In our neighborhood of older homes it is common for tree roots to work their way into the sewer line. Our house has the older terra cotta sewer line and we usually need the line to be snaked every 1-2 years. Sometimes we do it ourselves, sometimes call in a service and they usually charge around $100.
We called Bonney Plumbing this year and the guy tells its $150 to snake out the line. Its a bit high but we say fine. The Bonney Plumbing employee makes a half-hearted attempt at snaking the line, and then says that his snake is hitting an immovable obstruction. He pulls out the snake and points to the typical gunk that accumulates on the end of the snake as says that he has ran into soil in the line. He claims he will break his snake but it is very apparent he hadnt even tried.
He refuses to snake anymore (even the other direction on the sewer line) and insists we pay $250 to put a camera in the line. We refuse, and insist that he finishes snaking the line. Ultimately he makes another half-hearted attempt to snake the line in the other direction. We pay him for the snake, but the line is still clogged.
Follow-Up: We find a great guy on Craigslist who snakes the line with no problems or excuses for $100. Finds a clump of roots and toilet paper in the usual spot. And camera would cost $50, but he didn't recommend it since the line was flowing clean once the obstructing roots were removed.
Follow-Up #2: two months later during a remodel that tore up my yard anyway... I replaced the affect part of my sewer line myself. The old terra cotta was in great shape, with tree roots getting in at the elbow joint at that one single location, nowhere else. Certainly no broken sewer lines into the dirt, as claimed by the Bonney plumbing ripoff artist.
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