
Serving Clinton, IA and surrounding areas
Approved
In business since 1973
Free estimates
Emergency services offered
" The 2" waste line from a full bath clogged at a basement joint during the home warranty period of our "new-to-us" old house. House is turn of the century vintage. The bathroom was remodelled with all new piping work in the last 5 years. Thus the unclog fee is reduced to the deductable of the warranty. (The standard charge is $175 for this same work.) The clogged joint was at the connection of the 2" line to the 4" line going out of the house. This service was completed on a Thurs. The water flowed as usual for several days. It snowed like no other on Feb2 ("100 year blizzard" and all) and on the following Thurs, I noticed a little water on the floor of the basement. The basement has other known leaks, so I first assumed it was melt water from the 16" of snow. But after several more days, I figured out it was waste water (including sewage) from the 4" drain pipe backing up thru the drain in the basement floor. I called TMI back and asked them to fix the new clog now in the 4". TMI said this is not under warranty as the clog is likely outside the walls of the house and the warranty only covers pipes inside the walls. They still quoted; $379 which included a camera scan of the 4". TMI rep Tony guessed it was tree roots clogging the pipe. Fair enough. The part that I did not like is that Tony said when they cleaned my 2" pipe, they likely pushed the blockage into the 4" pipe and "anything that is 2" in dia will always fit in a 4" pipe." But I thought differently. I proposed that the 2" clog was pushed into the 4", caught on a partial blockage already in the 4" pipe and completely blocked the pipe. Tony was VERY adament that all 2" blockages never cause blockages in a 4" line after all, 2" is always smaller than 4". Plus he's been doing this for years and years. Because Tony was a "messager" and neither of us knew with ANY certain what the 4" blockage was, there was no reason to press the point. I called a 2nd drain un-clogger and had the pipe cleared for another $185 the next day after TMI came the 2nd time. The other company said, in writing, the clog was a "soft" clog and not tree roots. This is were the rub came. Because of the better knowledge of the clog, I asked TMI to refund the $75 from the first clog. (My wife wanted them to completely pay for the $185 for the 4" clog) This, in my mind, was a way to show the customer great service and still not admit that they were the total cause of the 4" clog. I understand that TMI was not the complete source of the clog. The partial blockage in the 4" was not their problem. EVENTUALLY, that partial would be a full clog and I would have to call an unclogger. But likely after the warranty was up and they could get the full price. And the truth is I would have called TMI first in that case as they did a reasonable job on this service call. TMI would have none of it. I spoke with Tom, the head of the plumbing dept, after another several days of trying to reach him. His tone from the first word was not to understand the issue. His tone was demeaning and unprofessional. He did not attempt to understand that the 2" clog in the 4" pipe could have possibly been an issue. We went in circles for 30 mins. He told me of all his vast experience. The funny thing is one was of dishwasher powder that clogged a 2" line. If dishwasher powder, hair, wiskers, sentiments, etc can clog a 2" line, 2" objects can clog a 4" line. All clogged pipes are clog because of something smaller than the pipe building up in the pipe and made a complete blockage. Tom never could understand such a point after I tried stating it several different ways. His way was ALWAYS the right way. Finally, I tolded him, I was hoping for a better outcome cause I planned on putting a reiew in Angie's List. He said, (quote) "Oh, I have to write this down", some question about if I was threating him and he will contact the lawyers. I asked him if he was threatening me. Why can I not write my experience with him on Angie's List? There is no law against stating my opinion of TMI. And do be fair, there is no law stating TMI has to agree with me. At the end of the day, Tom's behaviour was such that I can now use a different company for my HVAC and plumbing needs without a pause of if I should have used TMI."













































