Thank you Jen. I should have insisted more. In my head I was expecting 4-500 top and I should have been more solid.
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They're also called New Canadian Plumbing. I dealt with them a few years ago also with a clogged kitchen sink, a problem that we've often had because of it being an old house and fairly typically weirdly arranged drainpipes. The guy came and suggested we need to replace all drainage in the basement, not up to code etc. and quoted $8000. I just said forget it, he immediately dropped the price to $6000. I still said no and he left. Called another plumber who rebuilt the entire drain system under the sink and all the way to the basement and charged me $1000. It's worked perfectly since.
So those guys, New Canadians are total scammers!
Don't kick yourself. You were just trying to get 'stuff' done.
Most of us have been there in one way or another.Next time you can have another raffle and offer a TERB member the opportunity to come over and clean out your pipes in exchange for cleaning out his pipes. It is an easy thing to do. For both parties.
Do You Know About Drain Snakes? Clogged Drain Tip from a Cleaning Pro
Do you know about drain snakes? They are plastic snakes with teeth on them that when you feed them down a clogged drain they grab hair allowing you to remove...
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I used to own rental properties, but I had to step away from the housing rental business—otherwise, I might have killed a tenant by now. During that time, I had an honest plumber working for me. He eventually went independent because he couldn't handle the pressure and dishonesty of working for big plumbing companies.
For example, replacing a trap under a sink is typically a quick 10-minute job. But under company policy, he was expected to turn the connector the wrong way to "accidentally" damage additional parts, forcing the replacement of three components instead of just one. On top of that, he had to pretend he didn’t have the right part on hand, creating an excuse to leave and return, stretching the 10-minute job into a 2-3 hour job.
His boss used to reprimand him, saying the company couldn’t afford to keep him unless he generated more profit. It wasn’t about providing good service—it was all about maximizing the bill. That kind of practice went against his principles, which is why he chose to go out on his own.
You can not win in this case, the charge is typical for this sort of job.
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I also had another experience where we legitimately had a plumbing emergency after hours that needed fixing, could not wait. The guy spent 2-2.5 h on a Saturday evening, needing to use some of his Specialized equipment and the bill was about 1600.
Yes, Drano for some pipes can be an issue and I've heard it's not good to use often. I use it maybe once a year if that. You can find articles about it online or I'm sure there's stuff on RE.
And yes typically get 3 or 5 quotes especially if you're not in a rush to get a job done and reading reviews. I'd rather pay a bit more for something to be fixed properly then cheap out of course. Especially when it comes to water issues.
And yes typically get 3 or 5 quotes especially if you're not in a rush to get a job done and reading reviews. I'd rather pay a bit more for something to be fixed properly then cheap out of course. Especially when it comes to water issues.
A plumber can not give you a quote if you tell him over the phone that it is a clogged drain. Unclogging the drain with drain cleaner or a snake is not that difficult.
It was a big dirty job, those guys worked hard. My drains are now good until 2125.
Insurance paid for a portion, I also had a back water valve installed 4 days before we had the Monsoon rain storm last summer, the city will reimburse a few $ for the back water valve. 3 of my neighbours basements flooded that day.
Just to add my three cents. One go out by yourself a sink strainer, fits inside the sink filters out small particles, clean when necessary no tools needed. To don’t put fog down the sink (fat, oil, grease) once you start doing that stuff will stick to it then you need to heavy artillery to clean it out. Three be careful about Drano and other drain cleaners when you use those chemicals they produce their own heat and fumes, hot enough to melt through an aluminum pan! Cost of the strainer anywhere from four to $10 available everywhere home hardware, no-frills, Walmart and the list goes on.
I recently tried to unplug a drain for somebody and failed. I had a drain king expanding bulb attached to a hose. Usually works. But this time it didn't.
I asked a friend who is a plumber and he said I should have used this.
I asked a friend who is a plumber and he said I should have used this.
I use the fine mesh drain filters in my kitchen sink. Amazed how much gunk it catches taht would otherwise go down the drain.
And strongly concur with your advice to NEVER dispose of fat, oil or grease in your plumbing. It does indeed congeal within the pipes as it is cooled down. Then that greasy residue starts to grab on and hold other particulate matter and then you end up with ever narrowing drains.
I used to contract in and now live in a high rise condo and we used to get drain overflows from the units above when the units below would be pouring grease down their drains. In my experience, it was mostly Asian households who did this. These drain stacks had to be power jettted to be cleared.
Something I do every month is to fill both bowls of my kitchen sink up with HOT water and Blue Dawn dish soap and then drain both sinks at the same time. I do this a couple times. The idea is to try to wash and flush out residue in the pipes before it gets to any thickness.
I was going to ask this.
Not that I dispose of fat, oil and grease down the kitchen sink, but what if someone threw oil and grease and then turned on the water at full heat.
I wonder if that would prevent it from congealing.
Come to think of it, it may congeal down the line maybe?
Will just congeal further down.
Keep a tin can in the freezer to pour grease into, then when it is full, throw it into the garbage can, frozen, on garbage day.
But save bacon grease, Nectar of the Gods, to fry eggs etc.
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That makes sense, pay when job completed ......... and most SP expect $ up front, also reasonable.
Yes!
I love those sink strainers!
I buy them in bulk at the dollar store and switch them out regularly.
A client first introduced me to them.
Wow. I had a toilet installed and it cost me $650. Toilet and install.
