Lou Holtz, the former head coach of the University of Notre Dame Football team, once said commented that even the person who graduates last from his or her medical school class gets called “doctor.” His point: just because you have a designation doesn’t mean you’re at the top of your game.

Well, the same goes for plumbers and drain cleaning companies. Here at Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air, are we at the top of our game? That’s not for us to decide. That’s for you to decide. But we can tell you this much: we’re well trained, all of our employees take part in continuing training and development, and we offer our customers a 100% satisfaction guarantee which is a constant reminder to ourselves that being the best we can be matters. Just like being honest, fair, and reasonably priced.

And yet, when it comes to something as potentially messy, tricky, and inconvenient (for you) as a clogged sewer or drain, being highly trained and skilled isn’t enough. Lots of local plumbers are. But very of us have certain advanced tools that enable us to tackle even the most difficult jobs from start to finish. How does that benefit you? Because when you hire a drain cleaning company that can do it all, then you’re not going to have to pay two or more companies to do the same job.

So before you hire someone to clear, repair, or replace your problem sewer or drain, make sure they are fully capable AND equipped to get the job done with these advanced drain cleaning tools:

• In-line video drain inspection camera. Yes, we have these amazing tools as part of our drain cleaning arsenal. With them, we can pinpoint the exact location, extent, and cause of the problem. If, for example, we discover an underground sewer pipe crushed by a tree root, we know instantly that no amount of drain cleaning will solve the problem. That pipe will have to be repaired or replaced as needed, and the tree roots near or inside the sewer pipe removed. Plus, our drain video cameras come with playback units that allow us to record video and take snapshots for ongoing reference and to share with you so you can see what’s causing the problem firsthand.

• High-pressure water jetter. Here’s another invaluable drain cleaning tool, one that can go far deeper into a sewer or drain line than any snake or auger. Our water jetters also have removable cutting blades that can be attached at the front of the spray nozzle to cut through any in-pipe tree or shrub roots. The high pressure flow of water right behind that blade then pushes everything through the drain line. At the same time, a second stream of water is sprayed backwards to help propel the hose through the line.

Not all drain jobs require the use of a video inspection camera or a high pressure water jetter. But what if it does? So before you pick up the phone to call for professional drain cleaning assistance, check out each company’s experience, licensing, and their resources. Or, you can save yourself all that trouble and just call Boden now – the company that has and does it all.

Have you ever seen the movie Cabaret featuring Liza Minelli in her prime?

There’s a line in the title song that includes: “What good is sitting alone in your room”, and so on. Well, whatever room that might be, that song lyric describes what most of us do a whole lot more of during the winter months, i.e., sit around, just waiting for warmer weather to return.

Instead, how about mixing in some home project work – not just for the sake of it, but to make you feel about your home by accomplishing some real live tasks that need to get done sooner or later anyway? What kinds of projects? Well, that depends on you, your lifestyle, and your home, but here are a few helpful suggestions:

Get a jump start on your home remodeling project. Major or minor, let’s say you’re planning to upgrade your kitchen in the spring, and hiring one or more contractors to do the work for you. These are the very same people, for the most part, who just itching for the phone to ring so they can start filling in their spring calendars. That means that if you wait too long, you could wind up either with your second, third, or fourth choice, etc., or having to wait longer for your first choice to become available. So plan now, and remodel later.

Schedule a home energy audit. Even with fuel prices way down during this winter of 2015 – 2016, there are no doubt areas inside your home where energy is being wasted. A professionally done energy audit can pinpoint those areas, and then it’s up to you how to prioritize making the necessary improvements for your more energy efficient home.

Lose the clutter. From old magazines and piled up mail to shirts you haven’t worn in years and paint cans you haven’t been able to part with, what better time than the winter to tackle one room or area at a time, and get rid of all that stuff you no longer need, want, or could possibly ever find a use for.

Refresh dirty, dingy tile. If your eye is longer drawn to your kitchen or bathroom floor tiles because the dirty grout is all you can see, then why not make the time to scrub it clean. It won’t take much or effort or time before it looks like you just installed brand new flooring.

Catalog your old photos. If you’re at least 35 years old, then chances are not all of your photos are on a flash drive or inside your cell phone. Some people still have prints, and in many cases more than they know what to do with. Now’s the time to go through them and decide on a better way to organize and store your photos. That way, you can enjoy them any time you feel the urge.

As you scout your home looking for projects not yet completed, don’t forget to consider your home heating system. As in, did you neglect to have it professionally cleaned and inspected this past fall? If so, why not contact Boden Plumbing, Heating & Air today to schedule service. When the job is done, you’ll benefit from improved performance, greater comfort, lower heating costs, and a reduced likelihood of repairs. What’s not to like about that?!