"Debt" is a four-letter word, and other social diseases

[digitaldiscipline]

[The original version of this post was devoured by the Great CDC Blackout, so this is the short version]

Didn't make it to xanyboi's abode depilitation due to excessive host issues for K's coworkers pre- and post- Renn Fest Saturday.

Spent too much time fucking with a clogged drain, so Roto-Rooter is being summoned to replace the ancient and literally shitty orange tile sewage line with something with real structural integrity. Spurred by this incipient expenditure, we're also looking at painting the house, and priced out power-washer and paint sprayer rentals. Looks surprisingly reasonable. We've got a color scheme in mind, so that pastel salmon is Marked For Death.

Painting will probably happen the week before the First Annual Gothopian HouseHaunting, since my folks will be here, and they like doing that sort of thing. Also: Gardening!

May guests look like so:
- Tessa (tentative for week of 5/12?)
- MBI & Christy (probable for weekend of 5/20)
- My folks (confirmed for full week from 5/20-28)
- Keith & Kendra (confirmed for Mem Day Wknd)

Comments

[angel-renewed.livejournal.com]

I was wondering what happened to K this weekend, as she said she was coming by the house. We're finishing up the front yard tonight and then onto the back yard, because we're sick like that.

The mojito mix and salt from urban outfitters was pressed into service last night. It was earned.

I may never get all the dirt out from under my nails.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

she meant to, but we had her coworkers over until almost midnight on saturday, and yesterday, i pretty much got run over by a bus.

[avariael.livejournal.com]

Hey - I work for a plumbing company :>

You might be able to save some cash if you do the following parts of the replacement yourself:

1. Excavation and backfilling. Most of them don't include seeding, or sodding anyway, and with enough friends with shovels, or the rental of a walk behind trencher, you should be okay.
2. Don't forget to call Miss Utility if you do - so you don't accidentally cut a natural gas line, electric, cable, etc.
3. Just like all remodeling - it's cheaper if you do your own demo, so if you need to break concrete - do it yourself if you're comfortable doing it.
4. Also - I don't know if your terracotta line has collapsed or not, but sometimes it's cheaper to missile through your existing line, depending on how big your line is. That mostly works with cast iron though, since terracotta breaks like a mofo. :<
5. Depending on where the break is, or how bad the condition of your line truly is - you might be able to get away with only replacing part of the line if cash is a big issue, but you do have to weigh up the repair vs replacement costs in the long run. If you're not sure - it shouldn't cost more than $300 to have a company run a sewer camera for you to give you the best idea of what condition the line is really in.

Also - don't put more than 20-30% down up-front, make sure they get a water/sewer permit and inspection through your city or county, and get a few quotes. The PHCC is a good reference, the member companies are honest by and large. QSC companies are fairly progressive and are all PHCC members.

Good luck with it! If you need to benchmark, if you tell me how many feet it is between your house connection and your street, I could tell you approximately how much we would charge you.

[etcet.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Kris!

I'm almost certain it's ancient iron, since (while fucking around under the house) that's what the previously-replaced-but-not-dragged-away drain lines from the kitchen/laundry were. Looked like about 4" OD stuff in 4' segments.

In speaking with the guy from RotoRooter yesterday, he recommended snaking a camera through to check line condition, root impingement, etc, as well.

The first guy I spoke with, who discussed the line-replacement eventuality, described something like "pulling the new pipe through from the curb, busting the old line from inside," which sounds like it obviates the bulk of the digging.

If I had to ballpark a guess, I'd say that it's probably thirty or thirty-five feet from where the line leaves the house to the curb. It comes out of the wall, runs for a few feet, then makes a 90 degree turn right next to a tree and heads to the street. This is the third time I've had drainage troubles in eight months, and, as much as I enjoy playing with Lye, I'd like to put this thing to bed.

PHCC? Whozat?

[avariael.livejournal.com]

I spoke to one of my owners, who does a lot of our sewer and water line jobs and he says that unless code prohibits it down there, you'll want them to put in 4" PVC to replace the cast iron.

Also - you shouldn't pay more than $2k. Up here, prices are higher than down there, so he says $1,200 - $1,800 should be reasonable provided it's not too deep. He also says not to go with Roto-Rooter because they're franchised, so their prices are going to be considerably higher than your local guys.

PHCC = Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors. It's a national association of contractors. My company is a member, and we're QSC members too. QSC = Quality Service Contractors. I know that there are PHCC members in the south, I've met some of them who are awesome people.

If roots are a problem on your property - consider using a product like Root-X as maintenance to help keep the line clear. It's a poison that kills off the roots, and the manufacturer guarantees against root infestations for 12 months from use.

HTH

[mighty-man.livejournal.com]

Whatever happened to good old copper sulfate for killing roots? I remember the yearly ritual of dumping a (small) coffee can sized container of the stuff from inside the house and a bucket of hot water.

Heh, I still love using bleach to prevent sewer problems *g*

[etcet.livejournal.com]

bleach won't eat through the stuff that's already there. hell, lye didn't even do that. heh.