More Plumbing Woes

In January, we called a plumber because our pipes were backed up. Some of my readers may recall that he charged us $60 and didn't do a thing. My regular plumber was on holidays at the time, so I had to call someone I didn't know. Well, in February, I had to call a plumber again for the same problem. He changed some pipes because there was 2 inch pipes where there should have been 4 inch pipes. In fact, the pipes that were there weren't even really for plumbing. The person who owned this house before us had just installed any old pipe he could find. When the plumber was done, everything worked great, so we thought our problem was solved.

Wrong! On Friday, sewage began to back up into the house again. Of course it waited until late in the afternoon to do this and there was no one available. So, early this morning I got on the phone and called my plumber. He told me that there must be tree roots in the sewage system, because he had cleared everything else. He explained that since he was a small, independent plumber, he didn't have the four-inch auger needed to clear this mess.

The tree that causes roots to grow into our drains is on city property and therefore I knew I had to call the City. They came just after 1pm, dug up my flower bed to get at the access pipe and ran their long auger down the pipes. No, it wasn't tree roots between the house and the road. The man went into the basement and told us that the problem was in the pipe that goes through the foundation. Great! Now I had to find a plumber who would take on this job.

Keep in mind that we couldn't shower, bath, wash dishes or use the bathroom during the entire weekend. Both hubby and I were getting a little tired of this and so we called a company that offered emergency plumbing services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They told me that the man would be out as soon as he was finished with the job he was doing.

At 4pm, I called the company back and asked them if I could have an "expected arrival time." They told me about a half hour. Well, the guy showed up after 6pm. The dispatcher assured me that the problem would be taken care of before the plumber left. Wrong! He looked at the job, told us the pipe was broken and had tree roots in it. He would have to clear it but since it was the end of the workday, he would be back tomorrow. Say what? I thought they had emergency service 24 hours, 7 days a week. Not according to him.

Now my dear friends, I must admit I lost it. I looked at him and said, "Why tomorrow." He told me that it would take too long to do the job tonight. I freaked. I asked him how we were to shower, wash dishes and use the facilities. He told me he had cleared the line enough that we could shower or do dishes, but not to flush the toilet. Whoa!!! We've already been without facilities for the entire weekend. So, forgetting that I'm a lady, I asked him, "What do we do if we have to use the bathroom?" (only a little more bluntly.) He shrugged and didn't say a word about what I was to do but proceeded to tell me the job would take two days and cost between $4,000 and $15,000 dollars. Then, I really freaked.

I understand that 6 feet of pipe will cost money. I understand that these guys get about $120 per hour. However, what I don't understand is that he thinks I'm going to go without facilities when the company offers emergency service 24/7, have to go to the gas station to do my business and then allow him two days to install a piece of pipe. Does this girl look stupid? My Dad did all his own plumbing so I certainly have some idea what we are looking at here and it is not a two day job nor is it between $4,000 and $15,000.

So, tomorrow I will get up and call the company to see what his superiors have to say. I told hubby and the plumber both, not to be too surprised if they didn't get the job. I can't use the bathroom for two days anyway, so may as well get another estimate or two.

I'm done my rant now. I hope you all have a good week and take good care of your plumbing. If not, you may find yourself in a similar predicament to mine and that wouldn't be good. ~Blessings, Mary~