Its a dirty job...

... but the city will do it. So, as with many older houses, the sewer line running to the city occasionally clogs. The city used to clean our sewer line for free, but apparently it became too expensive so they discontinued the service. Well, we got our fair use out of it, so although I was saddened to see it go, I understood. Yesterday, the line backed up again, and so I called one of your yellow pages sewer line fixers, which don't give you an estimate over the phone, to just come and snake our line. After a good two hour wait, someone comes by. I show him my clean out near the house, and he asks if there is a city clean out. Uh, well there is, but its covered by grass - last time this happened I actually needed some pipe replaced and they put a property line clean out in. And I was pretty convinced the problem was before the city main line anyways. He mentioned that the city would clean from the property line for free and if the blockage were from there, then I would save some money. Well I just wanted to get it done yesterday, so at first told him, I was tired of waiting and to just do it, but then wised up a little asked him for a quote first. When he said the minimum charge would be nearly $500, I really wised up and thanked him for his time and sent him on his way. So now I had to find the grass covered clean out. After about an hour of poking in the grass with a pitch fork I did finally find it. It was no where near where I though it was - and of course when I mention it to my wife she knew exactly where it was, thanks for offering up that information honey. Now, checking where the clog was, I opened a hose on the house side clean out... and wouldn't you know it, the frickin' blockage did appear to be on the city side. I wasn't entirely convinced because we have pipe called "orangeberg" which is actually some sort of compressed tar-paper thing which runs right under a bunch of rose bushes and I figured some roots just broke through and snuck down there. Anyways, so I call the city today, they send someone out within maybe 30 minutes. The only way I know they are there is that I here the snake running outside. So I peek through the window, and don't see them at the city clean out. What the heck? Ahh, there they are, at the house clean out. Nice! Wonderful! They are doing the entire run from the house. I thought they stopped that? Oh well, not going to point it out to him now. Expecting that he'll knock on the door when he's done, I get some cash ready to tip him, after all he just saved me somewhere around $500, but alas, he did not knock. Just packed up and left. Well, here's to you, Mr. City Public Works fellow, I bow in your general direction.

(2007-10-09 15:10:30.0) Comments [3] // Permalink