Sump Pump Installation in Markham
If your basement takes water when it rains, your sump pump has died, or you want the City of Markham rebate, we handle sump pump installation in Markham from a single pump swap to a new pit with a battery backup. We size the pump to your house, quote it in writing, and do the CCTV inspection and paperwork the rebate needs.
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Replace a pump in an existing pit: $650 to $1,300. New pit, pump and discharge: $1,800 to $3,500. Battery backup: $500 to $1,200. Disconnecting your weeping tile and adding a sump pump can qualify for up to $5,000 back from the City of Markham, with approval before the work.
placeholder imageReplacement or a new pit?
You already have a pit. Most calls are a pump that has stopped, a float that sticks, or a check valve that lets water fall back into the pit. We replace the pump and the check valve together and test it with water before we leave.
You have no pit. Some older Markham homes still drain their foundation weeping tile into the sanitary sewer. In a heavy storm that sewer surcharges and pushes water back into the basement. The fix the City pays for is disconnecting the weeping tile from the sewer and sending it to a new sump pit, which pumps the water out onto your lot instead. That is a bigger job: cutting the slab, digging the pit, rerouting the tile, a new discharge line through the wall, and a building permit.
| Situation | What is included | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Replace pump, existing pit | Pump, check valve, test | $650 to $1,300 |
| New pit and pump | Cut slab, dig pit, basin, discharge line, concrete | $1,800 to $3,500 |
| Battery backup | DC backup pump, battery, high-water alarm | $500 to $1,200 |
| Weeping tile disconnection + sump pump | Disconnect foundation drains from the sewer, pit, pump, discharge, permit | Quoted on site; City rebate up to $5,000 |
Prices before HST and before any City rebate. Last checked: CONFIRM: month and year the prices were last checked, e.g. October 2026.
Why Markham pays you to do it
Markham's Flood Control Program targets neighbourhoods drained to pre-1978 standards, and the City found foundation drains connected to the sanitary sewer were part of why Markham Village and Unionville flooded in July 2017. The Private Plumbing Protection Rebate pays up to $5,000 for weeping tile disconnection with a sump pump, or $3,000 if the tile can be redirected by gravity instead. Pair it with a backwater valve and the City pays toward both. Read how the rebate works before you book anyone.
Sizing it right
A pump that is too small runs nonstop and burns out; one that is too big short-cycles and wears its switch. We size it to how fast your pit actually fills, which we measure in wet weather if we can. Every new install gets a check valve, a proper discharge, and, if you want it, a battery backup with an alarm loud enough to hear from upstairs.
Test your sump pump before the next storm
- Lift the lid and slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit.
- The pump should start on its own and empty the pit in seconds.
- Check that water leaves the discharge pipe outside, at least 1 metre from the foundation.
- If the pump hums but does not pump, or the float sticks, call before the rain does.
Common questions
How long does a sump pump last?
Usually 7 to 10 years, less if it runs constantly. Many Markham subdivisions built in the 2000s are on their original pumps, so a whole street can be due at once.
Do I need a battery backup?
If the power goes out in a summer storm, the pump stops exactly when you need it. A backup runs off a battery for hours. If you have a finished basement, yes.
Where can the discharge go?
Onto your own property, away from the house: the City's rule for downspouts is at least 1 metre from the foundation, sloping away, and never onto a neighbour, laneway or sidewalk. We route the sump discharge the same way.
Do I qualify for the Markham rebate?
If your home is in a known flood-prone area or you can show flood risk, your downspouts are disconnected, and you get City approval and a permit before the work, you can get up to $5,000 back for weeping tile disconnection with a sump pump. The permit deadline is April 30, 2027.
My basement apartment floods. Whose job is the pump?
The owner's. If you are adding or registering a second suite in Markham, the City's guide requires backwater valves for each unit in flood-prone zones; a working sump and backwater valve together are the usual answer.