Gene's Water and Sewer | Twin Cities Water & Sewer Systems

It's winter. It's beyond cold. These past couple of weeks, you've probably had to go to some unusual measures to keep warm. Some of you may have even had to deal with some unusual circumstances, like frozen pipes. While this recent article covered how to avoid frozen pipes , your sewer lines are somewhat different. In this blog, we're going to provide you with some tips to help keep your water and sewer lines flowing smoothly for the rest of the winter. Can My Sewer Lines Freeze? You may think your sewer lines are deep enough in the ground to prevent them from freezing. This is true in most cases, but some properties have shallow sewer lines installed. This would affect the freezing point. Another thing to be aware of is that your sewer lines are much more likely to freeze if there is a small, consistent leak in the pipes. Our team of sewer line repair experts can do an analysis to see if this is happening in your pipes. Preventing Frozen Pipes Though it m...

At Gene's Water & Sewer , we are huge fans of Nu Flow Technologies. It's a great no-dig technology for St. Paul trenchless sewer replacement . In this blog, we are going to give you a brief overview of this technology and why we use it so often for St. Paul homes. The main benefit of this type of trenchless sewer replacement is the fact that it is truly “no dig.” That means money and time are saved compared to traditional digging methods. Also, this trenchless sewer replacement can line and replace most St. Paul sewer systems without any digging. These days, the environment is a huge concern for most people, cities and governments. The old systems are slowly but surely breaking down, and governments are looking for ways to repair or replace these old systems. But they want something that will be cost-effective and minimally invasive to the environment. One of the best parts about trenchless sewer replacement is that Nu Flow pipes are much smoother than ...

Christmas is upon us, and the last thing you want to deal with when you have all of your family and friends over is a backed up sewer line. Gene’s Water and Sewer can help if you have any sewer problems , but what can you do in the meantime to prevent sewage back-ups? Regardless of how old your home is, it’s important for you to remember to not put harmful items down your drain. A few examples of these harmful items are animal fat, grease, oil, coffee grounds and egg shells. When your guests are over, ask them to avoid flushing items like diapers, cleaning wipes, sanitary napkins, paper towels or a huge amount of toilet paper. Ask the same of your immediate family members too. Take the time to find your sanitary sewer line to see where the sewage exits your home. Usually you will find it in the basement or crawl spaces. Note the flow direction so if you do need to call in the experts, like Gene’s Water and Sewer, you can tell the technician where the sewage line is. And wh...

When the mercury takes a nosedive, water in your pipes can freeze, causing them to rupture. Next thing you know, your Twin Cities water systems are all flooding your home, ruining your furnishings, and you have to pay to have it all repaired and replaced. It’s expensive and problematic. But you can avoid this for your Twin Cities water system by following these valuable tips from Gene's Water and Sewer.  Wrap Up for Winter If exposed, wrap your Twin Cities water system with insulating material. Pipes under kitchen sinks, in crawl spaces, near windows or in unheated basements are areas especially vulnerable to sub-zero hazards. Be sure to look at any point a pipe leaves/enters the home.  Locate Your Shut-off Valve Find the inside water shut-off valve for your TwinCities water system now! (Actually, when you’re done reading this.) The shut-off valve controls all of the water coming into your home. If a pipeline bursts, knowing the location...

You notice it first when water or sludge ponds begin to form. Maybe you become aware of it in your home when water pressure is at a premium. You begin to shudder, wondering from where this nightmare could be emanating. Your mind wanders, and you think to yourself, “What could be causing this?” Then you realize it’s the result of a broken sewer pipe or water line. However, the nightmare can end for you. All it takes a phone call to Gene’s Water & Sewer. Our Minneapolis-based company specializes in repairing and installing new water lines and sewer pipes. Have fears your front lawn will be torn up in order to make the necessary repairs or installations? Fear not, for many jobs don’t require trenching to be done. Trenchless Sewer & Water Line Repairs The word “trenchless” means exactly what it sounds like. We won’t have to dig a trench in your yard in order to fix the problems plaguing your water and sewer systems. Instead, for sewer pipes, we’ll dig one to two sma...

Old Man Winter is rearing his chilly head, so you want to be sure that your sewer pipes are ready for the deep freeze that’s about to hit us here in the Twin Cities area. Here are a few winter tips for your sewer pipes , but if you have any other questions or concerns, you can always contact Gene’s Water & Sewer . Our experts are here to help! First off, and this might sound counterintuitive to you, but snow can actually be a good thing to help keep your sewer pipes in working order during the winter months. Uncompacted snow can serve as an insulating blanket over the pipes and can help keep the heat created by the sewage and the treatment of the sewage in the soil. If there isn’t any snow, the frost can go deeper into the soil, which could potentially create some problems. This issue can be solved with the help of vegetative cover, so be sure to have some plants or grass planted on top of your sewage pipes. This is a natural and ecologically friendly way to keep your pipe...

We make sewer pipe repairs every day that could have been prevented. There are some simple things you can do to keep your sewer lines working at maximum efficiently throughout the years. If you live in the Twin Cities, sewer pipe repair is inevitable, but there is some of it that can be prevented. In this blog, we're going to cover just a few of those things. Tree Roots Tree roots growing into sewer lines are a common reason for sewer repair. When a tree root grows into your lines, it not only causes a leak, but also causes a blockage. This can cause a backup into your home or lawn. If you're planting a tree, be sure to take into consideration where your sewer lines are. Don't plant a tree too close. If you are concerned about a current tree in your yard interfering with your sewer line, call us today. Flushed Objects Another common reason for sewer repairs is flushed items causing a blockage. You don't only have to worry about one large object being flus...