Category Archives: Property Maintenance

Preventive Maintenance for Residential Sewer Lines

Three of the most dreaded words you can utter to a homeowner are “sewer back up”.

kitchen-sink-drainIndoor plumbing is one of the best features of modern living. Waste is removed from our home, and taken to a remote location – either your own septic system or, in urban areas, a central waste processing facility that processes the waste before returning it safely to the environment.

As a homeowner, you are responsible to maintain the sewer line from your home to the location where it joins the main sewer line, where your property ends. This “main line” exiting your home is susceptible to problems that can result in blockage, and cause sewage to back up into your home, usually at the lowest point, your basement drains.

The problems can originate inside the line, with a buildup of grease or other material that then attracts other solids to stick, building a clog. They can also be caused by outside forces – tree roots are often the culprit, penetrating the line through gaps or actually crushing it under pressure.

The main indicator of a problem in the main sewer line is the smell of sewage in the basement. This odour is best not ignored, because it can be matter of a few hours before the effluent starts rising from the drains.

Edenflo is experienced in taking care of sewage problems, quickly and efficiently. Video Line Inspection uses CCTV camera equipment to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Most of the time, a clog can be cleared using hydro flushing, in which we use a high-pressure jet of water to blast it away. In the less common case that your main line is damaged, we can pinpoint the problem and expose it using hydro excavation.

To find out more about the many services, residential and commercial offered by Edenflo, contact us today at 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Preventive Maintenance for Strata Properties

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If you’re a director or manager of a Strata property, you know that it’s the Corporation’s responsibility to repair and renew all common property and common assets of the corporation, and complete a depreciation report indicating that upcoming work is appropriately planned every three years.

When it comes time to think about your sewer, septic, and grease trap systems, you can minimize future problems by enrolling in Edenflo’s preventative maintenance program. It will help you to more accurately forecast costs, and in the long run be more economical. We offer numerous services that, when used together, constitute an effective way to ensure that your storm water and sewer systems operate trouble free in the long run.

Sump and catch basin cleaning should be performed regularly to ensure that storm water runoff has a clear route away from your property. Removal of sludge and other foreign materials from your sump system will prolong the life of your pump, ensuring that it’s working when you need it.

High Pressure Flushing can remove silty deposits before they cause a problematic backup. It’s a safe procedure that can be performed on lines of any size.

Video Line Inspection can be performed to identify problems before they occur, when they’re easiest and most economical to fix.

For expert maintenance of your Strata Corporation’s sewer, septic, or grease trap systems, contact Edenflo Pump Truck services. We’ll help you establish a preventive maintenance schedule that will meet the needs of your building.

For more information about the services offered by Edenflo, and how they can help you keep the property you manage compliant with Strata reporting requirements, call 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Why Choose Hydro-Flushing?

Hydro-Flushing is a tried and true technique in drain line clearance, and it’s the first choice of an Edenflo technician when there’s a problem with your sewer or storm water removal system. It offers many benefits over traditional mechanical means of clog removal.

Hydro-FlushingHydro-Flushing involves introducing water into the pipe at a very high pressure, dislodging both the clog and any accumulated sediment in the line all at once. The result is a drain line that is completely clear of debris, not just the removal of a single clog. Any material that doesn’t flow out to the sewer system is collected by the vacuum in our combo truck and removed that way. You are left with a system that is nearly as clean as it was when you installed it.

Because there’s no mechanical component, there are no errant metal tools involved in the process that can damage your drain system. No surprise repairs.

All Edenflo technicians are trained and experienced in the use of Hydro-Flushing equipment and methods. They can accurately assess the needs of your specific property and drainage system, and set about work in a way that will solve your problem in the shortest time, at the smallest cost.

Hydro-Flushing is a more efficient, effective, and economical way to solve the problems of a clogged sewer or septic line. It’s also useful as a preventive technique. Hydro-Flushing on a regular basis will ensure that your waste and storm water removal system will work as intended for years to come.

For more information about Hydro-Flushing and other services offered by Edenflo, call us at 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Sometimes DIY is Not Authorized

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One only needs to turn on the television or visit a magazine rack to see that there’s a huge trend toward do-it-yourself (DIY) renovation and construction. Big box stores offer a huge selection of materials, tools, and even instructional classes that weren’t available a few years ago. DIY enthusiasts save lots of money, get great satisfaction from the work they do, and create living spaces that are precisely customized to their needs and wants.

Some things, however, must be left to professionals. Work on your home’s waste removal system is one of those things. Not only is it a bad idea to make changes to your home’s septic or waste removal equipment, it’s against the law.

In British Columbia, the Sewerage System Regulation spells out the rules for waste removal. This is to prevent the health risks that come with an inappropriate system of waste management from contaminating land and drinking water supplies, and placing the public at risk.

Under the Regulation, only Authorized Persons (a registered onsite wastewater practitioner, or a professional engineer) or homeowners under the supervision of an Authorized Person can construct or alter a waste removal system. All applications for alterations or construction must be filed with the health authority, and maintenance requirements must be outlined by the Authorized Person. Ongoing records must be kept, to ensure industry and owner accountability.

In short, when it comes to your sewerage system, you are best to hire an expert. Edenflo Pumping, as a company of experts in the field, takes great care to ensure that the Lower Mainland’s environment is preserved for future generations. You can rest assured that we will always carry out our work in a responsible manner, with the health and well being of our customers, their families, and the general public, as our primary concern.

If you’ve got problems with your waste system, or want to schedule preventive maintenance, call Edenflo at 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Best Way to Deal With a Flood? Make Sure it Doesn’t Happen

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Flooding is nasty, especially if it comes from your home’s drainage system. Nothing is worse than coming home to find the basement filling with sewage backing up through the drains.

A flood can be an expensive proposition – if your basement is finished, you’ll likely have to tear up flooring and carpets, have some drywall replaced, and sort through your destroyed possessions. You’ll have to deal with the insurance, contractors, and stress.

The best way to deal with a flooded basement is to do your level best to make sure that it doesn’t happen in the first place. If your home is older, you live on a treed lot, or you have a septic system, you should consider a program of regular inspection and maintenance, including Video Line Inspection (use of a Closed-Circuit Television Camera to investigate the interior of your sewer lines) and hydro-flushing to clear out any debris.

If your property has storm water catch basins, you’ll want to have them inspected to make sure they function properly – a buildup of debris can cause them to malfunction and excess water will find its’ way into your home through the foundation.

If you have a commercial building with a food preparation space, you likely have a grease trap, which by law needs to be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.

Many building owners consider sewer lines an “out of sight, out of mind” issue, and don’t choose to go looking for problems. Unfortunately, by the time that a problem calls itself to your attention, it’s too late. Be proactive, and schedule an inspection today. For more information about preventive maintenance and other services offered by Edenflo, call 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

You Don’t Appreciate Perimeter Drainage Until it Fails

If you’ve got a building with a basement, keeping water out of it is a considerable challenge. The number one hero in the fight to maintain a dry basement is the weeping tile – a porous pipe buried around the footings of the building foundation designed to route groundwater away from the walls. This water is taken either to a catch basin or to a sump pit in the basement, where it is sent on its way by a mechanical pump.

Flood-surrounds-houseIn older buildings, clay weeping tiles were used, while newer construction employs corrugated polyethylene piping, called “Big O” and perforated PVC piping. Clay tiles can degrade over time, while silt and other solids can clog all types of perimeter drainage. When this happens, the tiles no longer remove groundwater from around the foundation, and water is allowed to stand outside the footings of the home. Leaks will form, generally at the seam where the basement walls meet the slab of the floor, though water might also seep up from underneath (due to the hydrostatic pressure that’s increased when the normal “escape” is blocked) and come through cracks in the floor.

Common fixes for this problem involve weeping tile excavation and replacement, which is quite expensive, or digging up the floor next to the walls and installing new tiles, which costs less but can be less effective.

Modern Video Line Inspection and Hydro-jetting technology can be used to examine the weeping tiles around your foundation, and remove many clogs in your perimeter drainage system. Edenflo has trucks with equipment that can open your weeping tiles with water jets, while simultaneously removing the water and debris released by the jetting action.

If your basement is leaking, or if you’re interested in preventing problems with your perimeter drainage system, call Edenflo at 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Save Money With Edenflo’s Preventative Maintenance Program

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When you own property, you want to keep it maintained because this is always less expensive than having to make repairs when something goes wrong. It is convenient to find a company that can do multiple preventative maintenance services because then all of the work gets done at once and you do not have to worry about it for another year. Edenflo offers a preventative maintenance program that can help you to keep your property in great shape and save you time and money, as well as promote increased efficiency.

High Pressure Flushing
This can be used to tackle your drain and sewer lines and get all of the silt, sand, and sludge out of them. This can be done on both small lines and large lines to ensure that things are not getting clogged and causing problems, such as backup which can result in costly and damaging flooding.

Hydro Excavation
This is a good method for getting tree stumps prepared for removal and creating landscaping features. You can also get digging done in areas that are difficult to get to and get the trenches dug for line installation.

Sump and Catch Basin Cleaning
Catch basins and sumps need to be maintained to prevent clogging and motor burnout and this service can get all of the debris, water, and sand out of your basin and sump. This will ensure that you do not have issues with your sump.

Video Camera Line Inspection
Knowing what is happening with your drain lines is not easy, but it has to be done or else you risk experiencing costly repairs and this service can get the inspection done quickly. Using this method will help you to save time, reduce damage, and decrease repair costs, according to Edenflo.

Property Managers: Do Your Property Maintenance Before the Rain Falls

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When you manage a property it is important to stay ahead of the upkeep or else it can pile up and cost you a lot more in the long run. Preventative maintenance will benefit all property managers, but you need to know when to do it and what you should be looking for. Things like the septic system and the structure of the building should be checked frequently just so you know how they are and if they are in good working order.

Check the Roof
Roofing starts to go bad over time and if you are not aware that it is bad, this can lead to water damage on the property. You want to check your roof at least twice a year just to make sure that nothing needs to be replaced or repaired. If things are looking bad, simply have them taken care of right away to prevent further damage.

Edenflo Property ManagementLook at Your Landscaping and Yard Features
Things like plants and trees, pools, fountains, and ponds all require some type of maintenance to maintain them. For example, hydro excavating can be done on all of these to keep everything in good working order and to remove tree stumps that are difficult and deep, according to EdenFlo. When it comes to plants, you want to know how to properly care for them during all four seasons.

Your Catch Basin
Most people keep an eye on the septic tank, but the catch basin tends to be forgotten about sometimes. Companies like Edenflo will be able to provide maintenance for your catch basin so that it is always in good working order and not causing problems for you or your tenants. A professional can give you information on how often maintenance should be performed.

Time to Prepare for the Winter Season

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Before winter hits it is important to do some preventative maintenance on your septic system to avoid issues when the temperatures drop, such as frozen water. There are a few quick things you can do to avoid any septic system issues throughout the winter.

Get Your Pipes Prepared
You will want to winterize your pipes even when you will be in the home all winter and using the pipes. Antifreeze chemicals can be helpful to avoid freezing and to do this, just pour some down the drains of the sinks in your home, according to EdenFlo. You can find antifreeze that is specific to septic tanks to winterize this component of your plumbing.

Empty Out the Septic Tank
You do not want to head into the cold weather with a septic tank that is near full or else you are at risk for issues throughout the season. Your tank should be emptied, pumped, and cleaned a few weeks before the weather turns frigid. On average, you want to have your septic system cleaned out once a year and a few weeks before winter is the ideal time to do it. This type of preventative maintenance will save you hassles and money.

Ensure That Water is Always Flowing
It is said that when water is not flowing well through the pipes, your risk of experiencing a septic tank problem is increased. Ensuring that the tank does not freeze is important and you need water to be moving adequately through the pipes to avoid this. Talk to a professional, such as those at EdenFlo, to get information about how to keep your pipes flowing and make sure to learn how to ensure that you do not experience water flow issues during the winter months.