Sewer line advice needed.

[redhead68]

This is my first post here, and I'm not a plumber so I apologize if this doesn't make sense, but I'll explain as best I can.

In May of 2010, I had my entire sewer line replaced. About 110'. One year later, I had a backup and the plumbers who replaced the line came out and found a clog right at the area where the pipe attaches to the city lines. At that time it was blamed on my 14 year old daughter flushing some things she shouldn't have. So on Saturday, I had another backup. They came out to snake the line and found the blockage in the same place, right where the line attaches to the city line. So they scoped it to find out what the problem is and it looks like roots have grown in around the fernco, where they tied my line in to the city's.

Of course I'm upset because I've spent lots of money and only 18 months later my pipes are compromised. Now they're recommending that I replace the city's clean out with one that will have the connection on the other side (the city's side, so if this happens again, they will be responsible for fixing it) This will entail digging an 8' deep, 8' wide hole in my yard and tearing out a section of the driveway and sidewalk. Could potentially cost more than what I've already spent replacing the entire line.

Am I getting screwed here? Should I get a second opinion? Should I have to pay for this repair? Their warranty covers materials for 5 years.

Thanks for reading. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Fansplumbing]

In my opinion (and I STRESS that it is only my opinion) they should not have used a fernco to make a connection to the city sewer. In, once again, my opinion, they should have made a hard connection.

[Chris]

Where are you located? In most cases you are not even allowed to touch the city main except by hiring a licensed contractor. Also check with the city or water dept standards to see if they call out to use a fernco, once again most cities or districts don't alloow them. If the contractor used parts not approved and they failed it will be his responsibility to replace them on his dime. In most cases at least here in CA we will do a hard connection of some kind and myself I always pour a concrete lug around the connection just for a little more insurance.

[redhead68]

Thanks for the responses.

I'm in Columbia SC. I will check with the city to see if the fernco is allowed. Of course I questioned the integrity of the parts used to make the connection and whether it was done properly, and he assured me that "that's how it's done." He also assured me that the city would allow the replacement of the clean out.

[johnjh2o]

What type fernco did they use? In most areas require banded couplings. With a rubber coupling any settlement in the ground can cause the connection to become misaligned.

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John

[redhead68]

I'm not sure what type of fernco. The only descriptor he used was "rubber." And, of course he reassured me that they tamped the ground well enough that settling wouldn't be the cause.