Main drain issue?

[mjl1297]

I recently had an issue with the plumbing at my house. Based on the symptoms exhibited it appeared to be a clog in the main line drain. The toilet in the master bath stopped flushing and the tub would drain but VERRRY slowly. Flushing the toilet in the other bathroom would cause the water in the master bath toilet and tub to gurgle slightly. So I called Roto-Rooter and they came out, jetted the main line, and ran the cutter through there as well. They then tried to run the camera through the line but were unable to negotiate a bend and thus I was unable to see where the roots that they claimed were causing the problem were. Even after clearing the line though we are still having issues in the master bath. Everything else in the house appears to be draining fine but when we run the water in the tub in the master bath it drains slowly, the toilet gurgles, and it still fills with water if you try to flush it. They are supposed to be coming back today with an augur to address the issue in the master bath but they are saying that the problem is in the main drain, that it will cost about $5000.00 to repair, and only by doing that can they really tell what is going on. My question is if the issue is the main drain why is everything else (apparently) draining fine? I'm just wondering if a $5000.00 work order is really necessary and should I get a second opinion?

UPDATE: Came back earlier today with an augur--no change. Plumber is claiming they won't know what is going on until they get up under the house. In other words it sounds like it is going to cost me several thousand dollars just to find out what the problem is. Any thoughts?

 

[Asktom]

Talk to your friends and neighbors and find a plumber they are happy with. Time to change horses.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Cacher_Chick]

Many of the Rooter franchises have been known to move rather quickly to selling a main line replacement or repair. More often than not the problem can be resolved by hiring a competent plumber instead of a drain cleaning franchise.

 

[mjl1297]

Thanks for the replies. I'm going to call and cancel the work order tomorrow.

 

[hj]

someone either has a big truck payment due, or they want to new truck, and hope you will pay for it. The camera SHOULD have shown them why it could not make the corner, but, if it could not, then neither would a "cutter", whatever that was. What you need is a good plumber who is NOT a national franchise and does not have the words "rooter", or some variation of it, in their name.

 

[Reach4]

Just curious: what does "main drain" mean? Is that the street connection, or is that something under the house?

 

[hj]

technically, it is the pipe from the final fixture to a point outside the building, at which point it becomes the "main/bulding sewer". But, realistically, they are used interchangeably.