Weakenedwarrior
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A few weeks ago my sewer backed up. Every time we used our plumbing, I was getting water in the floor drain of my basement. We called the local company that uses pressurized water to clean the pipes. $140 later all was well, but he said the cast iron floor drain needed to be replaced. he said it was so rusty that it was almost closed shut.
I proceeded to rent a jackhammer to replace the floor drain. I discover that even though my main waste stack is PVC, the horizontal drain under my slab was orangeberg. I replaced about 6' of it with PVC from the waste stack. This was far enough to get the new floor drain, and a new stub out for the washer machine.
Fast forward two weeks later, water is backing up again. This time they come out with the camera, and discover it is orangeberg for about 40' and then is PVC after that for another 60' until it ties into the city.
Here is the kicker. My house used to have a septic tank until 1987, when they tied us into city sewer. Why would the former homeowner use orangeberg to tie into the city, instead of PVC? I see him once a year during a neighborhood picnic we have where former residents are invited. I plan on wringing his neck the next time I see him. This is not the first problem with the house that I have had to redo, because he did it wrong. He personally told me he dug out the basement and the yard and did the work himself. After digging up half of it in my basement, it looks like he just poked holes in the side of it for the laundry and the floor drain, and covered all 4 sides with concrete. I cannot believe he was too cheap to buy PVC. He probably got the orangeberg for free from someone for all I know!
There has been two people who have owned the house between when he sold it in 1989, and me buying it in 2000. Would he have any liability for this? I am not going to attempt any legal action against him. I am trying to do my part not to contribute to this sue happy society.
Sorry this is more of a venting post then an actual question. I am going to start calling for quotes tomorrow. Would I legally be able to replace it myself being that there is another 60' before the city sewer that is PVC and in good working order? O yeah, I live in MN and it has been below zero outsize the last week or so. Wish this problem was delayed until spring, but the guy with the camera said I was on borrowed time.
I proceeded to rent a jackhammer to replace the floor drain. I discover that even though my main waste stack is PVC, the horizontal drain under my slab was orangeberg. I replaced about 6' of it with PVC from the waste stack. This was far enough to get the new floor drain, and a new stub out for the washer machine.
Fast forward two weeks later, water is backing up again. This time they come out with the camera, and discover it is orangeberg for about 40' and then is PVC after that for another 60' until it ties into the city.
Here is the kicker. My house used to have a septic tank until 1987, when they tied us into city sewer. Why would the former homeowner use orangeberg to tie into the city, instead of PVC? I see him once a year during a neighborhood picnic we have where former residents are invited. I plan on wringing his neck the next time I see him. This is not the first problem with the house that I have had to redo, because he did it wrong. He personally told me he dug out the basement and the yard and did the work himself. After digging up half of it in my basement, it looks like he just poked holes in the side of it for the laundry and the floor drain, and covered all 4 sides with concrete. I cannot believe he was too cheap to buy PVC. He probably got the orangeberg for free from someone for all I know!
There has been two people who have owned the house between when he sold it in 1989, and me buying it in 2000. Would he have any liability for this? I am not going to attempt any legal action against him. I am trying to do my part not to contribute to this sue happy society.
Sorry this is more of a venting post then an actual question. I am going to start calling for quotes tomorrow. Would I legally be able to replace it myself being that there is another 60' before the city sewer that is PVC and in good working order? O yeah, I live in MN and it has been below zero outsize the last week or so. Wish this problem was delayed until spring, but the guy with the camera said I was on borrowed time.