50 year old sewer lines...

[mapsedge]

So, is it a bad thing when your plumber won't meet your eyes, and says, "We'll be back tomorrow with shovels" ?

And...is it worse when, tomorrow being today, your plumber says, "We'll be back later with a backhoe" ?

I'll keep this one going as updates roll in.

10:30 AM

...and the backhoe's running again.

12:30 PM

So, the big question: are we sharing a sewer line with the house next door? It's conceivable: the addition to our house and the house next door were built at the same time, and I believe by the same people. It doesn't stretch believability to think that my uncle would have taken such a shortcut. Of course, if that's true, it's a violation of city code and means that someone's paying for a new line to the city main. Probably our neighbor.

At this point, 9-12 feet of pipe has been replaced; more than a half dozen major clogs have been augered out; and - not long from now in geologic terms - we'll have to replace the whole pipe. Roughly, say, just guessing here...90 feet. It could clog again next week or next year.

On the plus side: there's nothing in the way but yard and a water line running parallel (no landscaping, in other words).

1:30 PM

The Dig-Rite folks have come up to mark where all the important lines are. You know...like natural gas, phone, water. Simple stuff like that. Supposedly we've going to have a visit from a guy with a small video camera who will go exploring through our sewer pipes and find out exactly where it all goes, and what shape the pipe is in. Still waiting on an update.

3:00 PM

The guy with the video said problems are coming, if not today, then possibly tomorrow. If not tomorrow, then someday, but definitely the pipe to the main sewer should be replaced. The pipe is 50 year old clay, and runs right under an oak tree. The city doesn't like anyone digging in "their" easement, so now we have to talk to the city to get permission to dig up our old lines, replace them, and (here's the important part) connect them to the city's main.

They guy have been there since 7:30, and still don't know what exactly needs doing.

Comments

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

oh crap.

[aerie13.livejournal.com]

that was very wrong. funny, but wrong. but funny.

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

I amuse myself often...

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

I was thinking, "Funny she should phrase it quite that way..."

[mljm.livejournal.com]

*snort* LOL I'm glad you made the comment before Wm did.

[starwyse.livejournal.com]

Somebody had to ;-)

[eacole72.livejournal.com]

Is it a clog, or is there is a tree that has crushed the pipes with its root? And will this be ruining the lawn that you have put so much work into?

I think you need my Mini-Borg Sphere after this is all done.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

I'm sure it's a tree. We have a very large maple planted about the time the sewer lines were laid, and after 50 years the pipe is probably running right under the drip line of the tree, which means the roots are there too. We've had to dump copper sulfate down the line Way Back When, so I wouldn't doubt roots.

[mljm.livejournal.com]

We don't know yet. The entire side yard is taken up with the backhoe and they've dug between 5-6 ft down to find the pipe. I just came in from checking in with our plumber friends.

Praise be the main guy is really nice and has been almost always been the one who works on our house when we call.

[billthetailor.livejournal.com]

...and, thankfully, it's in a part of the yard that's still pretty torn up from the termite repair, although getting the backhoe in place probably did some damage to the rest. The yard is dormant and dry right now, so hopefully there won't be any large ruts to have to flatten and reseed.

[rowangolightly.livejournal.com]

Ah, the joys of home-ownership.

(Star made the obligatory smart-ass remark so I don't have to!)