When you are looking to replace a water heater, it makes sense to do some research to see what the best solution is. Remodeling, even without the need for a new water heater, may also send you in search wondering if tankless water heaters are worthwhile.  If you follow our blog, you will probably guess that we won’t have a direct answer for you, because the answer depends on your specific goals and budget.  Tankless water heaters have come a long way in the last decade. When they first came out, we rarely recommended them, but the prices have come down and with new laws around water ..read more

Restaurant drain cleaning is (hopefully) not the biggest thing on your mind as a Back-of-House restaurant manager. We know you have your hands full of day-to-day operations and putting out fires (hopefully only figurative ones, but we know you’ve put out at least one in your career). Our 80-plus years in a restaurant drain cleaning business has us seeing a lot of drain and plumbing issues and we wanted to give you 3 tips to help you have fewer emergencies.  Restaurant Drain Cleaning Tip 1: Cover Floor and Sink Drains  Most kitchen floor drains are recessed and/or grated and the grate ..read more

Online shopping can be fun. You can see lots of information about products, see design ideas you love, and build a cart that matches your budget. However, there are some traps to watch out for when purchasing plumbing parts online and we want to explain those now.  We are not saying you can *never* buy plumbing parts online, it’s just that you need to be aware of certain things to watch for.  What to Watch Out for When Buying Plumbing Parts Online Overseas Sellers  The US has a plumbing code that is different than other countries and buying parts online might mean you are having ..read more

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?  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 ..read more

Big families have big needs – they need and use more of everything, and that includes plumbing. Here are 3 ways to save on plumbing:  Tip 1: Prioritize Preventative Maintenance  Plumbing preventative maintenance saves money and headaches in the long run. Preventative maintenance can be done on water heaters, sewer lines and drain lines. Visits that keep things in good condition will always cost less than big, surprise bills when the repair is urgent. They save you the headache as well because they buy you time to research and shop for repairs and replacements before they are required ..read more

Garvin’s is Denver’s oldest drain cleaning company, founded in 1940. We get the question “How often should I have my sewer line cleaned?” on a very regular basis. The simple answer is: it depends. And yes, we expect that you hate that answer, so let’s spend just a few minutes explaining so you can determine the answer for yourself.  To get to the answer, let’s ask questions:  Do you have issues with tree roots growing into your sewer line?  If yes, then we typically suggest your sewer line be cleaned every 12 – 24 months in order to prevent sewer backups. The frequency will depe ..read more

What is sewer line locate? And when do I need it in Denver? Are you considering a remodel or landscape project this spring in Colorado? Don’t make the expensive mistake of building over your sewer line! Instead, contact a local drain service for sewer line location service before you start renovations.  A sewer line locate service is performed by a drain specialist to determine the depth and direction of a sewer line. All properties have main sewer lines that slope downward as they leave a property before connecting to the city or municipal sewer. This means that the line is typically clo ..read more

Trees are an integral part of the landscaping for most yards. They add beauty throughout the year (particularly during autumn with their striking foliage), provide shade during the warmer months, provide habitat for wildlife, and remove carbon from the atmosphere. If only we didn’t have to rake up their fallen leaves each fall! Besides dead leaves, another downside to trees is roots that get into your sewer line looking for water and nutrients – this can result in serious damage to your sewer line. Here are a few tips on how to find roots in your sewer line (and prevent them from getting in&nb ..read more

There’s a lot of confusion out there when it comes to what exactly you can flush down the toilet. Take feminine products, for example: some products will say on the package that they are flushable, but take it from us – it’s best not to flush them down the toilet. Let’s take a closer look and find out why. Feminine Products: Made to Absorb Moisture Sanitary pads and tampons are designed to absorb moisture. If you flush them, they’ll end up absorbing water and expanding in size – in fact, tampons can expand to about 10 times their original size as they absorb water. The water-logged pads and ta ..read more

After a long, hard day slaving at the office or dealing with the kids, nothing beats a nice, long soak in the tub. Many people like to jazz up their bath time with a brightly colored, scented bath bomb. While bath bombs are awesome for relaxing and easing away your stress, they may not be so good for your plumbing. What Are Bath Bombs And How Do They Work? Invented and patented in 1989 by Mo Constantine, co-founder of Lush Cosmetics, bath bombs are made up of a mixture of wet and dry ingredients that are compressed, molded into a variety of shapes, then dried. They were originally meant to be ..read more