Sunday, March 18, 2012

My New Toy

This post is long overdue. I actually started writing it in January. Guess I have been busy. Anyway, I am so tired of getting ripped off by plumbers. Right before Christmas our sewer line started backing up. I don't have time anymore to run out and rent a drain snake, dismantle it in order to fit it in my car, drive home, assemble it and haul it into the basement. Then spend an hour snaking the drain, cleaning up the mess, haul out to the car, dismantle, drive back to the rental place, reassemble and return. Then hope the job was done properly. So the wife called a plumber that she knows to come in and snake the drain. He shows up and does the job and charges us $120.00. Only thing is, later that day and three days later it was backed up again. He would be willing to come back out but since it is tree roots he won't guarantee the work but will only charge us $95.00 for a redo. He ran 75 feet of cable which upon measuring, takes the snake to the top of our steps and some 20 feet short of the main sewer. Hey, I am no plumber but this was fairly obvious to me. Needless to say, I never asked him to come back.
Tired of being taken advantage of by plumbers, I bought a new toy. It arrived after Christmas



I used it soon after it's arrival. It sits right by the main stack clean out and I can use it when ever I want to. I even bought and installed 100 feet of cable. So if my own snaking ability fails I can just come back the next day and try again and it won't cost me any more money!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

No offense, but don't you think that the need to snake that often may mean you've got a problem that should be addressed?

I'd first consider your diet, then get somebody in to scope the drain and look for a serious blockage.

You don't want everything to back up so bad it ends up all over the house.

Anonymous said...

Gary, more posting please. We miss you...

P.j. said...

How about sharing the brand, model, & price?

Kate H. said...

Good for you. That machine will definitely pay for itself soon. But did any of those friendly plumbers put a camera through to see what the problem was? Is it all Trees vs. Leitzell?

Gary said...

The brand is Rigid. Total cost was $430.00 for the snake and another $193.00 for the 100 foot cable. I bought it on line. Amazon I believe.
The drain was given the camera treatment two years ago and was given a clean bill of health. Now that the maple tree in the front yard is gone I hope the roots will die and give us less grief!