The Call That Changed Everything
A property manager in Van Nuys reached out to us after months of frustration. She manages over 30 rental units across the Los Angeles area, and one of her duplexes had a serious drainage issue. The back unit kept backing up. She hired a local plumber to investigate, who ran a basic inspection and quickly delivered the diagnosis: full sewer line replacement—quoted at $18,000.
The plumber said the line was full of roots and needed to be dug out and replaced. When she asked to see camera footage, they told her it would cost an additional $500 just to show it.
That raised a red flag.
She didn’t approve the work. Instead, she waited. Weeks went by. The problem continued. Eventually, she gave us a call at The Pine Plumbing.
What We Found (And Didn’t Find)
When we arrived, we didn’t ask for anything up front. We told her exactly what we tell everyone: if we end up doing the work, the camera inspection is free. If not, there’s a small charge to cover our time and tools.
We inspected both units of the duplex. Our tech ran the camera line through every access point. We didn’t find roots. We didn’t find a collapsed pipe. We didn’t find anything that would justify replacing the entire sewer line.
Instead, we found something else: the back unit had no proper venting. It was a recently built ADU, and whoever installed the plumbing skipped one of the most important parts of the system. Without venting, the drains couldn’t breathe—water would gurgle and move slowly, backing up even though the main line was clear.
The fix? We installed the missing vent lines. We didn’t have to dig anything up. We didn’t have to replace the sewer. We didn’t even have to interrupt the tenants for more than a few hours.
That’s it. Total cost: a fraction of $18,000.
This Isn’t Rare
Unfortunately, stories like this come up more often than they should. And it’s not just homeowners getting hit with exaggerated sewer quotes. We’ve had general contractors, restaurant owners, and commercial builders come to us after hearing prices that don’t match the job.
Sometimes it’s a broken P-trap. Sometimes it’s a venting issue. And yes, sometimes a sewer line really does need to be replaced—but not without proof. That’s why every one of our major drain and sewer jobs starts with a free camera inspection.
We show you what’s going on. Right there on screen. No games. No guesswork. No invoices without answers.
Why So Many Contractors Call Us for a Second Opinion
If you’re a general contractor, commercial developer, or property manager, you’ve probably seen this happen before. A plumber shows up, rattles off a quote, and tells you the whole thing needs to be torn out. Maybe they can get you a deal “if you sign today.”
That kind of pressure is a bad sign. And we’re here to say: you don’t have to accept it.
Contractors across Los Angeles County call us because they know we don’t jump to conclusions. We check every angle. We run the camera. We confirm the issue before quoting the fix.
They rely on us because:
- We don’t charge for inspections if we do the work.
- We handle both residential and commercial plumbing projects.
- We explain what’s wrong in plain terms.
- We’re ready for everything from small clogs to full system rebuilds.
When you’re in the middle of a big job and time is tight, you don’t want to bring in a plumber who causes delays—or worse, costs your client thousands with the wrong fix.
How to Spot a Sewer Line Scam
Whether you’re a GC overseeing a restaurant build-out or a maintenance director for a multifamily building, here are some red flags to look for when a sewer line quote feels off:
1. No Camera Inspection or Charging to See It
If someone diagnoses a sewer replacement without showing you video evidence, be cautious. If they charge hundreds just to show you the footage, ask yourself what they’re trying to hide.
2. One-Size-Fits-All Recommendations
Every building is different. A good plumber inspects and diagnoses before quoting. If someone pushes a full repipe without checking vents, traps, or connections—they’re skipping steps.
3. High Pressure Tactics
“You need to sign today to lock in this deal.” We hear this one often. Don’t let urgency pressure you into expensive work. Real professionals give you time and proof.
4. No Mention of Venting Issues
Many plumbers overlook or ignore venting entirely. But in buildings—especially with new additions like ADUs—venting problems can cause major backup issues. It’s one of the first things we check.
5. No Written Guarantee
If a plumber won’t guarantee their work, or claims they can’t because the building is “too old,” that’s a problem. We guarantee our work—because we stand by our diagnosis.
Who We Work With
We’ve built strong relationships with a range of professionals who call us first when sewer or drain issues come up:
- General Contractors working on multi-unit developments, ADUs, or home remodels
- Commercial Contractors building out restaurants, retail spaces, or office complexes
- Real Estate Professionals trying to close a deal and need answers fast
- Property Managers maintaining rental homes, apartments, or commercial buildings
- HOAs managing common-area drain and sewer systems
Whether it’s a 20-year-old cast iron line or a badly plumbed new addition, we bring the right tools and the right techs to the job—every time.
No Job Too Big or Small
Some clients call us for a single clogged drain. Others bring us in to overhaul an entire commercial plumbing system. Whatever the case, we don’t treat small jobs like afterthoughts or big jobs like blank checks.
We’re equipped to handle it all:
- Drain cleaning and diagnostics
- Sewer camera inspections
- Pipe repair and replacement
- Venting and P-trap corrections
- Commercial plumbing service and upgrades
- Emergency troubleshooting
If you’re in charge of keeping a project on schedule or a building in top shape, we’re the team that won’t waste your time or your budget.
Wrap-Up: Know Before You Dig
That Van Nuys job could’ve cost $18,000—and still wouldn’t have fixed the problem. The real issue wasn’t in the ground. It was a missing vent.
We see it all the time. And the reason we get called in is simple: people are tired of the guesswork.
If someone tells you the whole system needs to go, call us first. We’ll run the camera. We’ll show you the truth. And if it really is a big job—we’ve got the team, the experience, and the tools to get it done right.
You can reach us anytime through thepineplumbing.com or give us a call to schedule an inspection.
