The guys came out with a snake yesterday, and I watched as they cut out and retrieved wads of roots.

The drain works well now.

I thought I had put off calling them in when I first started getting a little water (bath water) in my basement last week. I couldn't figure out what was going on at first, but later I finally determined there was a blockage further down the line, and it was beyond my ability to fix. The plumber told me that most people actually wait until they have sewage flowing into their basements before they finally call.

And I thought I was a procrastinator......

Unfortunately, the problem has not been entirely fixed.

It is likely that just at my property line, the old ceramic pipe has sliped at a joint. What should be a 4 inch hole is probably down to a 2 inch hole, judging by what bits on the snake fit through, and which ones didn't.

If I go with the contractor, It will cost me about 1600 to fix. I can knock the price down if I do the excavation myself. I need to dig a hole six cubic feet in size. That's a lot of dirt. I think if I can get four guys to help, I will attempt it. The soil here is sandy, so it may not be that bad, and it's away from the foundation, so space to work in isn't an issue.

If this happened anywhere but between the forks in London, you wouldn't be able to dig it by hand. The clay is like rock.

I'll find out more this coming week. I have to wiegh all this against possibly selling the house in the next while, so a permanent solution might not be as beneficial as a short term. I could probably snake out the drain many times before I hit the 1600 dollar price of the permanent solution. I also have to consider the likelyhood of this being a successful fix. After fixing the pipe and putting in an access that will facilitate the usage of a steel rod insead of a snake, it may turn out that the blockage further down can't be removed.

In that case, I have to call the city. While it's there sewer, London's municiple by laws stipulate that it's my sewer right up to where it connects with the main line under the road.

On the other hand, the city will subsidize the cost of repairs to this part, according to the plumber.

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: Tommy_Paine ]

quote:

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I have to wiegh all this against possibly selling the house in the next while, so a permanent solution might not be as beneficial as a short term.

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I feel your Paine, Tommy. (hee hee)

A line of credit makes it easier too... but on the other hand, you know how I hate debt.... but I'm so far in debt now, another 1600 doesn't really matter.

I'm thinking of turning the hole digging into a social event-- pizza, beer, and more if I can think of it. That will drop the price quite a bit.

Sadly, I just realized there's one person I won't ask. My brother. He's ten years older than me, and this kind of heavy unusual work isn't for guys in their fifties.

Another price dropping method was to ask the plumber if he ever "free lanced". He smiled as if to say "thought you'd never ask" and gave me his card.

If I dig the hole, he will fix the pipe and clear the sewer. Probably for cash.

I also dangled the prospect of him doing my bathroom over too, when I get to that point of my renovations.

I'll get the estimate from the contracting firm first as a guide, then I'll start to see where I can shave off the costs.

I've learned a thing or two dealing with guys who are workers like me; car mechanics, plumbers, electricians.

Many people think they are rip off artists, but in fact they are looking for a square deal like anyone else.

I don't expect to get this work done for charity; but a price break here can be traded off against other jobs down the road.

I treat my mechanic this way. His repair bills are very reasonable, and he's honest. Sure, I could shave five or ten bucks off an oil change by going to "Jiffy Lube", but I won't do that him.
He gets all my business. Square deal.

Oh, interestingly, I first approached his apprentice about my bathroom renovations.
The apprentice said he wouldn't do it-- he didn't have the skill yet. Some might not have admitted that, and tried to get away with a half assed job.

He'll likely be back with the plumber to do the drain later, I'm guessing. I'll get his number and throw work his way if I get the chance.

Collect honest people like you'd collect gems.

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: Tommy_Paine ]

[ October 26, 2002: Message edited by: Tommy_Paine ]