Got bad news 2 days ago. Sent camera down A slow sewer line and saw some roots. Called the sewer county people to locate the tap-- that's where your 4 inch line connects to their 6 inch line. 8 ft deep and in the middle of a forest of pine trees. Had to take down privacy fence to even get excavator into the site. Took over an hour to get the digger in.

Took 2 hrs to get down 10 ft (not 8) and make the hole safe for my guys to work. We found the tap was cracked and roots filled the 4 inch line and the city 6 inch line for over 4 ft. The tap had circular cracks and longitudinal. Cut the city pipe back and cut about 6 ft of our pipe out and started the rebuild of connections. Called the sewer guys to verify the city line failed so we can get some $ rebate for our expense working on THEIR line failure. This was one of the most challenging jobs we've ever done. Hole closed out by 3pm. My crew did their usual outstanding job. Couldn't be happier with their work.

The cost of these materials have shot up over the past six or eight months in a major way. Up 8 fold!!!!

Vee here we use 4inch all the way to the tap. Transition from 4 to 6 inch (the tap) and use the special donuts.

Code does not allow PVC underground, might just be Philly. It is due to the political strength of the labor union. PVC is too easy to install, although of course they come up with other excuses. Yep, cast with lead underground.

don PA if you thought this would shock me-- nope i was born in NY in Brooklyn the home of the -- well you know who with the crooked nose.

For all of you to know there are new modern ways to solve problem sewer lines, water lines, gas lines and power lines under ground, under cement or under a slab.

I just spent over $10,000 on some new attachments for my current equipment.

Robert there are many modern ways and almost all are super expensive to reline.

When a sewer line fails there are all kinds of gadgets. Most slab fails are not due to roots. The root intrusion problem is mostly what we have in our area due to heavy pine tree infestation. I am not a licensed contractor!!!!!! I am a LICENSED airline mechanic with 45 yrs experience on rentals and working on them-- Hands on work as a hydraulic mechanic specialist for 23 of those years (working hyd lines and systems on commercial airplanes).

The point I like to make on my how to fix things posting is; sometime ya gotta put the shovel into the dirt. This last sewer line is classic. 40ft from the clean out plug there were 4 or 5 twists and turns for the line to connect to the sewer main. 2 -- 22.5 degree 4 inch pvc connection and 2 - 45 degree along with one coupling. Think in your mind running a sewer cable down that line and all those angles. Now think how do I clear an obstruction 4 ft long before i run this reline in? If you've run cable you know what i mean. Now add 4 inch diameter and 4 feet of root jammed in that pipe-- so tight the bell housing cracked. When the root end was exposed we couldn't even pull it out of the pipe it was so impacted. We had to cut the main to get the roots out. Keep in mind we tried cutting these roots out first--- The thought process for most people is just cut the roots. Think on this. The roots were 4 ft into the line. So even if you start cutting roots where can they go-- #2 how long does it take to cut 4ft of roots. not gonna happen.

So many say we have this new system-- maybe but it's not working in most heavy root problems.

We have been very lucky working with the sewer company- we call them as soon as the line is exposed. When roots are shown in their pipe they will reimburse us our costs. 9 out of 10 got the check.

The under slab problems. We've done those also. We hire a locator (sound man) to locate (100.00). cut slab and then we repair.

Here in lies why we love carpet. You can roll carpet back. find your leak-- break up slab -- make your repair. This is what we do when where done with the fix. We fill the hole with sand. Keeping in mind that most slab leaks are along a wall and not in the middle of a room. Pack the hole with sand-- then go to H-depot and grab a metal plate 1/8 and put on the sand. roll pad and carpet back.

myob,

That's an interesting idea about the sand and metal plate. Had not considered it.

I hope that you can keep dishing out the tidbits of info. I just fear that you are headed to a karate showdown.

What's a karate show down?

Sorry, was making a statement about a certain poster who has outlandish fake stories and misguides naïve people. He likes to throw threats of violence into his conversations as well.

I will hunker back into my little safe spot now.

MYOB - This is fact filled post - under slab repairs with the sand and metal plate - very good