General Rooter - Twin Cities

10/04/2024

Heavy grease in the manhole

08/23/2024

We are joining with adopt a drain to clear storm sewers.

Volunteer fifteen minutes, twice a month, for cleaner waterways and healthier communities. Storm drains flow directly to local lakes, rivers, and wetlands, acting as a conduit for trash and organic pollutants. Adopt-a-Drain asks residents to adopt a storm drain in their neighborhood and keep it clea...

06/20/2024

Clearing a sewer line in an old dirt floor basement in south Minneapolis.

01/26/2023

Protect Your Drain and Sewer Pipes From Freezing

The danger of drain and sewer pipes freezing in your home is that wastewater may back up or the pipes may burst, causing significant damage and leading to costly cleanup and repairs. It is important to insulate pipes and keep the temperature above freezing during cold Minnesota weather to prevent pipes from freezing.

In a home, pipes most susceptible to freezing are in unheated areas such as crawl spaces, basements, and outside walls. The pipes under a mobile home are especially at risk of freezing. These areas typically have lower temperatures and are more exposed to the elements, making them more vulnerable to freezing. But It's important to note that pipes in any area of your home can freeze if the temperature drops low enough.

If you have a septic tank or leach field and the ground above them is frozen, the pipes leading to them may also freeze.

How do you know if your home’s drain and sewer pipes are freezing or already frozen?
• Slow or clogged drains: If your sinks, toilets, or shower drains are suddenly slow to empty or completely clogged, it could be a sign that your sewer pipe is frozen.
• Gurgling or strange noises from your toilet: If you hear gurgling or strange noises coming from your toilet, during very cold weather, it could be caused by a frozen sewer line.
• Sewage backup: If you notice sewage backing up into your home only on very cold days, it clearly indicates that your sewer pipe is frozen.
• Unpleasant odors: If you suddenly smell an unpleasant odor coming from your drains, it could be caused by a frozen sewer pipe.

If you suspect your drain or sewer pipe is frozen, it's important to take action immediately. Do not attempt to thaw the pipe yourself, as it could cause sewage to back into your home.

General Rooter can thaw frozen drain and sewer lines for you. We use special high-pressure hydro jetters at a very low flow rate to melt the ice and get your drains flowing again. The low flow rate helps thaw the ice but does not back up and flood your home. Usually, this is a two-person job. One Drain Technician will work at getting your drain flowing free again, while the other will ensure your home is not flooding by pumping the excess water to the outside of the house.

For frozen pipe thawing throughout the Minneapolis and St Paul metro area, call General Rooter at (763) 634-2564.

12/30/2022

A floor drain call turned out to be a sewer call. The sewer was backed up with hundreds of condoms. Please don't flush anything down the toilet other than toilet paper. It will save you from things like this.

12/29/2022

12/28/2022

After an hour of running the cable Jose figured out the kitchen drain line was frozen. David went in after Jose and thawed the drain. When you have a kitchen drain that's on an outside wall they can freeze quickly when clogged. The longer you wait to call General Rooter the harder it is to thaw.

12/27/2022

This customer was calling around for quotes to replace the drain. From the shower across the basement to where it joined the sewer. We asked to snake it first. Turns out it was simply a hair ball. Customer saved thousands.

12/20/2022

clearing a kitchen sink.

12/19/2022

Customer couldn't figure out why the kitchen sink was leaking into the basement. We found the drains were not glued together during the build.