Ok I guess I'm wondering if anyone can please help me with a ballpark price on plumbing services that were done for us. And is this.... it is what it is? or can we dispute this in someway?
I'll keep this brief and summarized..... $2000 for

Guy comes out to figure out what is going on with plumbing/sewage in the yard.

Looks under the house for a second asks a few questions about the situation.

Comes back the next day to start digging. Finds a pump & basin for sewage.
We had NO IDEA that was even there...that's beside the point I guess. Says that this is going to be a $6500 job

Puts in a temporary pump to get us by until the new one comes in. I'm not sure what it was actually for, but he said this was like putting a band-aid on something that need major surgery.... so easy on the water use.

Takes back the temp. pump the next morning after we said no go thanks anyway. All in all he was there for an afternoon.


not part of my question but.......
***Cancelled them after talking to our home inspector that said that sounded a bit high. He is friends with an owner of a plumbing co. in town. Comes out to look at everything.....$2000 for the same job that dude said was $6500. Great co. very nice people did a perfect job

 

Not sure anyone hear is going to know what was done unless there's more details.
What type septic system is it?
How is it laid out?
Was it just the sewerage pump locked up and they replaced it.
Has the leach field failed and they did a band aid jetting of the lines that just going to fail again?
Did anyone dig up the distribution box?
anyone pump out the tank to see if water was running back into the tank from a failed leach field.

 

Are you also questioning that the first guy wanted 2000.00 for what he did so far ?
If he brought a machine in to dig..... then he's due something for his time.

 

Hey
-the septic system-Apologies if I'm telling you something you clearly know already! =) this is what I gathered from all this.....we're on city water and sewage & that underground basin fills from our main water line. Gets high enough and the pump pumps it to the street.

buried next to the house....is that what you mean by how it's laid out

They did not replace it. The pump was not working/burnt out or just dead. There is actually an outlet sticking out of the ground that it was plugged into at one time.

They had one of those huge trucks come out and drain the basin

distribution box- ? the only thing I saw that was dug out of the ground was the old pump. And you could see the basin down in the hole

They tested the temp. pump-covered the hole w/ a piece of cardboard-put caution tape around the area then left. That was the last time they were here. Except to come by and take the make shift pump

Also there was a man hole cover on the whole thing...which I guess is what was pushing it back into the house

 

Sorry if I ADD'd' this post too much
Only questioning the first guy. No machine to dig. It was just him & he used a shovel.

 

No problem..... the more information the better. You don't have a septic system.

Your sewer line leaves your house lower than the line in the street. You have a lift system or lift pit that pumps your sewage up to the street level.

 

yes. that's what we've got

 

Most of the high end lift systems here in NJ go for around $3500 installed. ( pump replacement only) The pumps alone are $1800 or so. It takes 3 men to pull them out...

Also I often have the old pumps rebuilt for an additional $900 and put that one in the homeowners garage as a back up. This way they have two...

But it depends on what you have... possibly he wanted to update what you have there...

These are what is in my area and new is well over 10k...

E/One Grinder Pumps :: Model DH071

 

Thank you so so much for the help! I think I gave too much info sorry y'all!
Does $1500-$2000 seem excessive for digging up the old pump. (With a shovel)

 

Not at all if you really state what he did...

Was this after hours?

He located a pump you did not know you had.. Had a pumper truck come and pump off the waste. Replaced the pump with a temporary to get you going... Set up time...etc...

Now he takes all that time and you go ahead and find someone else..

Was there a written contract? Did you sign something>

Is is 1500 or 2000 k?

Did he itemize it?