We had a blockage in our pipe system, which lead to a sewer back-up into our basement. We called John the Plumber and the plumber that was sent to our house spent 4 hrs snaking our cast iron pipes. We were told that our pipes were slanted and the only way to fix the problem was to rip up the floors and replace all cast iron pipes. That day, we were charged $500 and we received a quote for $7500 for the pipe replacement job. Four days later, the sewer backed up again and we were seriously considering exchanging all the pipes but thankfully we got a second opinion from a different plumber, who said that he suspects that the pipes were not snaked properly and the problem was never really resolved. He recommended to have the pipes cleaned with hydro pressure. We called a different company, they sent two plumbers over and within 45 minutes the pipes were cleaned and we received a full pipe assessment at the same time. As suspected, the blockage was never fully unblocked by John the Plumber and there were no slanted pipes in the system. Since the hydro cleaning, we haven't had a problem and that was over 2 months ago.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $500.00
- Company Response
Dear Carmen,
We are very sorry to hear that you were not happy with the paid and free services we provided. We value feedback on our service and would like to thank you for taking the time to write a review.
Your pipes are made of cast iron. This material is seldom used in new residential construction because it deteriorates over time. The free camera inspection we performed while at your home showed evidence of both sagging and deterioration. Standing water was seen in the pipe, which indicated that it is not sloped correctly, as well as flaking pipes, which indicates deterioration.
As with many professions, there can be differing opinions on the best course of action; which is why we do not recommend hydro cleaning or “flushing” old cast iron pipes. If the pipes are already deteriorating, like yours are, blasting high-pressure water through the pipes can damage them even further.
When you contacted us after the work was completed we answered your questions and sent you the necessary supplementary information you requested. When we did not hear back from you, we assumed we had answered your questions and that perhaps you’d found another company to replace your deteriorating pipes.
Thank you again for your feedback. As stated on our invoices we do not warranty work completed on blocked or slow running drains because these problems are often caused by homeowner activities or damaged pipes. Going forward we will do our best to make customers better aware that we do not warranty drain clearing before beginning work to prevent the confusion you experienced.