Plumbing and excavating are hot topics for homeowners — both words seem to strike fear about bank accounts draining in an effort to repair blocked sewer lines.
Garvin’s Plumbing and Sewer says, “We clean drains, not bank accounts!” It isn’t just a motto for us — it’s how we approach our plumbing and excavating services. We make sure that your hard-earned money is spent wisely, clearing or repairing sewer lines completely.
There are two major functions of plumbing. The first is to bring clean, usable water into your home. The second is to get wastewater out of your home. When wastewater won’t leave your home, it is typically due to a few possible culprits.
Clogs In The Drain Line
A clog can cause water to accumulate at the drain, like when your kitchen sink is holding water because there’s too much food waste in the line and/or the garbage disposal stopped functioning. Another example is when you find yourself standing in water that won’t drain from your shower or bathtub.
A clog can also cause a backup, when waste water comes up into the drain, such as sewage into a basement shower, or a toilet all of a sudden overflowing without having been used.
A Break In The Drain Line
Breaks in the drain line can be caused by a couple of things as well.
Root Intrusion
Roots grow into the sewer or drain line in search of the nutrients inside. They push into any weakness, usually at joints. Once they are fed, they grow, creating a larger separation, cracks or an obstruction of the flow of water and waste.
Ground Settling Or Disruption
Mother nature isn’t impressed with our modern plumbing and will shift the ground for a variety of natural reasons. On the flip side, construction or utilities workers have also accidentally run over, bored through or otherwise broken the line by working near the waste line.
Aging Pipes
Just like anything else, pipes aren’t meant to last forever, and their aging can cause them to lose strength and effectiveness. Regardless of the material used to make them, the pipes do eventually succumb to the aging process and can corrode or break.
Cast iron and galvanized pipes are the most common pipes that need to be replaced. Once a leak starts, it’s likely that other leaks will spring up. Once this happens, we always recommend replacing them.
Metallic pipes are more likely to experience issues with scale build up, especially when hard water is involved. Plastic pipes are designed to last a long time, but can still be damaged with temperature swings or accidents like someone drilling (or sticking a nail) through them.
Plumbing And Excavation
Drain lines in plumbing are often hidden behind walls, in ceilings and underground. This is why when they’re damaged, excavation or demolition is required. In both cases, Garvin’s works to limit the amount of space to be disrupted in order to reduce repair costs and inconvenience.
Plumbing and excavation are rarely (if ever) an enjoyable experience, but we do work hard to make the process as painless as possible. This is our process for repairing hidden drain lines.
Step 1: Clean The Line
We’ll always try to clean a line to get it open first. Some competitors will “clear” a line, meaning they get it to drain, but they don’t actually remove the root intrusion from the line. This can result in frequent, future back ups that they will tell you is because you have a broken drain line (but the truth is, they just haven’t cleaned it well).
Step 2: Camera The Drain Line
If we suspect a broken drain line, we’ll inspect the line with a camera. This tells us where the problem area is and it’s depth so we can target the problem area specifically when we dig a hole for plumbing and excavation work.
If, for some reason, we aren’t able to see anything with the camera (because the line is still full of water or debris), we’ll locate the problem manually instead.
Step 3: Locate The Drain Line
In order to determine where and how far down to dig, we need to locate the line. If we’re cutting into a wall, we won’t do this step. A camera lets us see inside the line, but line location tells us where it is.
We use the same equipment to inspect with a camera and locate the line, but they’re separate services — and not every customer needs both.
Step 4: Provide A Bid
After we know that there is indeed a drain line break, and we know the depth and approximate length of the pipe, we’ll provide a bid for repairs. This will explain the scope of work. If you have questions, you’re welcome to talk to us and get more clarity and information.
Once you approve the bid, we take a deposit to secure the appointment time, obtain permits and purchase supplies.
Step 5: Perform The Plumbing And Excavation Work
Finally, we get to work making the repair. This may include digging inside, outside or both. It can include hand digging, using a jackhammer or using an excavator, depending on the scope of the project.
In order to successfully repair a drain line, we need to find healthy pipe to attach to. This may result in digging up more line or cutting larger holes. This is called a “chase” or “pipe chase”.
Once we’ve completed the plumbing and excavation, we properly secure the drain line and refill the hole. In the case of drywall or tile, you’ll need a contractor who specializes in that type of work to complete the repair. You’ll be made aware of this prior to beginning work.
Additionally, any disturbed landscaping will need to be replaced by a landscaping company — but we will make every effort to limit damage and reuse any landscaping material.
Do You Need Plumbing And Excavation Work?
For over 83 years, Garvin’s has been serving the Greater Denver and Boulder areas with our expertise and ethics. We want to earn your trust, just as we have done with tens of thousands of homeowners over the years. Give us a call today for a camera inspection, line location or plumbing and excavation service.
