Hydro jetting · Rick Hammond
Rental main line, hydro jet or snake
Owns several rental houses and met you at one of them. Businesslike, short on time, and knows roughly what things cost.
What you know walking in
Service call at a rental. Tenant reports the tub and toilets backing up. The owner says his handyman has snaked the line twice this year. Single-story rental on a slab, built in 1964. Not a member.
- 4-inch cast iron building drain under the slab, 62 yrs
- 4-inch clay sewer lateral to the street, 62 yrs
- Exterior cleanout at the side of the house
What you found
- The camera shows grease and scale narrowing the cast iron to about half its size for about 25 feet under the house.
- The cable cut a path through the buildup but left the rest on the walls. That is why the last two clearings did not last, and this is the third backup this year.
- The cast iron is rough inside but intact. No cracks, holes, or worn-through bottom.
- The clay line to the street is clear, with tight joints and no roots.
Your price book for this job
Cable clearing and camera
Cable clearing through the cleanout done today · Camera inspection with video · The buildup stays on the pipe walls
$425
Hydro jet the line Fits this home
Cable clearing and camera done today · Hydro jet the cast iron with a descaling nozzle · Camera video after jetting for your records · A short note for the tenant on what not to pour down the drain
$795
The honest fit is marked. Recommend what the home needs, and only that.
Your goal
Show him the footage, explain why the snake keeps failing, and compare the cost of jetting with more repeat calls in plain numbers. Recommend jetting, respect his budget, and ask for a decision.
Difficulty: Easy
Plan you can offer
- Summit Care Club$19.95 a month
Speak naturally. Rick hears you, reacts to how you say things, and remembers. Headphones make it feel real.