Monthly Archives: February 2014

What Can Get Caught in Storm Drains and Catch Basins

Storm drains and catch basins are essential components of drainage systems that prevent water runoff from causing millions of dollars in damage to homes in BC each year. Clogged catch basins can cause disastrous flooding of surrounding homes. Regular cleaning of catch basins is essential for proper rainwater runoff.

Every year, needless flooding occurs because catch basins are not cleaned or because they were misused. Storm drains are often misused by people who have no idea that dumping fallen leaves or grass clippings into these drains will do any harm. Dry waste like leaves and grass sits in the drains and gradually gets compacted by gravity and gets sticky as moisture is absorbed.

Catch Basin DiagramThe moist waste will stick to the walls of the drain in the same way that grease will stick to the walls of your arteries. Dirt also helps the other debris stick as it is a magnet for moisture. The dirt mixes with grass clippings and, literally, it makes clay in the same way that ancient engineers used it to make bricks. Without applying huge amounts of water, it is impossible to break this dirt and grass apart.

As the waste accumulates on the walls and floor of the catch basin, the capacity for the basin to take away drain water is reduced and restricted. Routine rainfall can no longer be drained away quickly enough and water backs up from the drain. Flooding then results and will continue to happen until the drain is professionally cleaned.

Storm drains can also get clogged with garbage. While it may be tempting to sweep that paper and cardboard waste left down the storm drain, the consequences will be disastrous later. It is also not advisable to sweep dirt and dust into storm drains either, as the dirt will bond with water that comes through and start the process of accumulation and constriction of flow.

Catch Basins and When to Clean Them

A catch basin is something that’s very easy for a busy person to ignore. Catch basins are also known as “storm drains” and are responsible for diverting excess water run-off into proper drainage channels. When they work properly, they help prevent flooding and oversaturation of critical drain fields and homes.

How often you clean your catch basin depends on the purpose that it serves. In BC, many places have catch basins that are connected to sump pumps due to the area’s moist climate and high rates of precipitation. You’ll find BC septic tank cleaning services also come with offers to clean catch basins. Companies such as Edenflo can provide both types of services.

Catch basins shouldn’t be used as dumps for yard clippings or other natural waste. They can not only back up if clogged, but over time, the walls of the basins get caked with debris and their ability to drain run-off is reduced. If the basin is connected to a sump pump, the waste can clog and break the pump itself, which can leave your home flooded during wet weather.

A catch basin should be cleaned every five years if you are not using your sump pump often. If your sump runs frequently, the basin should be cleaned annually and the sump pump should be inspected. You can schedule this service along with septic tank cleaning and maintenance.

Clogged catch basins may require additional remediation. Edenflo can provide this service. The standard remedy for cleaning a clogged catch basin is called hydro excavation. Pressurized water is literally used to excavate the debris out of the basin. The debris is captured with a vacuum on a pump truck.

Preventative maintenance of catch basins is as simple as controlling what debris goes into them and having the basins cleaned on an annual basis. Doing these two things will enable you to avoid most issues with catch basins.

Hydro Excavation – Benefits Versus Conventional Methods of Excavating

Whether they’re property managers or residential homeowners, most people deal with needing to excavate at some time or another. Fortunately, there are a number of new methods available that can make the process much easier. Let’s take a look at one of these, hydro excavation.

What is Hydro Excavation?
Hydro excavating is a process that combines pressurized water with an industrial strength vacuum. When used in tandem, hydro excavation services can both excavate soil and then evacuate it, as well.

What is Hydro Excavation Used For?
The process is beneficial for all kinds of excavating. For example, it can be used for potholing, slot trenching, removing miscellaneous debris, cold weather digging, piling hole excavation, and much more.

One especially useful application is with exposing underground utilities. In fact, there’s no better way to find those buried utilities than with hydro excavation. The problem with conventional methods of excavating is that they can cause major problems if someone’s digging were to run into a buried septic system.

This isn’t a concern when hydro excavating is being done. The process is often known as “soft digging” because the water is so non-destructive to whatever it touches. As such, if it does run into underground tanks, they’re left unharmed, and a much larger problem is avoided.

Further Benefits
Opting to use hydro excavation carries a number of other benefits with it, as well. Hydro excavating is extremely cost-effective, for example. This is partially due to the fact that there is not nearly as great a need for ground repairs when the process is finished, as compared to conventional methods.

That’s actually a good example of how hydro excavation can save money. Another is because it’s so much quicker, as well. When hydro excavation is used for problems near or below highways, for example, traffic isn’t impeded for nearly as long when compared to conventional methods.

There are a number of reasons to choose hydro excavating for your excavation needs. Edenflo can not only help you better understand these instances, but they’ll also provide you with the services as well.

The 5 W’s of Pump Truck Services: Finding a Service Professional in Your Neighbourhood

When you need pump truck services, follow the 5 W’s below to get the best service possible in British Columbia.

Who
We at Edenflo offer a wide range of services that include hydro flushing, preventative maintenance, hydro excavation services, and much, much more to any residential property owners or property managers.

What
Edenflo truly does it all when it comes to the septic tank services you need. We have all the expertise and machinery necessary to handle any job, as well.

WhenEdenflo Pump Truck Services
Call us as soon as a problem arises. At Edenflo, we are dedicated to same-day service or addressing the problem by the next day at the latest. We understand how important your septic system is to you, your family, and your home, and we will work tirelessly to solve any problems as soon as possible.

Where
Our company handles septic tank-related issues all over British Columbia, Canada. We’re based in Surrey, but we also operate in surrounding areas, including Aldergrove, Burnaby, White Rock, Vancouver, Coquaitlam, Richmond, Delta, and more. If you’re having septic issues in British Columbia, chances are we’re your best bet for professional service.

Why?
We like to think that there are a number of reasons you’d choose Edenflo for your septic tank needs. First, we offer just about every service under the sun. Whether you need hydro excavating or you just need to have your catch-basin cleaned out, we can handle it.

Our company is also dedicated to your privacy. We understand many people prefer their septic tank issues be handled with discretion. That’s why we deploy the “Lowboy”, our low profile vacuum truck. It can handle a number of jobs that were once reserved only for much larger vehicles, yet it’s far less noticeable near your home.