Don’t forget these outdoor plumbing tips as you tip-toe through the tulips

Don’t forget these outdoor plumbing tips as you tip-toe through the tulips

“Those were the best days of my life…” ~Bryan Adams
      Barbecues. Belly flops into the pool. Frisbee golf.

“My love for you will still be strong, after the boys of summer have gone.” ~Don Henly.
      Home runs, picnics, fireworks.

“In the summer time when the weather is high, you can reach right up and touch the sky.”  ~(Umm…) Mungo Jerry?
      I know that song! But who sang it? I have no idea… 

Summer brings great tunes and fun times to mind, but some things slip our noggins no matter what.

For instance, have you stopped to consider your pesky hose bibb connections this season? 

We didn’t think so. 

No worries. We’re here to help you recall forgotten rock artists and remember to give a little love to your outdoor plumbing this summer. Here are four handy, warm-weather tips to save you time and money before cold weather hits again:

Examine hose bibb connections

Your hose bibb (sometimes spelled with one “b”) is your outdoor faucet or spigot. Maybe you know that, but not everyone does. Chances are one or more of your bibbs could be leaking this season, and frankly that’s just embarrassing! 

Take a look at your side, back and front outdoor faucet connections to see if you’re wasting precious water or causing damage to your landscaping. A leaky hose bibb can also cause water to run into your basement or between your home’s walls, eroding your foundation. 

If you have an older home, you may have a hose bibb or two that is not frost-free. In Colorado, it’s a great idea to install or have frost-free hose bibs installed to help minimize freezing during our erratic weather. The frost-free bibbs have longer connectors that stay warmer because they are set deeper into your home’s exterior walls. These bibbs also have special valves and siphons that prevent water from backing up into your house and freezing. Check out this resource at familylifeshare to learn more than you ever wanted to know about hose bibbs.

Already know your drippy hose bibb needs repair? We’ve recorded a great do-it-yourself-video to show you how. Want the assurance of expert help? Call Garvin’s for friendly service 24/7.

Check all hoses

Once you’ve checked your outdoor faucets, take a look at your hoses. Did you leave the vegetable garden drip hose in the dirt over the winter? Ice and snow may not have been kind to it. Inspect each hose to ensure it doesn’t leak either at the faucet connection or along the length of the hose. Replace worn out or split hoses to improve efficiency and prevent water damage over the summer season. Examine any add-on garden timers and auxiliary sprinkler heads for wear and tear, and replace timer batteries as well.

Call for inspection

Your sewer line is incredibly attractive. Never been complimented on your sewer line before? We’re not trying to make you blush. It’s just true. Trees adore your sewer line. You see, the “fertilizer” you run through your line each day as well as the moisture from liquid “contributions” make your line incredibly attractive to trees seeking nutrients.

Delicate tree roots can infiltrate the porous concrete of main sewer lines. Once inside, they often create a web or ball that acts as a net to catch all the nifty stuff that runs through your sewer line. Over time that debris builds up and your sewer line can break. 

Summer is a great time to have your sewer line inspected for thirsty roots, obstructions and defects. Garvin’s can inspect your line with a camera on the end of a scope and record the inspection for you to watch in the comfort of your home. Read more about this service

Consider preventative maintenance

Garvin’s sewer service can clean out your lines regularly to prevent sewer line back-ups, breaks and expensive repairs. We clear obstructions by pulling them out of the line or pushing them through to the main city sewer line or septic system. 

We can help you take the worry out of remembering to do this by scheduling it for you. Consider starting planned maintenance this summer and repeating it every 6 to 12 months. Learn more about Garvin’s preventative maintenance service program.

Contact our team

Garvin’s sewer service of Denver and Englewood is here to help you with all of your seasonal plumbing needs. We’re available 24/7 and we don’t charge after-hours rates for our drain and sewer cleaning services. 

You have the right to expect fast, efficient service. Our service is performed by employees who are knowledgeable, polite and neat. We’ll treat you with respect because we treasure establishing long-term relationships with all of our customers. Over time, we hope you’ll feel comfortable relying on us for all of your plumbing needs. Call our friendly team for help or email us for information today.

 

Tools To Keep On Hand For Basic Plumbing Repair

Tools To Keep On Hand For Basic Plumbing Repair In Denver

From drain clogs in Englewood to plumbing repair in Denver, Garvin’s Sewer Service is your trusted partner for anything that clogs, leaks, or drips. And for those mavericks amongst our customer base inclined to tackle basic plumbing issues possibly classified as DIY, we’ve given you a head start by listing below some tools to keep on hand for basic plumbing issues.

Ball-Peen Hammer

Used for striking various other plumbing tools such as a chisel for dismantling the tiles, or to restore the basic shape of a simple metallic pipe. The head of a quality ball-peen hammer is resistant to chipping.

Screwdriver

Used to insert or remove a screw, either manually or electrically. The two most common types of screwdrivers are slotted screwdrivers (flat, broad top) and Phillips screwdrivers which are “spiked” at the top.

Adjustable Wrench

Colloquially known as a monkey wrench, an adjustable wrench has a movable jaw that allows it to fit or open a wide variety of bolt heads and nuts.

Channel-Type Pliers

Used to grip the smooth surface of a pipe that needs a tight grip while opening or fitting. Channel-type pliers have a movable handle which permits the jaws to be adjusted for maximum gripping strength. Also, the inward side of the jaws are saw-toothed to prevent slipping.

Needle-Nose Pliers

Aliases include snipe-nose plier, pointy-nose plier, long-nose plier, and pinch-nose plier. What they all have in common are very thin jaws for gripping small objects, i.e. a screw. Needle-nose pliers are also useful for reaching confined areas that other pliers can’t.

Ratchet Wrench Set

Used for tightening or loosening bolts and nuts. A ratchet wrench’s handle has a mechanism that lets you change sockets to work with different-sized bolts or nuts.

Flashlight

Likely the most recognizable product on this list. Super helpful for illuminating the cause of basic problems originating from the darker reaches of a pipe or drain.

Tips For Taking Care Of Your Plumbing Tools

Garvin’s Sewer Service brings more than 80 years of plumbing expertise to homes and businesses in Colorado. So we’re well qualified to say that plumbing repair in Denver goes a lot smoother when you take good care of your plumbing tools, including the ones listed above. For example:

  • Clean tools after every use with a soft fabric cloth
  • After you’ve cleaned off the dirt and dust, dip/spray the cloth with a rust prevention solution for a valuable layer of protection
  • Another rust prevention method is to immediately dry any metal tools that get wet during a repair project
  • Keep toolboxes and cabinets organized and make sure all tools are stored securely

Need A Plumber In Denver? Call Garvin’s Sewer Service

Some plumbing repairs can be remedied by handy homeowners using basic plumbing tools. Other more complex solutions are best left for Garvin’s Sewer Service and our professional plumbers serving Denver. Call us today all your plumbing needs and we’ll deliver a solution that’s fast, professional, and priced right.