Sewer Line
We Saved a West Akron Homeowner From a $15,000 Sewer Replacement
By Mike Mackin, Owner ·
How much should a sewer replacement cost?
That’s the wrong question, in our opinion. Recently we saved Jennifer from a $15,000 sewer replacement her West Akron home didn’t need, by asking a different question.
The photo up top is what a sewer replacement looks like: the yard opened up and a new line bedded in gravel. When a pipe has actually failed, that’s the right fix, and it’s good work. It just wasn’t what Jennifer’s pipe needed.
On Saturdays we close early. It had been a long, hectic week, so nobody was complaining about how quiet the phones had been. And that’s when the call came in. “Hi, this is Jennifer. Do you do sewer lining?” When a homeowner calls asking a specific question about their sewer, they’re usually looking for a second opinion. And we could tell pretty quickly she was still in the fog of sticker shock. A few days earlier, her sewer backed up in the basement, so she had a company out to clear the clog. So far so good, but then came the camera inspection and a quote for over $15,000 to reline her sewer lines. Jennifer was told that a backup was going to happen again, and that her pipes had tree roots in them, flaking inside the pipe, and some separation. Scary stuff.
Jennifer lives in West Akron, known to plumbers for 100+ year old homes, original clay piping, and big trees lining the streets. So when a homeowner has a sewage backup and the “professional” tells them they need to replace or reline the sewer for $15,000 or else it’s going to happen again, that sounds a lot like a hostage situation, not doing what’s best for the customer. Oh, did we mention they never showed her the video of the camera inspection?
What the camera actually showed
By the time Jennifer and our office got off the phone, we were scheduled to go out Monday morning to perform a camera inspection and provide a second opinion. Our service tech Nick showed up, set up the equipment, and sent the cable with the camera head down the drain from a cleanout in the basement, out under the front yard toward the city sewer lateral. Most importantly, he brought Jennifer down to watch the video with him while he explained what he saw.
Five feet in, nothing. Fifteen feet in, nothing. Thirty feet in, nothing. He could see the seams in the clay pipe sections, but no major separation. Forty-five feet in, nothing. Actually, the inside wall of the old 4-inch clay pipe was smooth and fairly clean, almost new-looking at some points. Around seventy feet there was a slight belly holding a little bit of water. Shortly after that there was a seam with a tiny bit of intrusion. Not even roots, more like hairs.
And that was it. A sewer that actually looked really good for its age. Any plumber who’s been around knows that the inside of clay piping holds up amazingly well. The seams between sections can shift over decades, creating spots where toilet paper and solids catch. So we know what to look for.
Jennifer experienced a normal sewage backup, perhaps a once-every-5-to-10-years headache. And a straight-commission predator tried to sell her a $15,000 job she didn’t need. It happens more than you might think, often because homeowners ask the wrong question.
What to ask when a predatory plumbing company says you need a new sewer
The real questions to ask are “Why…” and “How do you know…?”
- Why do I need to replace this sewer?
- Why do I need to do this right now?
- How will this cause a problem if I don’t do it?
- How do you know when this will back up again?
- How do you know those tree roots will get worse?
- Why has this piping worked for 50 or 75 years, but now it doesn’t?
- Why can’t I just risk another possible backup years down the road and save myself thousands of dollars now?
- Why is this the only solution?
- How do you know off-the-shelf tree root killer or drain maintenance products won’t help?
The moral of the story
We like to make money too. Replacing sewers is good work. It’s labor-intensive, the equipment is expensive, there are liability concerns, and it has to be done right the first time. Digging up someone’s front yard isn’t something you want to do twice because you cut a corner. That’s why it can be costly. But we like having loyal, lifelong customers more. And treating customers right, even if you only make $320 from a second opinion camera inspection, keeps us sleeping well at night.
Work with people you trust, get second opinions, and ask a lot of questions.
If someone has handed you a big sewer quote, call 330-825-3686 or book online, and we’ll put a camera in it for a second opinion.