Sewer cleaning in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Deposits, grease and roots build up in every sewer over time. First the water drains slowly, then sewage can back up into the basement.
With high pressure jetting we clean house connections and main drains thoroughly. On request at regular intervals, so an emergency never happens in the first place.
What sewer cleaning covers
- High pressure sewer jetting
- Cleaning of house connections and main drains
- Removal of deposits, grease and roots
- Regular maintenance for property managers, businesses and municipalities
- Preventing backups instead of repairing damage
- Can be combined with a camera inspection
What you can do until we arrive
These steps cost nothing and often stop a blockage from turning into water damage.
Do not add any more water
Switch off the dishwasher and the washing machine and stop using the affected drain. Every litre that goes in now has to end up somewhere.
Do not pour in chemical drain cleaners
They rarely dissolve a solid blockage. They sit on top of it instead and can attack seals and older pipes. When we open the pipe the caustic liquid comes back out at us, which makes the job more dangerous.
Avoid drains on lower floors
Water finds the lowest point. For now, stop using the shower, toilet and floor gully in the basement or lower floor, because that is where it comes back up first.
If sewage has backed up, stay out of the basement
If there is already water in the basement, do not go in. Sewage can be in contact with electricity and is a hygiene risk. Switch off the power to that part of the building if you can reach the fuse box safely.
Clear the access
Empty the cupboard under the sink and clear the manhole or inspection opening if you know where it is. That saves the most time on site.
Quick help by problem
You know what has stopped working but not what it is called? These pages take you straight to what to do.
- Water in the basementWater from a floor gully, shower or toilet on the lower floor is usually a sewer backup. What comes first and why the basement stays off limits.Learn more
- Blocked drainThe water sits in the basin and will not go down. What to do right now and how to tell how far back the blockage sits.Learn more
Background on sewage backups
How a backup happens
Over the years grease, sand, limescale and roots build up on the pipe wall of every sewer. The open cross section gets smaller and the water runs more slowly. As long as only a little water passes through, nobody notices.
It becomes critical when a lot of water arrives at once, for example during heavy rain or when several machines in a building drain at the same time. The remaining cross section is then no longer enough. The water backs up and finds the lowest point, and that is almost always a drain in the basement.
The backflow level and why low rooms are at risk
Under the German standard DIN 1986-100 the backflow level is normally the top of the street outside the property. Sewage in the public sewer can rise to that height without anything being faulty.
Anything below it, so basement drains, floor gullies in underground garages or a shower in a lower floor, needs protection against backflow. Depending on the kind of waste water that is either a backflow valve or a lifting station. Whether your protection exists and still works is something a sanitary installation company checks.
Where your sewer ends and the public one starts
The drainage on your own property, meaning every pipe up to the connection with the public sewer, generally belongs to you. Maintenance and cleaning are therefore the owner's responsibility.
The public sewer in the street is the municipality's business. Exactly where the boundary runs and who is responsible for the manhole in front of it is set out in the local drainage bylaws. If in doubt, ask your municipality.
From your call to a clear sewer
Report a job or an emergency
Give us a call. We discuss whether it is urgent or whether a scheduled visit is enough.
Sorting out access
We ask about the manhole, the inspection opening and how close we can park. Knowing where the access is saves us searching for it on site.
High pressure jetting
We clean the sewer section by section with the right pressure and the right nozzles.
Checking the result
On request we check the result with a camera and recommend a sensible maintenance interval.
Common questions about sewer cleaning
How often should a sewer be cleaned?
That depends on what goes through the pipe. A normal household rarely needs a fixed interval. Restaurants, hotels and larger residential buildings produce far more grease and dirt, so regular jetting makes sense there. After the first clean we suggest an interval that suits your property.
How do I notice that the sewer is blocking up?
Typical signs are gurgling noises in the drain, several drains running slowly at the same time, smells from floor gullies and water appearing where it should not, for example in the shower when the washing machine drains.
Will high pressure jetting damage my pipe?
Not on intact pipework. Pressure and nozzle are matched to the material and the condition of the pipe. On very old or already damaged pipes, a camera inspection beforehand is the safe route.
What is the difference between drain cleaning and sewer cleaning?
Drain cleaning deals with the pipework inside the building, so drains, traps and soil stacks. Sewer cleaning covers the pipes in the ground, meaning the main house drain and the connection up to the public sewer.
Can roots grow into a sealed sewer?
Roots need a way in. A leaking joint or a fine crack is enough for them. Inside the pipe they find water and nutrients and keep growing. When we jet roots out, a camera inspection afterwards is worthwhile to find where they got in.
Do I have to be at home for the jetting?
We need access to a manhole or an inspection opening. If that access is outside and freely reachable, you do not have to be there. We sort this out on the phone beforehand.
Need help now? Just call.
Available around the clock, on weekends and public holidays too. We tell you on the phone when we will arrive.
Or send an email: info@kanal-gap.de
Inquiry about Sewer cleaning
For fast help, calling us is the most reliable option. For anything that is not urgent, you can also reach us using this form.
Related services
Service area
We work within a radius of around 80 kilometres around Garmisch-Partenkirchen, from Mittenwald past Murnau and Weilheim to Starnberg.
See our service area