Layton Checketts
New Member
Hello,
I am looking for some unbiased (non-salesperson) opinions on a sewer issue I am having. My wife and I just recently bought our first home (a 100+ year old home recently remodeled) and two months later we had drainage issues. No overflowing, just bad smells and if we used more that one fixture at once nothing would drain until hours later. Looking in the sewer cleanout in the backyard I could see roots so we called a plumbing company and they said, sure enough, there was roots and we needed to hydro jet it to unclog and then they could put a camera down. Ever since hydrojetting it is working fine.
The camera was put down the line 2 days after hydro jetting and the plumbing company pointed out that it looks like the cleanout in the backyard was a DIY project from the previous owner and the pipe had sagged in that area, creating about a 10' long belly with standing water (see the video). They said the belly, along with some signs of chipping clay pipe, and some pipe section stepping, and potential for roots to grow back made our line a ticking time bomb that we should get fixed asap. They recommended digging up and fixing the belly and replacing the cleanout, then using a trenchless, CIP liner solution for the remaining 65' of pipe to the back alley where it connects to the city line. All told about $8,400.
We don't have a lot of money to spare, already spent a significant amount to hydrojet and inspect the line, and aren't planning on being in this home for more than a few years, so we are just really wanting to make sure this is something that needs to be done. We now have sewer insurance so could just stick it out in maintenance mode as need, but we also don't want to let the pipe get worse where the whole thing would have to be dug up. We are getting free second opinions from some other plumbing companies later this week as well. I've attached the videos from the inspection below. I would love to get some of your opinions on the condition of our piping and whether you think this is an issue that should be fixed soon or if you think we are okay to wait it out and unclog as needed?
Thanks so much!
I am looking for some unbiased (non-salesperson) opinions on a sewer issue I am having. My wife and I just recently bought our first home (a 100+ year old home recently remodeled) and two months later we had drainage issues. No overflowing, just bad smells and if we used more that one fixture at once nothing would drain until hours later. Looking in the sewer cleanout in the backyard I could see roots so we called a plumbing company and they said, sure enough, there was roots and we needed to hydro jet it to unclog and then they could put a camera down. Ever since hydrojetting it is working fine.
The camera was put down the line 2 days after hydro jetting and the plumbing company pointed out that it looks like the cleanout in the backyard was a DIY project from the previous owner and the pipe had sagged in that area, creating about a 10' long belly with standing water (see the video). They said the belly, along with some signs of chipping clay pipe, and some pipe section stepping, and potential for roots to grow back made our line a ticking time bomb that we should get fixed asap. They recommended digging up and fixing the belly and replacing the cleanout, then using a trenchless, CIP liner solution for the remaining 65' of pipe to the back alley where it connects to the city line. All told about $8,400.
We don't have a lot of money to spare, already spent a significant amount to hydrojet and inspect the line, and aren't planning on being in this home for more than a few years, so we are just really wanting to make sure this is something that needs to be done. We now have sewer insurance so could just stick it out in maintenance mode as need, but we also don't want to let the pipe get worse where the whole thing would have to be dug up. We are getting free second opinions from some other plumbing companies later this week as well. I've attached the videos from the inspection below. I would love to get some of your opinions on the condition of our piping and whether you think this is an issue that should be fixed soon or if you think we are okay to wait it out and unclog as needed?
Thanks so much!