Who looks after a sump pump in an Ottawa home?

The City of Ottawa says the owner is responsible for maintaining protective plumbing devices to the manufacturer's directions.

Ontario's Building Code sets the minimums the pit itself must meet: at least 750 mm deep and at least 0.25 m² in area, with a cover that resists removal by children and is airtight (9.14.5.2). A storm sump discharge has a union and a check valve, in that order, and is pumped to above grade level (7.4.6.3).

That means keeping the sump pump working falls to you, not the City. What the manufacturer's directions cover varies by make and model, so the starting point is the manual that came with the pump.

Questions worth asking a plumber or waterproofing contractor: what testing the pump needs and on what schedule, and what a test involves. Ontario advises testing sump pumps and installing a backup power system such as a battery backup. Plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario, so ask whether a licensed plumber does or signs off any plumbing work on the pump or its discharge line.

The City also points out that a sump pump will not stop water from entering through cracks in walls or window wells, failed foundation drains, overflowing eavestroughs and plugged downspouts, poor foundation drainage, or poor lot drainage. If water is getting into the pit faster than the pump can handle, the source of that water is a separate question, and a contractor needs to look at the house.

If you are replacing the pump, ask the City whether the job needs a permit, since replacing a pump in an existing pit is not named on either of its lists.