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After We’ve Verified That You Need Sewer Line Repair With Our Sewer Scope, What Are Your Options?

 

garvins_cta3Here at Garvin’s Sewer Service we don’t replace sewer lines. We have to admit, we’re pretty amazing at sewer cleaning, rooter service, and using a sewer snake. But when it comes to sewer line repair and replacement, we like to think of ourselves as a third-party consultant. In this way, you can know that when we use our sewer scope to identify the problem, we have no ulterior motives.

So, when you call Garvin’s to give our professional opinion as to whether or not you need a new sewer line, what can happen?

Let us verify that regular rooter service is or isn’t what you need: Some people have a backed up sewer line and immediately think that that’s the end of their sewer line. What the hydro-hypochondriacs don’t realize is that most sewer problems are taken care of with thorough rooter service. If that works, you might be good for years to come. If it works for only a short amount of time, then it might be time for…

Sending the Sewer Camera Down: Garvin’s offers sewer camera service, which we also call sewer scoping. While it can be relatively expensive, it’s an excellent way to find out what’s going on in your sewer line. Since we’re a third party, we can be completely honest about what we see. It can also give you a better indication of what you should do next.

Sewer Lining: Sewer lining might be an option for you, depending on how bad the break in your sewer line is. Sewer lining, also called CIPP (cured in place pipe), sends a resin-filled lining into your sewer pipe. The lining is then forced against the walls of the existing pipe with a bladder and hot water, and then in about an hour the resin hardens and the lining is permanently affixed to the inside of your old pipe.

Sewer Bursting: Sewer bursting sounds pretty dramatic, and that’s because it is! A small pipe is sent through your old sewer line and then connected to your new sewer line waiting on the other end. The small pipe then pulls the new pipe through your old pipe, destroying it as it goes. Essentially, your old pipe simply becomes the guide for the new one and is bursted as the new one forces its way through.

Trenching and Replacement: If you’re unaware of sewer lining or sewer bursting, you might think that trenching and replacement is the only way to go. However, there are times when those first two methods won’t work. Severe breaks, like when part of the pipe has collapsed into a sinkhole and alignment is no longer possible, might require you to have your sewer line replaced. In this case your yard will suffer, as your old sewer line will have to be removed and a new one installed. Replacement is the most expensive option and the most destructive to your property.

Garvin’s Sewer Service is always happy to check out your sewer system with our sewer camera, and if you need guidance on who to hire, we know of the companies that we’d trust with our own home. When you’re having problems, give us a call and we can help guide you through the process.

 

 

 

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.

 

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!

 

 

 

Top 3 Reasons You Want To Avoid Sewer Replacement

 

video_ctaHere at Garvin’s, we have to wince every time we drive by someone’s house and see that they’re having their entire sewer line replaced. We hope the homeowner took every step possible before they devoted themselves to such an endeavor, and that the company that they’ve chosen to replace their sewer line is one of the reputable ones. Far too many people are talked into sewer replacement even when they might not need it. Customers should know that there are sewer camera options that might tell you that you don’t even need your line replaced.

If you have another option to sewer replacement, you’ll probably want to take it. Sewer replacement can disrupt your life in so many ways. Here are some of the problems you should try to avoid if possible.

Save your lawn: Having your sewer line replaced wreaks havoc on your lawn. And it’s not just the obvious line that has to be dug out directly above your sewer line, either. You also have to deal with the tracks the backhoe leaves, which not only destroys your grass but also compacts the ground under its treads, preventing oxygen from reaching roots and making it harder for anything to grow there. Backhoes can also crack your sidewalk, and it’s unlikely the sewer line replacement company will take responsibility for it.

Save your trees: If the tree roots were the original cause of the pipe breakage and rooter service didn’t work, it might actually be unavoidable and advisable to remove the tree, especially if it’s of a species known to be particularly aggressive against sewer pipes.

The real problem would be if you lose the tree because it’s simply in the way. Losing a tree because it was planted in the wrong spot and has to be removed during sewer replacement can be heartbreaking.

Even if the tree is not fully removed, its health can be affected if too many of its roots are removed during the sewer replacement. Yet another reasons to avoid complete sewer replacement if possible.

Save your money: Sewer line replacement is one of the most expensive replacements that you have to undertake on your house, made all the worst by the fact that most insurance plans aren’t going to recover replacement. Imagine the cost of replacing your furnace, and then doubling it! The average sewer replacement costs between $5,000 and and $13,000, which is a house cost that almost no one is ready for. You’ll probably be paying for it for years.

What’s all this mean? Avoid sewer replacement if at all possible! First, if you’re having problems with your sewer and regular rooter service isn’t working, let Garvin’s employ our sewer camera and we can give you an unbiased, third party review of your sewer line’s health with our sewer scope. There’s always the chance that there’s a complete break and you’ll have to have everything replaced, but if you can avoid it it’s a good idea to have all of your options. Contact Garvin’s at the first sign of trouble!

 

 

 

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!

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

No Paper Towels! Why They’ll Lead You To Sewer Cleaning Faster Than You Think

No Paper Towels! Why They’ll Lead You To Sewer Cleaning Faster Than You Think

 

Some of you might remember the short-lived television show “The PJ’s,” a stop-motion animated series that followed a building superintendent named Thurgood (voiced by Eddie Murphy) in “the projects.” In the very first episode there’s an exchange between the superintendent and a voodoo practitioner that rings true in all sewer services expert’s hearts:

 

Ms. Mambo Garcelle: Super, my toilet is clogged!

Thurgood: What did you flush down the toilet?

Ms. Mambo Garcelle: Nothing!

   (Thurgood stares at her suspiciously)

Ms. Mambo Garcelle: A goat’s head, wrapped in paper towels.

Thurgood: How many times do I have to tell you people? NO PAPER TOWELS!

Why you shouldn’t flush paper towels

Now, while we don’t advocate flushing goat heads down the toilet, we love the joke…paper towels are worse on the sewer system than an entire goat’s head! But why are paper towels so bad on our sewer system, and why are they one of the biggest offenders that lead to sewer cleaning?

Paper towels are tough

When you see paper towel commercials, they’re always bragging about how tough they are. Heck, Brawny even uses the epitome of toughness, the lumberjack, as its mascot (or is it just a hipster…seriously, we can’t tell anymore). Paper towels are designed to hold up when wet, unlike toilet paper which is designed to hold up to wetness for just a few seconds and then break apart. It’s this toughness that prevents them from disintegrating no matter where they are in the water system.

Paper towels are absorbent

The other thing paper towel commercials are always bragging about is their absorbency. That’s great when you’ve spilled a glass of iced tea on the counter, but you’ve got to think about what’s actually happening…the paper towel is getting bigger as it absorbs water. So when you flush a paper towel, it’s growing to its maximum size and stays at that size all the way down your drain and into your house lateral sewer line. When you combine this with their toughness, it’s just one big wad of dead tree fibers heading down and asking to get caught on something..

Paper towels are big

Try this: take a square of toilet paper and try to fit it through a straw. Not exactly easy, but it can be done. Now try to do the same things with the smallest paper towel you can find. Toilets were designed to handle one of these two paper products and we’ll give you a hint…it wasn’t the paper towel!

Despite the wonders of select-a-size, paper towels are still big and thick. Because of this they’re more likely to be grabbed by whatever else is hanging out in your sewer line, stuff like tree roots and grease monsters. The paper towels are just going to sit there, not degrading, because they were designed to not degrade. Then they’re going to help grab the next paper towel you send down, and then the smaller stuff like regular old toilet paper, and it’s all making the problem worse and worse until you need professional rooter service.

We’ve said it many times before, but it never ceases to amaze us how many time people ignore us: the only stuff that should go down the toilet is human waste and toilet paper (preferably a brand that disintegrates quickly). If you follow this rule, it’s likely that you won’t need sewer cleaning quite so soon.

2 Questions To Ask When Your Sewer Cleaning Expert Is About To Leave

 

Whether we’re at your home for emergency sewer cleaning or just preventive rooter service, it’s always nice to see a technician go. As nice as we are, it’s great to have your service taken care of an off your list, and we understand if you’ve got no problems saying goodbye so that you can get on with everything else you have to do that day.

But before we go, make sure you have all the information you need to make informed decisions in the future. Here are 3 questions to ask your sewer drain cleaner before they go.

What Can Be Done To Prevent This Problem In The Future? Sometimes problems just happen. Even if you’re steadfast about preventing grease from going down the drain, 15 years of the tiny amounts of oil that are in vegetables might eventually build up and cause you to have a clogged kitchen sink. There’s not much that can be done about time-related problems.

But some problems can be avoided with just an ounce of prevention. Keep the bacon grease out of your drains, don’t flush paper towels, and have us back regularly because the roots have found your pipes.

Can I Have Your Card? — There’s a good chance that we’re going to leave you with a business card or a magnet for your fridge. If you’ve been pleased with our sewer cleaning service, there’s a good chance that you’re going to want to call us again the next time you have trouble. You don’t always remember the name of a business that performs well, but you will check your refrigerator to see who treated you well last time!

We’ll be there and get the job done as thoroughly as possible as quickly as possible. But before we leave make sure you get all your questions answered. Contact Garvin’s today!

 

 

 

What We Know That You Don’t: The Knowledge That Guides Our Sewer Drain Cleaning

 

Certain tree roots can lead to premature sewer drain cleaning.In the last blog we talked about everything that we need to learn from you when you’re in need of emergency sewer service, stuff like the history of the problem, if other sewer companies have tried to fix the problem, and if you’ve tried to fix the problem with chemical drain cleaners.

But what you might not know is what we already know when you walk up to your door. Here’s the information we’re coming to you with that you’re probably not even thinking about.

The Trees In Your Yard: If we see a willow tree in the middle of the front yard, we’d put money on what your problem is. Willow trees are notorious for getting into sewer pipes as they search for water, so seeing one in your front yard pretty much guarantees that you’re going to need rooter service. Other trees we watch out for are poplars and elms. Bushes aren’t usually a problem, but they might be hiding…

Where the external clean out line is: Many people like to hide their external clean out pipe behind a bush, and if it’s summer we’re not likely to see it. But we’ve dealt with enough PUD’s (Planned Urban Developments) to be able to close our eyes and point to exactly where it is. We’ve seen a lot of housing developments go up in Denver, and if the design of a home is the same then the plumbing and lateral sewer lines are usually in the same place as well. And speaking of neighborhoods we notice…

The Decade Your House Was Built In: When we walk up to your house, we’re scanning the area to gather as much information as possible. One thing we do is estimate when the house was built, which gives us a good idea of what kind of sewer pipe was used. If it’s a fairly new house, we’re obviously dealing with PVC or ABS. But if you’re house is from the 1950’s we’ll be dealing with something completely different. Of course, the year your house was built also tells us something about…

The Conditions Of The Sewer System In Your Neighborhood: Being so far west, Denver can’t really be considered an “old” city. We’re not exactly dealing with the ancient underground sewage systems that a city like Paris or London has to deal with. But the sewer systems have changed considerably over the years, and we know if the problems you’re having are due to your personal lines or if there have been problems with the public sewer system that might be causing you to give Garvin’s a call. We might also be able to deduce what your problem is if…

Your Neighbors Have Called: If we’ve been to three other houses on your block in the last month and they’ve all had the same problem, it might help us figure out exactly what’s going on with your sewer system. Did we have to perform rooter service because all of the trees in the neighborhood have reached the age where their roots are invading pipes? Or is it a 1950’s neighborhood where the pipes have started disintegrating?

That’s what we know before we even step one bootie-covered foot in your home! What we know can really help us deliver the best sewer cleaning available in Denver and along the front range. When you suspect problems or want to avoid them with preventive sewer cleaning, contact Garvin’s Sewer Service!