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Why you should add drain and sewer cleaning to your spring home checklist

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drain_cta_revMay is the time of year in Denver when we can finally begin to open windows and begin our spring cleaning.

This year, as with last year, we did need to wait until mid-May as April brought May snow rather than flowers. Nonetheless, we cross our fingers that snow is complete and begin preparing our homes for spring. Here are some tips for every area of your home to help usher in the next season.

 

1. Sprinklers and hoses

Now is the time people begin to turn on sprinklers and hoses. This can sometimes have bad results as the cold of another Denver winter may have caused outdoor spigots to crack or sprinkler heads to have been broken off. Turn on your water slowly and check the yard, basement and walls on the opposite side of the spigots for any water that shouldn’t be there.

2. Gutters and downspouts

Check your gutters and downspouts for blockages of leaves and other tree debris. With rain likely, it is a good idea to make sure your downspouts are in good working order, including making sure the water will transport away from the house and foundation.

3. Grading and landscaping

Check your home for grading issues. Make a list of the items you may need to address such as plants, mulch, walkways and more. What does your home need now to help with getting through the summer with a nice exterior finish not damaged by water?

4. Pests

Check your home for cracks that can be or become homes for pests. Awnings, loose roof tiles, broken grating or siding- these are all areas that can become problematic. Are there areas of your home that need repair before a pest can take up residence?

5. Drain and sewer cleaning

Spring is the time when roots from trees in your or your neighbor’s yard can begin to penetrate your sewer line. This is a good time of year to consider and drain and sewer cleaning service. My being proactive, you can prevent costly sewer backups in your home before they start, due to roots in the line.

6. Other Exterior needs

Aesthetics are another thing to consider adding to your spring checklist. Does the home need painting, stucco or siding? New windows, roofing or other cosmetic changes? Sometimes things that appear to be simply aesthetic really do add value to the home as well as require repairs that go beyond just appearance.

 

If you are in the greater Denver area and are looking for a quality drain and sewer cleaning service, Garvin’s Sewer Service would love to earn your business. With over 75 years in the drain and sewer cleaning business, we know our stuff. Call today with questions, for pricing or to learn more: 303- 571- 5114

How Preventive Sewer Maintenance and Sewer Scopes can fix root problems

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roots in the sewer lineWe have a root showing contest happening here in the office.

Let me explain.

When roots enter the sewer lines, they cause backups. We send our guys out to nab the problem. Most of the time, these roots come out in bits or are pushed through to the city main. In some cases, such as these, they snap a photo for our wall of fame.

Brian’s Big Root
Brian’s root came from a storm drain. It took him about 4 hours to clear it out of the line. Another company suggested using a high-pressure water sewer jetter, but it is the blades on the machine that get these root snakes out of the line.

Bill and John’s Big Root
Bill and John wrestled a Lock Ness-size root-ster from a commercial drain line. Preventative maintenance does save money in the long run. Hours of work by two men to clear the line once could have been prevented with annual cleanings.

Mark’s Nasty Root
This clog was a blend of waste entangled in roots. It impacted the line so completely, it couldn’t be removed. The line was dug up and replaced. Again, regular maintenance could have prevented this repair. The home was occupied by a single woman who never cleaned the line.

Tom’s Fat Root
Tom pulled a root from a residential sewer line that was causing a severe sewer line back up. The client hadn’t had the line ran in over a decade. Tom battled them until they finally came, kicking and screaming, out of the line. Cleanings and root destroying product used 1-2 times per year could have prevented this nightmare. We recommend RootX.

Bathroom Debates Beyond When it's time for drain cleaning

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dreamstime_9956210There are plenty of things in the world to debate and ponder — starvation, sustainability, clean drinking water. But there are far fewer things we get downright righteous about — our bathrooms.

I don’t mean using a particular brand or color coordination, I’m talking about the good old basic age-old debates:

Which way should the toilet paper hang?

When posted online, we received comments that kept the debate alive, although it seems people with playful pets (and may I suggest children), ‘A’ is the best option. Otherwise, it seems ‘B’ is the chosen response, however there was no good reason for it other than you will make people crazy if you don’t.

For A:

“This is not a debate- CLEARLY ‘A’ wins out every time.” -Marie

“Only reason EVER for ‘A’: your dog likes to spin the roll for fun” –Kim

“B normally, but A if you have cats.” -Gene

For B:

“B is the only logical answer” –John

“B… it’s just the way I roll” –Mike

“It’s B if you want to be rolling according to etiquette standards; it showcases the design of the paper.” –Kimberly

“B and I am adamant about it.” -Shelli

“Always B. A is annoying.” –Rachel

Do you use the decorative bathroom soaps or not?

My mom had a dish of decorative soaps in the bathroom- they matched the décor of beachside- in shapes of seashells. She also kept a pump dispenser of liquid soap. She didn’t want anyone to use the decorative soaps- they were simply decorative.

How about others? What do they do?

We searched online and came up with some fun answers. I’m not going to include a link- you need to do your own search for answers to this silliness.

“Gross. No soap sharing!”

“I used to collect decorative soaps and I had so many, I just starting using them up. They are lovely.”

Which then brings me to, after you have used the toilet paper and the decorative bath soap… where do you wipe your hands?

dreamstime_l_13279929

 

 

Do you use the decorative hand towels?

Yes, my mom had these two. They changed with the seasons. I always felt weird about drying my hands on Santa’s crunchy, non-absorbent beard. So, usually just dried my hands on my pant legs.

How about you?

Again, here are a few answers we found online:

“I buy things to use them, not to just look pretty.”

“Yes, they are washable, but once you do, they fade and don’t hang right.”

“I think my guest deserve to use the pretty towels. If you don’t want them touched, frame them or something.”
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I would love your thoughts on these critical questions. You can comment here or find us on Twitter, FaceBook or Pinterest to comment there.