well, eff! my pipes didnt survive the rotorooter-ing!

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Heel n Toe

What's a sharpshooter? Is that another name for a mattock?

No. It's the third tool from the left, in the picture above.

JR

[javadog]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

what's a mattock? same as a drain spade?

The thing with the green handle, pictured above.

JR

[Les Paul]

Nupla Drain Spades / Sharp Shooters - 72-092 - SEPTLS54572092

You need it with the handle like this to be able to twist easier.

[Noah930]

I've got a set of orange overalls you can borrow, if you need 'em.

Sorry, no other help, here. Can't even help you come over and dig. But I've got a slow-draining laundry room sink to do battle with on my end.

[look 171]

Jmpro is right, rent a light weight chipping hammer, not a roto hammer, and try to get it with a spade for digging. They are light weight, not the big jack hammer, so you wouldn't kill your back. It goes by quick. sometimes they call it electric shovel. My plumber does it all the time. He can dig 20+ feet in about 2 hours. One guy on the hamer the other shovel. A pick would come in handy also. ABS is your friend. Well, you should already know that. Good luck, too bad you not closer, I would happy to loan you mine.

[john70t]

Tree root systems are about 50% wider than their untrimmed foliage. I cring every time I see a big one growing right next to a house foundation.

Clay pipes are prone to root penetration, cast iron to rust, plastic to cracking and unsealed joints.

[herr_oberst]

Thinking about buying a house? The contents of this thread is why a sewer inspection is really not an option.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Thinking about buying a house? The contents of this thread is why a sewer inspection is really not an option.

Funny how the vast majority of homeowners DON'T get one, though. And also unusual how no one in the "industry"--and by that I mean real estate agents, home inspectors, builders, pest control guys, escrow people, mortgage officer/bank, and everyone else you touch base with and pay a tithe to along the home purchase pathway--has any idea who to call other than "well, there are people who do it."

[john70t]

If it's necessary, you can get a company to run a scope down there. Same as a boroscope in a spark plug hole.

The should be more common practices IMO. Explore, then cut.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by Noah930

And also unusual how no one in the "industry"--and by that I mean real estate agents, home inspectors, builders, pest control guys, escrow people, mortgage officer/bank, and everyone else you touch base with and pay a tithe to along the home purchase pathway--has any idea who to call other than "well, there are people who do it."

funny you should say this, because my real estate agent, whom I've bought 2 houses with and had two more inspections with (deals that fell thru) consistently and conveniently had a 10% off sewer inspection every time. Collusion? maybe, but 90 bucks well spent, each and every time. And fascinating to watch, too, especially when the company bought the scope with the color camera!

[vash]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

funny you should say this, because my real estate agent, whom I've bought 2 houses with and had two more inspections with (deals that fell thru) consistently and conveniently had a 10% off sewer inspection every time. Collusion? maybe, but 90 bucks well spent, each and every time. And fascinating to watch, too, especially when the company bought the scope with the color camera!

this was my rookie home purchase. i was naive and thought the home inspection would have covered it. i wont make that mistake again. my wife and i just talked about dropping the ball on this one.

oh, well. staying at the MIL's right now. they are in taiwan. quotes hopefully tomorrow on the repairs.

[look 171]

Specalist inspection is always good, but at what cost? How many of you have had plumbing blow ups 1-2 year after you purchased your home? Lots of trees means roots will get in the drain system one day. Is not when, but hot long for the next cleaning to get rid of them. Don't forget the specalist hill side inspection. Agents aren't dumb. The more you dig, more things one will find wrong with the house. Lots of little things will scare off would be home owners. they do not want to loose the deal. how much would one be willing to pay for inspections before they buy. What if You decided to not buy after the very last inspection, how much are you willing to fork out.

plumbing-camera $ 350
general inspection 500
hill side 500
fireplace / chimney 350

There's more, septic, and on and on.

If you pull out now, then you are out over a thousand bucks. Only to do it again on the next one. I am not saying its bad, but where does one stop w this crazy inspections.

Last year i bought a place to flip. and had the general inspection report from the previous buyer through my agent. The report claims that the electrical is fine and safe for the age of the house. I started to rip apart the walls and found a whole bunch of creative electrical work all over the place. Freaking electrical tape for connection. Its an old house, you just can't predict what's going to happen especially the drain system with trees and plants around.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

this was my rookie home purchase. i was naive and thought the home inspection would have covered it. i wont make that mistake again. my wife and i just talked about dropping the ball on this one.

oh, well. staying at the MIL's right now. they are in taiwan. quotes hopefully tomorrow on the repairs.

Vash,

you guys did not drop the ball. Most people think Plumbing last forever, and they do if its maintain. How old is the house and how many trees are around there? If you house was built in the 20, then expect clay pipe. With trees around, expect the roots to get inside and if its on a hill, the ground might shift and have broken drain some day. No amount of inspection will tell you when these things will come up. It just means that monment in time the system is fine or have little or no roots in it. Its just a matter of time. The reports just tell you how much time you have until the next problem. depends on your location and age, the problem will surface. How many of you guys have your drains clean on every year? I don't. I try when I remember, but that's like every 5-6 years and I am on top of a canyon with crazy amount of trees. My neighbor cry every 6 moths about roots and backups. They have had the camera and try to go after the issue. I have a solution. Repipe with ABS and no more roots. That is money not well spent.

Jeff

[herr_oberst]

Well, to me, 500 for an inspection is money well spent. It allows me to negotiate contingency work to the house that I don't have to pay for, or worst case, walk away from a house that needs work that I don't want to do or hire done.

I don't think any balls were dropped. Vash just didn't know about the inspection, he does now. If you are buying a house, you're at a disadvantage because you will never have access to the tools and info (or even the knowledge that you need that info.) that Realtors and lenders use every day. I doubt if anyone who ever bought a house didn't get stuck with a few surprises. The idea is to mitigate the damage to your wallet.

Back to the sewer thread.

[A930Rocket]

I'll throw one thing about inspections. Most inspectors don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. Building houses for 20 years, it's a rare bird that knows what he's doing. Most know just the basics and find cosmetic items. It always cracks me up when they look at the roof with binoculars!

Find a good one through word of mouth, the local bldg dept, etc. I'd get an structural engineer, plumber, HVAC and electrician to look over things as well.

[vash]

it's funny how i am so much better informed because of PPOT! unbelievable.

thanks guys.

i'm not stressed. my home was built in 1942. the sewer is the last of the potential gotchas. last year i switched over to copper water supply. this year..it was chosen for me. sewer.

again, thanks.

[mdj930]

How far into the street is the sewer main?( you would need to replace the street you broke out)How deep is the main?(some laterals take a steep dive @ the main).Do you have a lateral program in your area?
I would think real hard about just fixing the bad spot 15in.deep would take no time to fix.
In my area you would need a drain layers license to make your repair.( replace lateral and hook up to the sewer main)
btw 1% fall would be fine if you do replace the lateral.
Mike

[juanbenae]

rent one of those mini rubber tracked excavators, they might fit between the house & fence. if you can't dig on grade well enough to keep fall put some CL II AB down in the uneven trench before the pipe to reestablish grade. you only have to over dig it a couple inches to place AB and get > 2% fall. the lil mini excavator could be had for 200 bucks for the day & the toyota can trailer it fine from the rental yard. call me.

t

[look 171]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I'll throw one thing about inspections. Most inspectors don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. Building houses for 20 years, it's a rare bird that knows what he's doing. Most know just the basics and find cosmetic items. It always cracks me up when they look at the roof with binoculars!

Find a good one through word of mouth, the local bldg dept, etc. I'd get an structural engineer, plumber, HVAC and electrician to look over things as well.

When was the last time your building inspector(s) recommened a subcontractor for you? It is too bad that most guys in your ared do not know what they are doing. I know a good few that really know their stuff and this is the land of everyonw's a contractor who own a saw and a hammer.

I have worked with a few structural guys. Many are very good, but I haven't met one that would like to craw under a house or get in an attic. They guys have always managed to get the city to sign off on some nutty stuff. I don't mean to be offensive, HVAC and electrical, I would agree with you.

[look 171]

Originally Posted by mdj930

How far into the street is the sewer main?( you would need to replace the street you broke out)How deep is the main?(some laterals take a steep dive @ the main).Do you have a lateral program in your area?
I would think real hard about just fixing the bad spot 15in.deep would take no time to fix.
In my area you would need a drain layers license to make your repair.( replace lateral and hook up to the sewer main)
btw 1% fall would be fine if you do replace the lateral.
Mike

It depends on his situtation. Why not just replace it up to the drop or the end of his property? That is a real b!tch in the land of CA. You have to carry so much insurance and get all kinds of permits to bust up the street.