Sump Pump Installation in Richmond Hill, ON | OCM Excavation

OCM Excavation installs sump pump systems for homeowners across Richmond Hill, ON. After two decades of storm-sewer overflow incidents and spring thaw flooding in Richmond Hill, a working sump system isn’t optional — it’s the difference between a finished basement and a $30,000 insurance claim. We install complete systems: pit, primary pump, battery backup, and a discharge line that respects Town drainage rules. Most Richmond Hill projects run $2,200 to $5,500. Call 416-317-3090 to book a free site visit.

What a Proper Sump System Looks Like

A sump pump system has four working parts. Groundwater enters a perforated pit set into your basement floor, fed by weeping tile and below-slab drainage. A float switch fires the pump when water hits a set level. The pump pushes water up through a check valve and out a PVC discharge line, dumping it at least 10 feet from your foundation. The check valve is critical — without it, water falls back into the pit every time the pump shuts off, short-cycling the motor until it burns out.

The Four Components We Install in Richmond Hill

Sump pit: 18-24 gallon polyethylene basin with perforated walls, set into the slab and bedded in clean gravel.
Primary pump: 1/3 to 1/2 hp submersible cast-iron pump moving 30-50 gallons per minute.
Battery backup: 12V DC pump on a sealed deep-cycle marine battery — 8-12 hours of pumping when the power goes out.
Discharge line: 1.5″-2″ PVC running at least 10 feet from the foundation, terminating at a swale, splash block, or storm sewer per Town of Richmond Hill rules.

Richmond Hill Discharge Rules

Richmond Hill has had repeated storm-sewer overflow incidents during heavy rain events, which is why the Town watches sump discharge closely. Sump water has to go to surface drainage — typically a street swale or a rear-yard splash zone — and never into the sanitary sewer. Many Richmond Hill subdivisions south of 19th Avenue have side-yard swales designed for exactly this purpose. We’ll route your discharge line to the right spot the first time. When you call 416-317-3090 we’ll walk you through what the Town requires for your property.

When Richmond Hill Homeowners Call Us

Spring thaw water comes up through floor cracks or the cold cellar.
The pump in the basement is older than 10 years and rusted.
Pre-sale home inspection flagged a failed pump or missing backup.
New waterproofing was done and needs a working pit to drain into.
The current pump runs nonstop during heavy rain — usually weeping tile is blocked or undersized.

How the Job Runs

First visit is the assessment. We look at where water is entering, where the panel sits, and where the discharge will go. If we’re cutting a new pit, we score the slab with a concrete saw, break out a 30-36 inch deep hole, bed the pit in gravel, plumb the pump and check valve, and patch the slab flush. For longer exterior discharge runs we bring in a Yanmar SV40 mini excavator and trench through the yard. A pit-and-pump install usually finishes in 1-2 days. If it’s paired with weeping tile or French drain work, plan for 2-4 days on site.

What It Costs

Straight pump replacement in an existing Richmond Hill basement pit: $2,200-$3,200. New pit cut into existing slab with full primary + battery backup: $3,500-$4,500. Combined with exterior discharge trenching and gravel restoration: $4,500-$5,500. Pricing is fixed and written down before we start — no surprise change orders unless we hit something unexpected like an unmarked utility.

Related Services in Richmond Hill

A sump pump is one piece of basement water control. Pair it with foundation waterproofing in Richmond Hill and a proper French drain so water never reaches the slab in the first place. Window wells leaking? See our window well installation page. We also serve neighbouring cities — check our sump pump service in Vaughan or browse the full OCM service areas across the GTA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for a sump pump in Richmond Hill?

Most Richmond Hill homeowners don’t need a permit for a like-for-like pump replacement in an existing pit. Cutting a new pit into your slab or installing a new exterior discharge line connected to municipal infrastructure can trigger a permit requirement. We check with the Town before starting.

How often should a sump pump cycle?

During heavy rain, a properly sized system in Richmond Hill cycles every 15-30 minutes. If your pump is running constantly the weeping tile is overloaded or the pump is too small. If it never runs even when neighbours’ pumps are firing, the float switch or check valve has failed.

Is battery backup really necessary?

Yes. Richmond Hill power outages routinely happen during the same storms that overload basements. A 12V DC battery backup runs 8-12 hours on a sealed marine battery — enough time to keep your basement dry while the grid comes back up.

Can the discharge go into the city sewer?

Never the sanitary sewer. In Richmond Hill, sump discharge goes to surface drainage — a swale, splash block, or rear yard — and in some cases the storm sewer where the Town allows it. We confirm the exact rule for your property before plumbing the discharge line.

Get a Quote

Call OCM Excavation at 416-317-3090 or fill out our Richmond Hill quote form. Free on-site assessment, fixed written quote before any work starts.

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