Author Archives: Edenflo

Video Line Inspection – Find Out What’s REALLY Going On Underground

Video Line Inspection is a relatively new technology that’s been rapidly embraced by Edenflo as best way to diagnose a problem with a sewer system.

Video-line-inspection-blog

Our technicians are certified by Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program, which is widely accepted as the industry standard system for coding defects and construction features in pipes and sewers. They are able to determine exactly what, and where, the problem is in your septic or sewer drain with the use of a specially designed CCTV (closed circuit TV) camera. The camera is fed into the system, and can pinpoint problems, large and small, in the waste drains in your home or commercial premises.

Our expertise in the business of sewer and septic systems comes into play in interpreting the information the video provides. It’s dark down there, and everything tends to look kind of the same. Our experienced technicians can tell the subtle differences between a dirty pipe (and they’re all dirty) and a clog, or a weakened sidewall that’s leaking. Armed with the information that the video reconnaissance gives them, we can propose the most economical fix. In most cases, we can use our hydro-jet equipment to clear a clogged system quickly and efficiently, so you can get back to the things that are important to you.

In addition to diagnosing problems, Video Line Inspection can be used to evaluate the overall condition of your septic and sewer lines, a great idea as part of general preventive maintenance, and helpful when considering purchase of a resale property.

For more information about Video Line Inspection and other services offered by Edenflo, call 604-575-1414 or fill out our online request for service.

Septic Tank Cleaning – The Dangers of Neglecting this Important Task

Given what septic tanks do, many people might not realize how important it is to keep them clean. Of course, plenty of people probably just don’t want to deal with them for the exact same reason. However, it absolutely must be done. Continue reading about the risks of not cleaning your septic tank.

Problems Associated with Not Cleaning Your Septic TankHow your septic system works edenflo
There are a number of problems that could occur as a result of not properly cleaning your septic tank on a regular basis. Foul odours are a common and understandable one. However, you could also have sewage back up, through the ground and into your lawn or garden. The sewage could also build-up and cause blockages in the system itself. The septic tank could even back right up into your home’s plumbing system.

An insect infestation can result if septic tanks are not maintained properly. White scum can also form around nearby drains or ditches. The toxic waste from your septic tank could also seep out into nearby wells or watercourses, which would be an obvious risk to public health.

For the truly unlucky, runoff from an unmaintained septic tank could end up actually compromising the foundation of their home.

Properly Caring for Your Septic Tank
Given the many potential problems that could occur from not caring for your septic tank, it’s important that you take appropriate measures.

The most important thing you can do is to have your septic tank pumped on a regular basis. Most experts recommend having it done every 1 to 5 years, but it will differ depending on the size of your home and the number of occupants.

It’s very important that you always hire a professional, like those from Edenflo, to handle the maintenance of a septic tank on your behalf. Septic tank systems may not seem like the most advanced of technologies, but in the hands of an amateur, they can cause all kinds of problems.

When to Have Your Septic Tank Cleaned

Septic tank maintenance doesn’t have to be a headache. The vast majority of septic tank maintenance is preventative maintenance. As long as you keep up with the preventative maintenance and schedule a septic tank cleaning in the proper time frame, your septic system should continue to function well.

In BC, septic tank cleanings can be done by a qualified pump truck service such as Edenflo. A full-service pump truck service company will also offer hydro flushing and hydro excavating services as well as catch basin cleaning and repair. Older systems may need flushing and repairs, but typically, the system only needs to be pumped at regular intervals.

A septic system is quite simple. The tank catches sludge waste from your home. Sewage solids will break down in the septic tank to some extent and the liquid sewage makes its way to your leach field. Thicker solids settle on the bottom of the tank.

Getting the septic system pumped every one to five years is normal. The frequency of septic tank cleaning depends on how heavy the use is. If there are more people in the home and you wash more clothes, more frequent septic tank cleaning will be necessary to remove accumulated solids.

If you have a catch basin, hydro excavation is a process where water is used to loosen the debris that is clogging it. The water is injected to catch the debris and the combined slurry is removed with a special vacuum. Many times, dysfunctional drainage systems can be restored through hydro excavation.

Hydro flushing is a similar service for smaller issues, such as slow drains in a house or commercial business. The pump truck service will flush the drain system with specialized hoses that allow maintained forward pressure and continuous flush until the debris is removed and drains flow freely.

How to Take Care of Your Septic System

Your septic system will serve you well for many years as long as you follow a few basic guidelines for preventative maintenance. You will need an occasional septic tank cleaning by a pump truck service, but that’s usually all that is needed if you follow these guidelines.

Only biodegradable waste should go down the drain. Make sure that the toilet tissues and detergents you use say biodegradable or have an indication on the label that they are septic-tank-safe. Anywhere in BC, septic tank cleaning by a professional service should be done every one to five years.

A professional septic tank maintenance company such as Edenflo will inspect your tank for cracks, damaged baffles and other issues when they come to pump the tank and will advise you on any maintenance that is necessary. Most of the time, you can avoid needing maintenance.

Never plant trees or shrubs over your septic system drain field or over your septic tank as roots can cause serious damage that requires costly repairs. The surface around your septic system should never be used to park vehicles and should remain unpaved and permeable. Make sure the cover to your septic tank is securely in place at all times and make sure it remains accessible.

Never pour grease or food waste down the drain. Yes, that means you should not use your electric garbage disposal. Dispose of such waste in a compost area or in your regular garbage. Anything that goes into the garbage disposal adds to solid waste in the septic tank and overloads your drain field with liquid waste, and can ultimately result in septic tank back-up.

Feminine hygiene products should never be flushed down the toilet. Always dispose of them in the regular trash. Also avoid flushing cigarette butts or any other trash down the toilet.

How Your Septic Tank Works

Your septic tank’s function is essential for processing human waste from your home. Waste flows from the drain pipes in your home into your septic tank. There, the liquid and solid waste are separated. A baffle prevents debris from flowing beyond the septic tank so that the passage of waste to the drain field or “leach” field is uninterrupted.

A septic tank’s size depends on the size of the home and how many people are expected to live in a home of that size. The tank needs to be large enough so that the solid waste has time to separate and sink to the bottom and the liquid has time to drain out into the field.

How your septic system works edenfloThe most important aspect of septic tank maintenance for the homeowner is to not overfill the septic tank with excess waste. Limiting the number of laundry loads per day and the amount of wastewater going down the drain helps prevent overfilling. It is also better not to pour grease down any household drain, and not to let water runoff from rain pool on the drain field, as that will also slow down the tank’s ability to drain.

Your septic tank loses capacity as the amount of solid waste accumulates on the bottom. That’s why septic tank cleaning is necessary. Anywhere in BC, septic tank cleaning can be performed by a pump truck service such as Edenflo. Pump truck services typically include baffle inspections and an evaluation of the performance of your system.

The company that provides your pump truck service should be able to advise you on septic tank preventative maintenance. Companies such as Edenflo also provide hydro flushing of clogged drains in your house as well as hydro excavation of catch basins if you have them and are responsible for them.

What You Need to Know About Septic Tank Maintenance

The actual maintenance of a septic tank system doesn’t involve constant work and isn’t a major chore for a home or business owner. BC septic tank cleaning services perform routine septic tank cleanings and these cleanings need not be a hassle.

If you follow a few basic rules for septic tank maintenance, about all you’ll need to do is have pump truck service perform a septic tank cleaning every one to five years. BC septic tank cleaning services such as Edenflo can do the job easily and quickly.

What do you need to do over the course of the year in terms of preventative maintenance? Most of the rules are very simple. Don’t over-fill the tank with liquid. The standard for most households is not to do more than two loads of laundry each day if you have a conventional washing machine.

Make sure you use toilet tissue that is safe for septic tanks; the same goes for dish and laundry soaps. Disposable feminine hygiene products should not be flushed down the toilet. It is also beneficial to occasionally use live bacteria to treat your septic tank – this can be found at most hardware stores.

Proper maintenance of your septic tank drain field and the area around your septic tank is also important. Don’t pave over the drain field and never park or drive vehicles over your septic tank or drain field. This includes heavy tractors that might be used for yard work.

Don’t plant deep-rooting trees or shrubs near your septic tank and make sure that the tank covers are securely in place and properly seated and closed at all times. Pump truck services generally include cleaning and inspection of the interior baffle that prevents any loose debris from clogging the passage to the drain field. Following these simple rules of preventative maintenance will keep your septic system working.

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.