Exposing Predatory Plumbing Tactics: A Real $850 Fix vs. a $17,000 Estimate
Across Ohio and the nation, senior citizens and everyday homeowners are being misled into spending thousands of dollars on unnecessary sewer line excavations. This post reveals just how extreme these tactics can be, and how informed second opinions can save thousands.
Note: The $17,000 estimate shown in this blog post has been transcribed into text form to protect the identity of the homeowner and redact the service provider. We have intentionally chosen not to name the company involved, despite having documented proof, out of caution. Given the size, reach, and resources of the company in question, disclosing their identity could risk harmful retaliation against small businesses like ours. This post is meant to educate and protect homeowners, not to provoke corporate backlash.
Actual Invoice From Our Technician
Total: $850
Service Performed: Jetting and Camera Inspection
“Jetted the line to remove a large mass of roots located in the area the other company had marked for excavation. Removal took around an hour using a root warthog jet head. Once the roots were removed, we used the camera to ensure there were no additional issues with the line.”
Includes:
- 1-year warranty against root blockage
- No warranty against foreign material blockages
✅ Issue fully resolved in under an hour
✅ No digging
✅ Minimal disruption
✅ Honest, transparent service
Predatory Estimate From Another Company
Total: $17,026.74
Proposed Work: Full sewer excavation and pipe replacement
- Includes vague materials like: “Gravel (qty: 2)” and “Pipe (5 feet)”
- Fine print removes company responsibility for damage to fences, HVAC systems, landscaping, or even grass.
- Customer waives their 3-day legal right to cancel
- $500 fee if they cancel within 48 hours
- “Membership Discount” used to inflate original price to make the final price seem like a deal
- Estimate warns that the work may still require “additional repairs or cleaning in the future”
This estimate was given to a senior citizen. Without even performing a camera inspection, the company jumped straight to a $17,000 excavation recommendation.
The Problem: Fear Tactics and Upsells
- Pressuring homeowners, especially seniors, by using fear, urgency, and confusing technical jargon
- No attempt to troubleshoot before recommending expensive excavation work
- No use of camera inspections or jetting to verify the condition first
What You Can Do
✔️ Always ask for a second opinion, preferably one that includes a camera inspection
✔️ Never sign contracts that waive cancellation rights or that have extensive disclaimers
✔️ Ask for detailed line items. If you’re paying for “gravel”, you deserve to know how much and why
✔️ Avoid being pressured into “membership discounts” that are really just inflated pricing tactics
The Takeaway
Not every clogged sewer line needs a backhoe.
Before you dig up your yard (and your wallet), call a local, trusted professional who will inspect the line first, not bury you in a $17,000 sales pitch.
