No new toys for a bit, anyone recommend someone to replace a sewer line in OAK?

Hi all-

Looking for recommendations in the Oakland/greater easter bay area for sewer lateral replacement.

Had the everything's-backed-up condition in all the house plumbing yesterday before taking off for work. We've had root issues in the past, so I went to the Home Despot last night and rented the 100' snake. Ran it with the saw blade, but only got a tiny root with it. Ran it again a couple more times and got a good deal of mud back with it. Not good. Hit it one last time with the auger and running water, but no joy.

Hive interwebs wisdom suggests this means replacing the lateral, or at the very least getting a camera down there to check it out, so I'm'a soliciting recommendations for folks that do this sort of thing, and asking if anyone's got experience going the trenchless route. The old terra cotta piping is probably original to the house (1941), and the sewer main leaving the house is the old cast iron 4" type. Man, between this and the rough-sawn, old-growth lumber on 12" centers, they really don't build 'em like they used to.

Thanks in advance,

Ron

feel for you bro!

dug out and replaced mine with abs a couple years ago - ca.1870's

my back is now shot

I don't have any recommendations, but most plumbers will charge you to put a camera through and I know it can be pricey.  Since you're in position where the work absolutely needs to be done, work something out with the plumber and work it into the cost of replacement.

If you're getting mud, then snaking it will only help for a day or two before it backs up again.   On a side note, if you don't have one already, I highly recommend installing a 2 way clean out for any future mishaps and clogs. 

I know this can be a costly repair, hope it gets taken care of.  Good luck. 

Bummer.

Call Active Plumbing.  Ask for Mo.
https://www.yelp.com/biz/active-plumbing-and-rooters-fremont
(510) 925-4485

They've done work some for me (including a major re-route) and always honest and reasonable. He's done a few other jobs just on our street.

I had mine done at my old house some years back. I was quoted an estimate of at least $8K. Luckily, my neighbor happened to be an ex plumber and did the work for $5K. He hired another plumber to run a camera to pinpoint exactly where the pipe collapsed. Then picked up some laborers one Sunday morning to dig it up and replaced the broken clay piece with cast iron. The whole process looked so easy if you're handy and it can save you a lot of money. The hard part is the digging, but you can always hire people to do that part at a cheaper cost. Good luck.

Baitnbeer is a plumber. Ask him for input. I know he definitely plumbs beer. 

Thanks for the input, folks.

I'm generally handy, but I don't think I'd be able to DIY this. The pipe's maybe 4'-6' underground, and my arthritis isn't going to put up with that kinda crap, unfortunately. There's also enough landscaping going on that I wouldn't be able to run a bobcat to do it either. Might be one of those rare times where I have to throw money at a problem to make it go away. Both the money and the problem.

I'll give active plumbing a call, thanks for the recco. If anybody else has any recommendations, please let me know!

thanks

Ron

Need explosives, call me 

Need explosives, call me 

Hmmmmmm

I like the sound of this.

I thought your message was posed as a euphamism for colonoscopy work. But now I understand you are referring to your actual sewer main line...

I thought your message was posed as a euphamism for colonoscopy work. But now I understand you are referring to your actual sewer main line...

Thankfully not. I'd be much less enthusiastic about the N8V's offer of explosives were that the case.

When we have camera work done, I call Able Septic and Plumbing.  They charge me $325.  I don't know if they go to Oakland.  I have used Roto Rooter also.  They were in the $300-$400 range.  Every time I have used trenchless it has been around $10k.  Depending on the access and length replacing with ABS is the easiest.  Two way cleanout at house.  Property line cleanout by sidewalk. 

If you were in marin i could help you, and my family owns a septic company  so ive spent way too many hours throughout highschool dealing with roots.  My recomendation is if you know basic plumbing to just hire 2 guys willing to dig and have them dig and you plumb in the line then have them backfill,  If you arnt confident in your plumbing call a local plumber and get his advice. Many septic guys are sketchy down there with cash in that area from what ive heard so you want someone reliable.  We started wraping lines in coppsr wire a few years ago as a cheep expiriment, not sure if it will work  yet but its worth a shot for the extra 10 or 15 bucks.

Looks like Mo over at Active is too busy to make it up to Oakland these days, so, the hunt continues. Finding a lot of these guys won't even come over if you suspect the issue might be under the street.

Going to get someone to come out and camera the bastid to see where the actual problem lies and take it from there.

I really hope to get back to wondering why my kayak doesn't have a cup-holder built in.

In Oakland Pipe Spy is good for the camera work and my neighbor who is a plumber recommends Star Rooter and Plumbing for sewer lateral work,  unfortunately not going to be cheap since you are in a hurry.

Good luck!