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Do I need a sewer repair?

sewer scope inspection denver image of technician with camera machine

Do you need a sewer repair? First, let me start by saying we are NOT the company to tell you that you need a sewer line repair. Just because it’s in our name, doesn’t mean we are pushing sewer services on people like Big Pharma pushes everything with a profit margin. Nonetheless, we wanted to cover what really are problems with the sewer or drain lines and when it is a matter of companies trying to make a buck. 

Do you have a sewer line problem, really? 

If your sewer or drain line is backing up or holding water (it won’t go down), there is a problem. Sometimes we have customers say that we caused their line to break and that “there was no problem before we came.” This isn’t true. There is 100% a problem before we arrived if 1) the line is backing up or not draining and 2) you called a professional to fix it. 

Now, on the contrary, if your sewer or drain line is NOT backing up, then it isn’t broken. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I have had customers tell me that their sewer line is broken but there are literally no reasons for them to believe that. One customer hadn’t had the drain cleaned yet to determine if it was a simple blockage and the other saw a sink hole in her yard, but her sewer was working fine. 

First things first 

Once it is determined whether or not there is a sewer line problem, then an attempt should be made to clean the line. This is an important step because the plumber can typically determine at that time if the line is simply clogged and then clear it, or that it is not able to be cleared. 

There is an important note here that not all plumbers, and in fact I will say that MOST plumbers are not drain cleaning specialists. This means they may give up, or decide it is easier to do a repair than try to clear the clog. 

It is 100% ok to get a second opinion, especially if they are not a drain specialist or if they are suggesting a sewer repair or replacement. 

Get a second opinion on your sewer scope

We always suggest getting at least one additional opinion/bid when you are told you need a repair or replacement to the line rather than a cleaning. This step can save you thousands of dollars, and I am not exaggerating when I say this. 

If you are in the greater Denver area, Garvin’s is happy to take a look at any estimate and video provided to give a free second opinion. If you aren’t given a written estimate or video, that is your first red flag. 

In most cases sewer lines can be cleaned rather than replaced, and we are specialists at opening lines that others have determined need replacement. In fact, we only suggest sewer line repairs for: 

  • Complete line closure due to roots (roots are penetrating more that ¾ of the circumference of the pipe for greater than one foot). 
  • Core (closure of line due to extreme levels of debris) 
  • Construction or foreign object debris that can’t be pushed through 
  • Creating a new access point for the sewer line 
  • Breaks in the line / Failed lines 
  • Replacement of Orangeburg 

What about what the other plumbers told me? 

There are opinions out there that say drain or sewer lines should always be replaced due to roots or bellies in the line, but we disagree – to a point. Most of the time, a sewer line can be cleared of roots. We only recommend replacement when they have completely closed the line or broken the line. 

In regards to bellies, we have seen sewers with 100 foot bellies (low spots in the line) that never fail because the customer does annual preventative maintenance. These services cost pennies on the dollar, making the cost of replacement unnecessary.  

This may not be true in the case of real estate transactions, however, as we have seen people be required to replace sewer lines with bellies in order for them to sell the home because it is a risk the new homeowner doesn’t want to take. This isn’t unusual, just as a new homeowner wouldn’t want to take a risk with an old water heater or furnace, old roof, etc. 

Garvin’s Sewer Service can help! 

As always, because we are known for our ethics and expertise, if you have questions, we are here to help with our professional opinion. Give us a call if we can be of assistance. 

To flush or not to flush: How will it affect my need for drain cleaning?

dreamstime_xxl_10290097To flush or not to flush – UPDATED: what belongs in your trash and NOT your sewer. Follow this advice and you won’t need drain cleaning from a professional as often.

1.       Unwanted medications.  Well, in our drug happy world, the thought of unwanted medication may seem confusing. I mean, we even keep prescriptions past their due dates as our “just in case” pills (as though we can’t get a new prescription at the drop of a hat). When flushed, some of these medications can end up in our waterways. We don’t want to just haphazardly throw them out though either, as we have social concerns about them ending up in the hands of a youngster or dumpster diver. Your best bet? Dispose of them in ashes, old coffee grounds, kitty litter or other like items. It’s kinda like adding a little bit of wood alcohol to rubbing alcohol so we don’t drink it. What can you add to the medications to make them worthless?

2.       Grease. We aren’t talking John Travolta here, but we are talking his hair. Grease from meat fat, & cooked foods (even skin & hair products) can build up on the sides of your pipes just like they do on the arteries of your heart. Don’t think that trick of running hot water and turning on your disposal while you dump it down the sink drain helps either. It’s the plumbing equivalent of washing a hamburger down with a beer; it may clear your throat, but the damage comes later down the line.

3.       Hair. Ok, so my teenage daughters with their long, straight hair don’t care that their hair daily is being accumulated in and around the sink as they brush it, down the shower drain as they wash and color it. Check your stoppers frequently and clear them out before they form that clog that slips down the pipe and starts growing. I won’t leave out the extra hairy man either. You should do it too, sir.

4.       Tampons. Gross, I know, to talk about. Ladies, they say they are flushable, but not in your house! Please wrap all used feminine products in toilet paper and dispose of them in the trash.  Done. One of the biggest clog culprits!

5.       Chemical drain-cleaning products & bleach. I have pictures of my technicians with facial and arm burns from cleaning a line that a person tried to unclog with a toxic LIQUID sold at grocery & home stores. Would you use acid to dissolve food lodged in someone’s esophagus?! I hope not. Bleach kills critical bacteria that breakdowns your waste and both can cause line corrosion over time as well.

6.      “Flushable” Wipes. While hygiene wipes say they are flushable, we find them clogging sewer lines all the time. They don’t break down like toilet paper does. While they are ok for occasional use, they shouldn’t be used on a regular basis.

Drain cleaning, as we perform it, is a safe, natural solution for clearing unwanted matter out of your sewer system. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to call.

Garvin’s Sewer Service, Denver (303) 571-5114

Sticking a Scope in Unmentionable Places

And Why it’s Good

Get those pipes cleaned out with drain cleaning service with our sewer snake.Nobody really wants to spend their time thinking about their sewer line. And, even as plumbers, we don’t blame them. What’s found underground is not for the squeamish and really shouldn’t be mentioned in from of certain company. But come on now. We’re all adults. We need to get real about taking a good look at your sewer line and why using a scope to do so is always a good idea.

A Precautionary Plumbing Tale

Take Tammy and Mark for example. When buying their new home, they decided to forego adding a sewer scope to their home inspection, thinking that the house wasn’t all that old, so why pay that additional expense. Unfortunately for Tammy and Mark, the next buyers of that home weren’t so trusting or lackadaisical. During the negotiation processes of transferring the house, the prospective owners DID decide to have their sewer scoped and lo and behold: the plumbing company found an eight foot crack in the main sewer line. The prospective buyers made the contract contingent on Tammy and Mark fixing the problem before the close of escrow, costing them more than $5,200. Had Tammy and Mark hired a plumber to scope the line before buying the property, they could have had the previous owner pay to have the crack fixed. Their oversight ended up costing them big time.

As Denver’s local plumbing experts, we pride ourselves on professional plumbing services that exceed expectations. By offering to take a real good look at your sewer lines, we help you avoid both nasty messes and blunders that are both regrettable and financially painful.

Give us a call for sewer scoping services if you are looking to buy or sell a house or suspect that something amiss is going on with your pipes.

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How Rooter Service Heals Your Home

 

dreamstime_9956210Have you ever thought about how your home resembles your body? You furnace system is the lungs, your electrical system is the veins, and the drain and sewer systems are the…well, heck that really does work, doesn’t it, because the sewer system is the waste system.

So, when your body’s waste system isn’t working as you’d like, when stuff just isn’t moving through the way you’d like it to, what do you do? Well, strangely there are a lot of correlations between your digestive system and your sewer system.

Don’t put the bad stuff in in the first place: What’s the best way to keep your digestive system healthy? Don’t put the bad stuff in. Don’t eat too much cheese. Don’t let the meat just sit there.

When it comes to your sewer system, keep the stuff out that clogs it up. Don’t put oil into it, don’t send the grease down in the first place.

Clean it out: If your bowels aren’t working quite right, maybe you need to clean them out a little. Perhaps you should eat more fiber, keep more fruits and vegetables in your refrigerator.

The best way to prevent problems with your sewer system is to invest in a little drain cleaning service. By taking care of your drains and getting regular cleaning, you’re less likely to need sewer service.

And if it gets too serious…: Sometimes you need a deep cleaning, to start everything from scratch. With you body you might take a laxative to make sure everything is out of the way.

When it comes to sewer service, rooter service is the way to go. It resets your sewer drains so that everything is moving smoothly again.

You always want to keep your sewer pipes as clean as possible to make sure that the blackwater goes into the public system as easily as possible. Give Garvin’s a call, we can always help!

 

 

 

Advantages of Preventive Drain and Sewer Cleaning For Your Business

 

dreamstime_6349709If you own a business that has a considerable amount of drains that are likely to get clogged “at some time or another,” we’d like to tell you about our preventive maintenance plan. When you take advantage of our preventive sewer cleaning service we set up a time with you so that your drain cleaning and sewer service are always taken care of. What are the advantages?

Peace of mind: If you have a restaurant, there’s no preventing so of the grease from going down the drain. Even with grease traps that might protect the sewer system you’re still going to need regular drain cleaning.

You could keep putting it off, wondering when something is going to go wrong. You could open up shop every morning wondering if today is the day you can’t wash anything because the grease has finally clogged up your drains. What could possibly give you peace of mind so that you’re not always worrying about it? Preventive drain cleaning is the answer.

Avoid Emergencies: When’s a good time to have sewage spilling over your floors? It’s a trick question, because there isn’t one! It doesn’t matter if it happened overnight, during the 2-4 pm downtime, or after all of the patrons have gone home…there’s no good time to have a backup. When you have us take care of your preventive drain cleaning there will be a MUCH smaller chance of needing emergency drain cleaning service anytime soon. And speaking of timing…

A Set Time: One of the great parts of having preventive drain and sewer cleaning is that you get to pick the time we show up. Are you a restaurant that needs us to show up well before 11:00 when you open? Or are you a dog groomer who needs up there after you close at 6 pm? We’ll arrange a time with you when we should show up, which is something you can’t decide when it comes to emergency sewer service.

Another advantage is that you don’t have to think about calling us. Once we set up a time to take care of your sewer drain cleaning, we can be there every month, every six months, or every year, depending on how often you need us. You’ll never have to wonder “how long since my last drain cleaning, I wonder if I should call them?”

Reset!: One of the best things about getting preventive drain and sewer service is that it resets your drains. Every time we’re there, everything suddenly starts running smoothly again. Essentially your drains are back to being brand new, preventing your kitchen from smelling like rancid grease and spoiled milk, or your dog salon from smelling like rotting hair (say goodbye to that wet dog smell!)

Sewer camera: When you have us coming on schedule for basic drain cleaning and you think something is wrong with your sewer pipes, just give us a call and we can bring along the right equipment and we’ll deal with it all at the same time. If you think there are roots in the line or grease and food have made it past the grease trap, we’ll take care of your rooter service. If we suspect a break we can send down the sewer camera and find out if it’s on your property or if it’s the city’s problem.

Preventive drain and sewer cleaning are a great way to ensure your business stays up and running. Call us and we’ll set up the right schedule for you.

 

A Response To Some of Drain Cleaning and Sewer Service Customers

 

dreamstime_xxl_21449305 (1)At Garvin’s Sewer Service we do absolutely everything we can to uphold our reputation being reasonably priced and honorable. You’ve heard that happy customers tell three friends that they’re happy with service, while an unhappy customer will tell 10 or more (and in today’s world, they can tell everyone in a city with various websites.) We know just how important it is to make sure that each and every customer is happy with our drain cleaning and sewer service.

Here are some quotes from our customers and a few responses about our service.

“In 2011, a local competitor charged us $239 to advise us that we needed a $11,500 clean out. We called you instead and your service man did the job for $169. He advised us to have it cleaned out annually. Thank you for your honest service.” — Emily Laru

Thanks for letting us know how much we saved you, Emily! The fact is, we would have charged you the $169 even if we knew what you’d been quoted, because in this sewer cleaning situation $169 was the right price to charge. We don’t know where he came up with that outlandish number, but we could clean your sewer pipes for 70 years before we reached that kind of price! Preventive rooter service might be good for you because of the types of trees in your yard and the roots that are in your pipes. Preventive maintenance should keep you sewer lines flowing with no problems, preventing horrible backups.

“You arrived in less than 90 minutes after I made the call requesting service. Garvin’s was very professional and courteous.” — Dave Anderson

While we certainly can’t guarantee that we’ll have someone ready within 90 minutes every time, we’re glad that we were able to accommodate your drain cleaning needs. Regarding the professional and courteous nature of our sewer technicians: we make sure to hire the best people, and we also make sure to train them so that they are having the best possible interactions with our customers. We understand how important your home is to you, and that we’re guests while we’re there. We want you to always be comfortable.

“You saved me over $19 Grand! Steve is an awesome, honest, hard worker…I can’t thank Steve and Garvin’s enough for being honest and being affordable! Thank you!” — Courtnay Argier

We know exactly what happened here. After your sewer started running slow, the “other guys” told you that you had a broken sewer line. Thank goodness you called us for a second opinion and our sewer camera was able to verify that sewer line replacement wasn’t necessary. All you needed was some good rooter service.

Unfortunately, some people are fooled by unscrupulous sewer replacement companies. We’re glad we were there for you. (And Steve says you’re welcome!)

“We absolutely trust you guys! We always feel like we have had a family member taking care of us. Great job!” — Robert Schol

That’s what we strive for, Robert. We approach every job as an opportunity to make a lifelong customer, and it sound like we’ve made one with you.

The fact is, the companies that perform services that don’t need to be done don’t stick around for long. Meanwhile, companies like Garvin’s start as Denver’s first rooter service and then stick around for more than 75 years. Honesty and hard work are rewarding, and we thank the customers above for their kind words and their recognition of what we do. If you’d like to join the ranks of those who have enjoyed our drain cleaning, give us a call at the first sign of trouble. Contact Garvin’s today!

 

 

 

How Our Lifelong Customers Use Our Sewer Service

 

dreamstime_l_8714890We’ve mentioned it many times before, and we’re happy to keep telling you: Garvin’s Sewer Service has been serving the Denver area for more than 75 years. We’re extra proud of that fact because we’ve seen so many other sewer companies come and go, so it’s pretty obvious that we’re doing something right!

We have many customers that are lifelong customers, and since we’ve been around for so long it’s obvious that when we say “lifelong” we mean it! Here are the many ways that we’ve helped our customers and why they keep coming back to use again and again at different parts of their lives.

The Child: We’re all shaped by our parents, as they influence the types of food we eat and the people we interact with. But they also have a bearing on how we view businesses and products. If your dad insisted on buying Chevy, there’s a really good chance you’ll be buying Chevy for most of your life. (You might start buying foreign cars, but you probably won’t ever buy Ford!)

Kids pay attention even when you think they don’t, and it’s likely that they’ll notice if a parent is happy with the service they got from their local sewer company. So while the child might not be our customer directly, we are ensuring a lifelong customer by providing excellent sewer drain service to their parents.

The Apartment Renter: Here’s another case where we’re securing our reputation even though we’re not directly working for the receiver of our services. If something happens with a renter’s sewer line, they’ll call the superintendent. And if it’s beyond the superintendent’s abilities, the super will call us. Once a renter’s drain cleaning is taken care of and their water starts flowing again, they’ll have a positive view of Garvin’s Sewer Service.

All that work and our lifelong customer isn’t even a paying customer yet! Let’s fix that…

The New Homeowner: So the renter leaves the house and becomes a homeowner. They know that Garvin’s Sewer Service worked hard for their parents or their superintendent (of both) and now they’re having trouble with their home and need sewer cleaning. It might be that they need a sewer inspection with our sewer scope before they sign the final paperwork, or it might be years down the road. Either way, whenever they need drain or sewer cleaning they know exactly who to call.

The Landlord: Have you noticed how many people around here will buy their second home and keep the first one to rent out? We have many customers who use us for their primary residence but also for the one for which they’re a landlord.

The Retiree: So our customer is 70 years old now and has been using Garvin’s for their sewer service for many years. We’ve truly made a lifelong customer that’s almost as old as we are!

Sure, this isn’t the way it happens every time, but we have customers who wouldn’t dream of calling anyone else because of the sewer and drain cleaning we’ve performed for them over the years. If you’d like to experience the amazing service of Garvin’s, give us a call!

 

 

 

The Advantages of Knowing Your Yard: Sewer, Water, Electrical, Cable, and Gas

 

Don't pave that space if you're going to need some sewer cleaning.There’s so much going on underneath the ground that we never even think about, and we’re not talking about the lives of worms, insects, and other animals. There are pipes and cables that are connecting your home to the rest of the world, and it’s important to keep those lines safe so that you’re not losing your connection. Here are the reasons to know where everything is before you dig.

What Plants To Plant: We wrote an entire blog about what trees you need to avoid if you don’t want your sewer pipes and water lines being inundated with the roots. But it’s also important to avoid plants that might wrap around shallow telephone and cable lines, pulling them out of the ground and exposing them to the blade of your lawnmower or weed eater.

Where Not To Dig: We often hear about “calling before you dig” because of electric and gas lines. But it’s also important to know where not to dig so that you’re not disrupting your neighbors connection to phone and cable, which are carrying their internet. You’ll become very unpopular in the neighborhood if you knock out half of everyone’s internet!

Where Not To Lay Concrete: Sometimes there’s a space next to the driveway that’s either grass or gravel, a nice place for people to park during a party. If you’re considering laying concrete there and making it a permanent parking space, it’s important to know if you’ll have to rip it up if there are pipes and electrical wires under that space that need replacing in the future.

So, how do you find out what’s going on under your yard? Call 811 or visit http://colorado811.org/ to get your utilities located. And when you need sewer cleaning, give Garvin’s Sewer Service a call!

 

 

 

You’ve Got A Clogged Kitchen Sink… How Bad Can It Be?

 

Sewer cleaning might be on your calendar soon.Let’s say you finish doing your dishes and you reach over to flip the switch on the garbage disposal. But instead grinding for a couple of seconds and then letting everything swirl down the drain, dirty water jumps out of the other side of your sink. Or the water in the garbage disposal just sits there, refusing to go down either drain. You’ve got a clogged kitchen sink. How bad can it be?

Drain Cleaning: First, you’ll probably try a plunger (which, as we’ve suggested before, is a “sinks only!” plunger that you keep under the sink, and you label it as such so that you’re in-laws don’t grab it and sulley it in the toilet.) If the plunger works and the clog stays away, then great… there’s no need to give us a call. You might consider using a chemical cleaner, but please don’t. They seldom work for long, and they can lead to dangerous situations when further action is taken by a professional. If the plunger doesn’t work, contact Garvin’s and we’ll be there soon to take care of your drain cleaning needs. But what if your sink isn’t the only problem?

Sewer Cleaning: If your sink is running slow, and then you notice that your shower drain and toilets seem to be running slow too, you’re probably got the beginnings of a sewer problem. Sewer problems seldom, if ever, work themselves out on their own, and can get worse very quickly. Garvin’s Sewer Service has all the tools needed for proper drain cleaning and rooter service, and we can do a one-time cleaning or come back for preventive sewer maintenance if you’re having perpetual problems.

Sewer Repair: While Garvin’s doesn’t do sewer repair or replacement, we want you to know the options you’ll have if you have a break in your sewer line. First, we can provide sewer camera service, also known as a sewer scope. Having us take a look at your sewer problems will give you an unbiased opinion as to what your options are and what the next steps can be. If you have a small break in your line, you might be a candidate for sewer lining, where a balloon inflates and lines your sewer pipe with epoxy. Another option is sewer bursting, where another pipe is slipped inside your existing pipe. However, if you’ve had a severe break your only option might be sewer line replacement.

Sewer Replacement: The most disruptive method of fixing your sewer problem is complete sewer line replacement. The lawn is disturbed, trees might have to be removed, and a trench is dug in order to take up your old sewer line and replace it with a new one.

Sewer problems can be as simple as a plunger or as complex as a $20,000 replacement. If the plunger doesn’t work, contact Garvin’s Sewer Service as soon as possible and we’ll clean your pipes out or let you know of the best possible options.

 

 

The Worst Trees That Require You To Get Repeated Rooter Service

Some trees will require you to need rooter service.

“I’ll take the center square to block…my sewer pipes.”

In previous posts we told you about the problems of planting trees directly over your water and sewer lines, because eventually the roots are going to get in and you’re going to need repeated sewer service. But there are some trees that are going to cause you exponentially more problems because of the way their root systems work. You also need to be aware that the older your sewer system is, the more likely that the roots can get in.

If you’re considering planting some trees in your yard, be sure to avoid putting these particular varieties anywhere near pipes. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t plant these trees if they’re some of your favorites. But you do need to take extra precautions about placement to make sure that they’re not over any sort of water line.

Willows: Willows are perhaps the best-known of the sewer-destroying trees. Their roots are very aggressive and will do whatever they can to get into the joints of your water pipes or sewer lines. The worst offenders are the very popular weeping willow and the corkscrew willow, but just about anything in the Salix species of trees and shrubs will end up causing you problems.

Poplars: When you think of poplars, you probably think of the tall, fast-growing trees that are often planted in straight lines as windbreaks or to provide privacy While slow-growing trees will go deep in order to get to groundwater, trees like poplars have shallow root systems and would rather dig into a pipe than go any deeper. Interesting fact: cottonwoods are in the populus family.

Silver Maple: While they are fast-growing and turn a lovely shade of orange in fall, these trees can be big problems not only for your sewer lines but also for your sidewalks. On top of that, they aren’t very strong trees, so they’re more likely to topple during a storm or drop a branch onto your roof. If you really want a silver maple in your yard, plant it far away from your house and from all sewer and water lines.

American Elm: Along with the Siberian Elm, the American Elm is the most popular elm tree planted in Colorado. Like the trees mentioned above, the shallow roots don’t head much further down than a water-filled pipe, and once they dig into that there’s no reason to go any deeper.

We’re guessing that, after reading this article, you’ll be pretty careful about putting any of these anywhere near your sewer lines. But if you’ve moved into a house and you’re experiencing slow drains and toilets that drain cleaning just doesn’t seem to fix, you might want to look at the trees in the yard and see if they’re any of the offenders we talked about. It might not be your fault, but it is your problem. Regularly-scheduled rooter service might be a good idea in order to keep everything running smoothly and prevent sewer backups. Contact Garvin’s and we can make sure you continue to love the trees in your yard.