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Hey guys, has anyone had experience with a house that has no sump pump? We have only lived in this house in Milton, and everyone has sump pumps.

Now we have an offer on a house in Rockwood. During the inspection we found the pit where the sump pump should be but it has a cover over it and the pipe hole in the wall has been cemented over. We asked the current owner to replace it but she refused saying she has been there for 23 years and never needed one.

Does that sound legit? We are not going to fight her on it cuz were getting a good deal, but I'm wondering if I should put one in?

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No all house require sump pumps. Most houses do not have one, my house does not have a sump pump neither does my parents, inlaws or sisters. Most homes in Milton have sump pumps, but this is the only place I have ever seem sump pumps installed in most homes. I think Milton is built in a flood area/ wet lowlands therefore the homes require sump pumps

Milton is high on the water table as it sits right on part of the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Milton just has areas with a high water table so the municipality has determined that most new homes have sumps. Some new homes at the north west corner of town do not have sumps.

I would suggest you just monitor the pit to see if water ever enters the pit and install a pump if you need to but it sounds like if one was needed the owner would have put one in.

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I had never even seen a sump pump before moving out here
Our three previous homes certainly did not have anything in basement

Having said that, most Rockwood homes do come with a pump these days so...

I'm sure the inspectors would be able to explain this better than me but I'll try.

I'm not sure who put this change in place, by-law, building code or water waste management but years ago (all of old Milton) water coming off your roof was connected directly to the storm drains also your weeping tiles around the base of your house went directly to the storm drains. With new construction the water from your roof just drains onto your property and the weeping tiles are connected to the pit in your basement and pumped back outside.

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I've never had a sump pump either, our new home is going to be a first for me... it's probably just as scary moving TO a sump as it is moving AWAY from one... I'm expecting to see a hole in my house filling with ground water, and my pump failing and our entire house flooding

call the city and confirm...

+1... (I would do the same)

Oiiuu iuyhh khhh

Sump pumps are NOT required in all homes. Depending on water tables and locations of lots, the city decides as to where they are needed. Milton requires most, if not all surface rain water return to the tributaries within the homes area, thus they are not connected to the storm drains which would tax the drains systems on major rain falls. In the country, each home is built to suit the area in which the home is built. Therefore some may require sump pumps other not! Hope this helps clarify some questions!

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