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Magdzik · Sep 30, 2010, 11:46 AM

I live in Chicago and we been flooded twice. We do not have sump pump or any other flooding devices. I called a plumbing company they came did the power rod sewer through toilet and could not get pass anywhere. Then they tried the laundry drain and still could not get through to the street sewer. Through the camera they saw standing water, leaves, and branches. So they could not get beyond that point. We have an old gate opening they want to remove the old one and install cleanout on outlet side of sewer check valve. What do you think about that? Their estimate is $3,400(for the check valve and cleanout) and still they are not sure if there are any other problems beyond that point. What should I do? I paid $700 for this cleaning which is not fair in that they did not rod the whole sewer
Thank You
Maggie

JudyKayTee · Sep 30, 2010, 12:48 PM

I would get a second opinion. $700 seems high to me but I am not in Chicago and I don't know how long they were there.

Did they charge by the hour or by the job?

At what point does this become the City's responsibiity? Do you know? I had a similar problem in a rental property I owned and after two plumbers looked at it one said it was the City's problem - and it was!

ballengerb1 · Sep 30, 2010, 06:02 PM

In or just near Chicago? City responsibility starts at and after the sewer riser out under the street. All of the pipe to the city sewer is yours. I am concerned that you see leaves and branches. These are not found in a sewer, unless you recently decided to use the toilet for yard waste. Also you said no flooding devices but also say Check valve, that's a anti-flood device. I agree with Judy, call and get 3 bids from sewer contractos with the biggest ads in the Chitown yellow pages.

Magdzik · Sep 30, 2010, 09:45 PM

Yes chicago we do not have anythinig no devices no check valve. They want to put it in and maybe that way they can get to the sewer line but I am not sure about that

speedball1 · Oct 1, 2010, 11:47 AM

Bob and Judy nailed it. You need to get a second opinion and three estimates.
In your first post you said;

We have an old gate opening they want to remove the old one and install cleanout on outlet side of sewer check valve.

But in your last one you said;

we do not have anythinig no devices no check valve. ]

So what's this "gate opening" that you speak of?
Do you have a basement? If so is the sewer under the floor or does it exit above ? Tell me more about your installation! The way I figure is that if you can flush a toilet and have the discharge drain to the sewer and then you pull that toilet to snake the drain there should be no reason that they can't snake the sewer unless there's something installed that won't let the snake pas. Something's not right here. Perhaps you need to run a sewer cam down the line and see what you really have out there. Good luck, Tom

Magdzik · Oct 1, 2010, 01:09 PM

The check vale opening is an old one like 30-50 yrs old so it is not used. We have a basment. The plumers had the camera and that's how they saw the standing water with leaves under the floor. I am getting different estimates and everyone says different stuff :(

ballengerb1 · Oct 1, 2010, 01:23 PM

When you get your 3 estimates of no trwo agree on how to fix it get more estimates.

speedball1 · Oct 1, 2010, 04:31 PM

The check vale opening is an old one like 30-50 yrs old so it is not used.

This just presents more questions. "Not in use!!" Was the flapper removed so that it's a "pass through" or was that the reason the plumber couldn't get his snake out in the sewer? I'm just trying to understand your setup. Regards, Tom

Magdzik · Oct 1, 2010, 07:52 PM

The valve is not working it is closed they are not sure