or an unfinished slab, rising to $4,200 to $6,500 for complex access such as a lateral running under a load-bearing wall.
  • Permit fees for a backwater valve are quoted three ways by three sources, all in the same band: Tornado Plumbing lists $190 to $340 for permit plus inspection coordination, Canada Waterproofers lists $214.79 as its 2026 permit cost, and Crystal Drain lists approximately $198.54. Ontario Plumbing Quotes cites approximately $215 in Toronto.
  • Labour is the bulk of a retrofit invoice. Canada Waterproofers puts Toronto and GTA plumbing labour at $85 to $160 per hour, with emergency installs adding $150 to $400. Its concrete floor cutting and repair line is $300 to $800 on its own.
  • Equipment-only prices are a fraction of an installed price and are not comparable to a quote. Princess Auto lists a Powerfist 1/3 HP thermoplastic submersible pump at $149.99 and a Bur-Cam submersible sump pump at $179.99. Ontario Plumbing Quotes puts a submersible pump unit at $200 to $600 and a pedestal unit at $100 to $300, versus $800 to $1,800 and $500 to $1,200 installed. Note that a DIY install does not qualify for the City of Toronto subsidy.
  • Battery backup pricing is quoted two different ways and the two are easy to confuse. As a component, MBM Plumbing lists a battery backup pump at $300 to $800 and Ontario Plumbing Quotes lists $400 to $1,500 installed. As a full retrofitted system, Tornado Plumbing lists $1,200 to $2,400 and Canada Waterproofers lists $3,100 to $4,500 for a submersible backup system. Ask whether the quote covers the pump alone or the pump, battery, charger, second check valve and basin work.
  • Bundled scopes cost less than separate visits. MBM Plumbing publishes $3,500 to $7,000 for a combined sump pump and backwater valve installation, which is also the scope the City of Toronto subsidy is built around.
  • All contractor figures above exclude HST. Ontario charges 13% HST on plumbing and waterproofing labour and materials, so add it before comparing a quote to these ranges. HST is an eligible cost under the City of Toronto subsidy.
  • US cost guides were excluded from this guide. Every figure here is CAD from a Canadian source, and every backwater valve figure is from a Toronto or GTA contractor, because Toronto permit, inspection and subsidy rules materially change the job.

Sources

Companies

Who can do the work?

WaterproofingIndex tracks 160 sump pump and backwater valve installers across the Greater Toronto Area, rated 4.9★ on average. The three below rank highest on our review-weighted score, based on WaterproofingIndex's analysis of 160 GTA businesses, August 2026.

See all 160 sump pump and backwater valve installers on WaterproofingIndex

Prices

Work out your own number

The table above is the market. These calculators put your own basement into it, and they add the HST and any City of Toronto subsidy that applies.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sump pump cost to install in Toronto?

Tornado Plumbing publishes $1,400 to $2,400 for a primary pump dropped into an existing pit and $2,800 to $4,500 when a new pit has to be cut into a finished basement slab. MBM Plumbing in Markham publishes $500 to $1,200 for a straight replacement and $1,200 to $2,500 for a new basic installation. Add 13% HST. Whether a pit already exists is the single biggest swing in the price.

What does the City of Toronto Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy pay today?

As of May 1, 2026 the City offers up to $6,650 in subsidies per property, with the expanded amounts applying to eligible work completed on or after November 12, 2025. Each item is paid at up to 80 per cent of the invoiced cost, to these maximums: $500 for a one-time home plumbing assessment, $1,600 per backwater valve for up to two valves, $2,250 for a sump pump, $300 more for a battery backup on that pump, and $400 for severing and capping a foundation drain. Eligible costs include labour, materials and taxes. Submitting an application does not guarantee a subsidy: the City issues them first-come, first-serve, subject to annual funding approved by City Council, and it can take up to 10 weeks to receive.

Do I need a permit for a backwater valve in Toronto?

Yes. The City of Toronto tells homeowners to obtain a building permit to install a backwater valve and to request an inspection once installation is complete, and not to enclose or cover the valve before that inspection is done. Contractors quote $190 to $340 for the permit plus inspection coordination (Tornado Plumbing), and Canada Waterproofers lists $214.79 for the permit itself in 2026. Skipping the permit also costs you the subsidy.

How much does a backwater valve cost in Toronto before the subsidy?

Toronto contractors publish roughly $2,000 to $4,800 before subsidy for a mainline valve. Tornado Plumbing puts the typical finished-basement retrofit at $2,800 to $4,200, dropping to $1,800 to $2,800 where there is an existing pit or an unfinished slab, and rising to $4,200 to $6,500 where access is complex. Canada Waterproofers publishes $2,000 to $3,500 and up interior, $2,700 to $4,500 and up exterior. A single-fixture branch valve protecting one drain is cheaper at $650 to $1,400.

Is a battery backup sump pump worth the extra money?

It is the part that keeps working when the storm takes out your power, which is exactly when the primary pump is needed most. As a retrofit onto an existing pump it runs $1,200 to $2,400 (Tornado Plumbing), and Canada Waterproofers prices a full submersible backup system at $3,100 to $4,500. The City of Toronto adds up to $300 in subsidy for a battery backup on top of the $2,250 sump pump maximum, but only if your contractor itemises the two components separately on the invoice.

Can I just buy a sump pump and install it myself?

You can buy the hardware cheaply: Princess Auto lists a Powerfist 1/3 HP thermoplastic submersible pump at $149.99 and a Bur-Cam submersible sump pump at $179.99, equipment only. But a do-it-yourself install does not qualify for the City of Toronto subsidy, which is worth up to $2,250 on a sump pump. The City also requires invoices from a contractor holding a valid City of Toronto business licence. If you supply your own pump and hire out the labour, Canada Waterproofers charges $450 to $800 for labour only.

What does sump pump servicing cost, and how often is it needed?

Canada Waterproofers publishes $150 to $250 for an annual inspection and $275 to $375 for a pump cleaning, and recommends replacing a pump every 10 to 15 years. Its guidance is to inspect before spring thaw in February and March rather than after it. Ontario Plumbing Quotes notes backup batteries need replacing every 3 to 5 years at $100 to $200 each.

Which contractors can do subsidy-eligible work in Toronto?

The City's own table shows that a Plumbing Contractor (T94), a Plumbing and Heating Contractor (T92) or a Drain Contractor (T87) can perform all four types of eligible work: the home plumbing assessment, backwater valve, sump pump and pipe severance and capping. A Building Renovator (T85) is listed only for sump pump work and pipe severance and capping. Verify the licence is valid before work starts through the City's Business Licence Lookup or by calling 416-392-6700, because the City denies funding for work done by an unlicensed contractor.

Does the subsidy cover disconnecting my downspouts?

No. The City states plainly that disconnecting the downspouts from your property's eavestrough system is not eligible for a subsidy. It is, however, a condition of receiving one: your downspouts must be disconnected from the City's sewer system, or you must have been granted an exemption by the City, before any of the eligible work qualifies.

Questions to ask your contractor

  • Where does the discharge line end, and how far from the foundation is that? Typical installed pricing
  • What happens in a power cut, and is a battery backup part of this quote?
  • Is a new pit being cut into the slab, and who restores the concrete afterwards?
  • Which valve are you installing, and how do I get at it to clean it later? What each device actually protects against
  • Are you pulling the plumbing permit and handling the inspection?