Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? Latest visit, to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. Comparative experiences in this general area Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry I didn't write down the name. Said it was just
as good as the name brands. He quote $220 installed. Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.

TIA

On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? Latest visit, to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. Comparative experiences in this general area Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry I didn't write down the name. Said it was just
as good as the name brands. He quote $220 installed. Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.

TIA

85 bucks for a house call to do ANYTHING is reasonable as hell. As for
a disposal, just have someone teach you how to scrape garbage off of
plates into the garbage where it belongs. Disposals are a ridiculous
concept. They are forever jamming, needing repair or replacement, and
can even be the cause of plumbing backups that will cost you even more
money. If I bought a house that had a disposal, I would remove it. In
fact, that's what I did when I bought this house.

wrote in message
...
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

85 bucks for a house call to do ANYTHING is reasonable as hell.

I second that opinion and my cost area is a lot less than yours (the OP).

On Oct 16, 4:19*pm, wrote:
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson



wrote:
Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? * Latest visit, *to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. *This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. *Comparative experiences in this general area * Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. *Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. *Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? *He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry *I didn't write down the name. *Said it was just
as good as the name brands. *He quote $220 installed. *Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.

TIA

85 bucks for a house call to do ANYTHING is reasonable as hell. As for
a disposal, just have someone teach you how to scrape garbage off of
plates into the garbage where it belongs. Disposals are a ridiculous
concept. They are forever jamming, needing repair or replacement, and
can even be the cause of plumbing backups that will cost you even more
money. If I bought a house that had a disposal, I would remove it. In
fact, that's what I did when I bought this house.

Right. I hardly used the disposal at all, and haven't for years..
decades!
That's why I was surprised when plumber said it sounded like something
was loose, or...
not sure what his diagnosis was...

I HAVE always composted the stuff that's appropriate for compost, and
scraped meat, bones, etc
into garbage.So really don't need "teaching" thank you, though I know
the advice was well meant.

Higgs Boson wrote:
Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? Latest visit, to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. Comparative experiences in this general area Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry I didn't write down the name. Said it was just
as good as the name brands. He quote $220 installed. Reasonable?

Impossible to know if the disposal is a good price without knowing the
exact make and model, and a quick peek under the sink would help also.
Link to a photo?

Higgs Boson wrote:

3. Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry I didn't write down the name. Said it was just
as good as the name brands. He quote $220 installed. Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.


Garbage disposals are pretty much commodity items - one's (mostly) as good
as another. Assuming he pays retail for the disposal at Home Depot (~$75), a
house call (~$75 just to drive the truck to your place), he's getting about
$35/hour for a two-hour job.

SEEMS reasonable.

Alternatively, if your hand fits a couple of wrenches and a hammer...

On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:05:55 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

On Oct 16, 4:19*pm, wrote:
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson



wrote:
Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? * Latest visit, *to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. *This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. *Comparative experiences in this general area * Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. *Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. *Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? *He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry *I didn't write down the name. *Said it was just
as good as the name brands. *He quote $220 installed. *Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.

TIA

85 bucks for a house call to do ANYTHING is reasonable as hell. As for
a disposal, just have someone teach you how to scrape garbage off of
plates into the garbage where it belongs. Disposals are a ridiculous
concept. They are forever jamming, needing repair or replacement, and
can even be the cause of plumbing backups that will cost you even more
money. If I bought a house that had a disposal, I would remove it. In
fact, that's what I did when I bought this house.

Right. I hardly used the disposal at all, and haven't for years..
decades!
That's why I was surprised when plumber said it sounded like something
was loose, or...
not sure what his diagnosis was...

I HAVE always composted the stuff that's appropriate for compost, and
scraped meat, bones, etc
into garbage.So really don't need "teaching" thank you, though I know
the advice was well meant.

If you never use it, then why even consider replacing it? Just remove
the old one. You did start out wondering if your plumber was
reasonable and saying that money was tight...

You are welcome!

wrote:
On Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:01:45 -0700 (PDT), Higgs Boson
wrote:

Anybody have experience with them?

My plumber (eccentric guy) always proclaims he's trying to save me
money, which, in view of my circumstances sounds great.

But is he? Latest visit, to snake kitchen sink, cost $85. This is
Santa Monica CA -- not a cheap area.
I tried the Roto Rooter site, but no prices listed.

Would be grateful for:

1. Comparative experiences in this general area Whom did you use?
Satisfaction?

2. Price comparisons, also in this area.

3. Recommended 1/2 HP disposal models? He mentioned a brand I'm not
familiar with; sorry I didn't write down the name. Said it was just
as good as the name brands. He quote $220 installed. Reasonable?

Grateful for any advice on (1) snaking kitchen sink and (2) model of
disposal and price of installation.

TIA

85 bucks for a house call to do ANYTHING is reasonable as hell. As for
a disposal, just have someone teach you how to scrape garbage off of
plates into the garbage where it belongs. Disposals are a ridiculous
concept. They are forever jamming, needing repair or replacement, and
can even be the cause of plumbing backups that will cost you even more
money. If I bought a house that had a disposal, I would remove it. In
fact, that's what I did when I bought this house.

I couldn't agree more. That type of waste doesn't break down like most
septic waste. It's trouble in your septic system, or it's higher taxes
for your municipal system.

When I moved here the back yard was solid clay from the excavator.
Weeds didn't even grow in it! Fertilizer didn't do much, grass seed
would germinate and struggle for a month or so then die. I needed
organic matter. I didn't have the $ for a load of mushroom soil so
after a years worth of fruit, vegetable, and coffee waste the grass took
hold. I still throw most stuff out there, if it's small or I have time
to chop it up. The larger stuff goes to the compost pile.

Higgs Boson wrote:
Latest visit, *to snake kitchen sink, cost $85.

and later:
I hardly used the disposal at all, and haven't for years..
decades!
[snip]
I HAVE always composted the stuff that's appropriate for compost, and
scraped meat, bones, etc
into garbage.So really don't need "teaching" thank you, though I know
the advice was well meant.

Given that you are looking for advice on snaking a sink and that
you've had it snaked and you are looking for a garbage disposal and
you didn't mention you compost most of your food waste, it's not
unreasonable to assume you're clogging your drain with food waste.

The question, then, is what IS constricting or blocking your sink
drain? Is it the disposal? If not, have you figured out what it is?
Seems to me that's a bigger concern than how to snake a drain or the
cost of an Insinkerator.

As to the cost question: my own practice is to find someone whose word
and work I trust, and pay them for that trust and work ethic. The
cheapest contractor in town may not be competent; then again, neither
may the most expensive one in town. If you don't trust what your Roto-
Rooter guy is telling you, get a second opinion - for peace of mind
alone it's money well-spent!

Kyle wrote:
Higgs Boson wrote:
Latest visit, to snake kitchen sink, cost $85.

and later:
I hardly used the disposal at all, and haven't for years..
decades!
[snip]
I HAVE always composted the stuff that's appropriate for compost, and
scraped meat, bones, etc
into garbage.So really don't need "teaching" thank you, though I know
the advice was well meant.

Given that you are looking for advice on snaking a sink and that
you've had it snaked and you are looking for a garbage disposal and
you didn't mention you compost most of your food waste, it's not
unreasonable to assume you're clogging your drain with food waste.

If the OP is composting most of his food waste, I fail to understand how
food waste would then be the cause of the sink drain not working. I had
experienced similar problems that turned out to be a badly deteriorated
main sewer line from our condo.

Our condo unit is first floor, nearest the street, so is first to show
blockage. There were times I sent potato peelings and similar through
the disposal, causing the drain to work slower. Proof came after the
condo sewer line was rooted for the fourth time....I complained to the
city, they sent a crew to video the line all the way from the street and
to install a cleanout at the edge of our property. The condo assn. then
had the line video'd, which I saw, and the plumber showed me how the
lower portion of the cast iron pipe was essentially gone. On an earlier
visit, another plumber had advised that the age of the pipe was at the
end of it's useful expected life (35/40 yrs.).

The question, then, is what IS constricting or blocking your sink
drain? Is it the disposal? If not, have you figured out what it is?
Seems to me that's a bigger concern than how to snake a drain or the
cost of an Insinkerator.

As to the cost question: my own practice is to find someone whose word
and work I trust, and pay them for that trust and work ethic. The
cheapest contractor in town may not be competent; then again, neither
may the most expensive one in town. If you don't trust what your Roto-
Rooter guy is telling you, get a second opinion - for peace of mind
alone it's money well-spent!