Stop Sewage Backup Before It Starts.

If you’ve ever dealt with a sewer backup in your basement, you know it’s one of the worst things that can happen in a home. The mess, the smell, the damage — and the cost to clean it up. A backwater valve is one of the smartest, most affordable things you can do to protect your home from ever going through that.

JEM Plumbing installs backwater valves for homeowners throughout Stark, Summit, & Portage counties and we’ll make sure yours is done right.

What Is a Backwater Valve?

A backwater valve (also called a backflow valve or sewer backup valve) is a device installed in your home’s main sewer line. It works automatically — when sewage tries to flow back toward your home, the valve closes and blocks it. When flow is normal, it stays open and everything drains as it should.

You’ll never have to touch it. It just works.

Why You Might Need One

Heavy rain. Aging municipal sewer systems. A blockage downstream. Any of these can cause sewage to back up through your floor drains, toilets, or basement fixtures. It doesn’t matter how well-maintained your own plumbing is — if the city’s system gets overwhelmed, the pressure has to go somewhere.

A backwater valve makes sure it doesn’t go into your home.

You should seriously consider a backwater valve if:

• Your home has a basement
• You’ve experienced sewer backup before
• You live in an area prone to heavy rainfall or flooding
• Your neighborhood has an older combined sewer system
• Your home insurance requires or recommends one

Why We Recommend RectorSeal

We’ve installed a lot of backwater valves over the years, and we’ve seen how they hold up over time. RectorSeal is the brand we trust and recommend to our customers without hesitation.

RectorSeal backwater valves are built tough, designed for reliable long-term performance, and engineered to install cleanly and correctly. They’re a product we’re confident standing behind — because when it comes to keeping sewage out of your home, you don’t want to cut corners on the hardware.

What the Installation Looks Like

Installing a backwater valve is a job for a licensed plumber — it involves cutting into your main sewer line, which needs to be done carefully and correctly the first time.

Here’s what to expect when you work with JEM Plumbing :

Assessment — We’ll inspect your existing drain line and identify the best location for the valve.

Installation — We cut into the sewer line at the appropriate point, install the RectorSeal valve, and make sure everything is properly sealed and seated.

Testing — Before we leave, we test the valve to confirm it’s operating correctly and the line is flowing as it should.

Cleanup — We leave your space clean. If the valve is installed in your basement floor, we restore the area as much as possible.

Most installations are completed in a single visit.

Once your backwater valve is in, you stop worrying about what happens when a big storm rolls through. You stop hoping your basement floor drain holds. You stop wondering if this is the year it finally happens.

That’s worth a lot — and it costs a lot less than a single cleanup after a sewer backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a backwater valve require maintenance? RectorSeal valves are designed for low maintenance, but we recommend having it inspected periodically to make sure the flap is clean and moving freely. We can check it during any routine plumbing visit.

Will my insurance cover the installation? Many municipalities and insurance providers offer rebates or incentives for backwater valve installation. It’s worth checking with your provider — we can give you documentation to support the claim.

Is my home a good candidate? Most homes with a basement and a gravity-fed sewer connection are good candidates. Give us a call and we’ll take a look.

Don’t Wait Until It Happens

Sewer backups don’t give you a warning. One bad storm is all it takes. JEM Plumbing can install a backwater valve and make sure your home is protected before you ever need it.

Backwater valve

Installed backwater valve