House main drain keeps backing up... Suggestions on who to call?

Not so much DIY as home repair, but other than Phil Masucci or Right one Plumbing, does anyone have first hand knowledge of local sewer or plumbing companies to come out and find out why our house main keeps backing up. We have an alarm, so we can catch it before it floods (and snake it out) but husband doesn't pull out anything significant after snaking. The snaking seems to fix the issue for a few days.  The pipe is more easily accessible right now as the front sidewalk is already dug up. 

We don't need anyone to snake it out, but rather dig, check it out and  determine if it needs replacing. Plumber? Contractor? 

Thoughts? Thanks. 

I would say either the blockage isn't getting cleared, your husband is just poking a hole through it, otherwise it is a bigger problem. You can have a plumber put a camera down there to see if there is a breakage or root damage. Is the snake the correct size snake , right blades, does he go all the way to the street?

Some plumbers do this themselves, others suggest a drain service.  I think Phil clears clogs, I am not sure about Right One.  We have used Python Drain with excellent results.  I think they are recommended by another of the local plumbers. 

All County Sewer - http://www.allcountysewer.com/

We were having a similar problem and they put a camera down there to figure out what the issue was and cleared it up.  Ask for Jeff.

Bump. Mason just alerted us (after months of delays) that he'll be here Friday to continue work on the front walkway and steps. So this is a "time  is of the essence " project. 

He doesn't go to the street. In the past, the blockage is about 6 feet from the house, and he's pulled out roots etc. 

ace11 said:

I would say either the blockage isn't getting cleared, your husband is just poking a hole through it, otherwise it is a bigger problem. You can have a plumber put a camera down there to see if there is a breakage or root damage. Is the snake the correct size snake , right blades, does he go all the way to the street?

SuzanneNg said:

He doesn't go to the street. In the past, the blockage is about 6 feet from the house, and he's pulled out roots etc. 

ace11 said:

I would say either the blockage isn't getting cleared, your husband is just poking a hole through it, otherwise it is a bigger problem. You can have a plumber put a camera down there to see if there is a breakage or root damage. Is the snake the correct size snake , right blades, does he go all the way to the street?

 

 They have to snake out to the street to where your sewer pipe meets the Town's.  Call All County -- they came same day for me on a Saturday, when none of the usual plumbers in town would come or even answer their phones.  They were a godsend.  Good luck!

Python.  Get it fixed once and for a long time.

Had Python here a few weeks ago,  highly recommend them!

Is this the contact for Python?

http://www.pythondraincleaning.com

1551 Oakland Ave, Union, NJ 07083
(908) 810-1115

Based on their respective websites, Python doesn't seem to do pipe replacement, whereas All County does. Waiting for a call back from the foreman at Python to see if they do that. 

Python contracts out to another company for pipe replacement, so we are talking to All County to come out and give us estimate and make repairs. 

Curious, how has this worked out for you?

The thread started with a snaking problem, the shifted to a dig it up and replace it problem.  So what did you find.

What I never saw was a drain company with a pipe camera system looking down and finding out what the problem is.  As posted above, home style snakes can poke thru a blockage and run for a bit until the hole thru the blockage is plugged back up with stuff.  I have seen this with root problems, and a heavy grease problem.

I both cases a good drain company ran the TV to the street main and recommended a solution that solved the problems thru the pipe and did not involve digging up the pipes.

I was also blessed with a 3rd problem at a business that problem turned out to be a glob of cement at a pipe joint that oozed into the pipe and stuff would hang up on in.  The plumber was able to hone it out and make the pipe joint smooth bore again and all was solved.

So, for closure, how did this problem work out?

Later, Da

George

Posting to see if anyone had to replace from the house to the street, who they used and if they were happy?

Also, if anyone had a new line inserted without digging up the yard?

Had a company come up from South Jersey ( EDR Plumbing)  - They were the  company that is the actual digging company subcontracted out by several of the local plumbers.   They dug and replaced the pipe with PVC -- clay pipe ? was cracked. Have had no more clogging issues.