North Star Sewer & Drain Service

I always get my sewer cleaned from this company. All of the technicians I encountered were very professional, down to earth and not only cleaned my sewer, but also provided me with different services on mitigating the risk of back ups. Of course the pricing for additional work will reflect accordingly, THAT IS JUST BUSINESS people! I am tired of seeing people complain about the prices of work starting @ $ 49.95 EACH WAY + whatever additional services offered (which is recommended because warranties are worth it alone).Throughout the years, I have had many other companies service my apartments and they all start high and end high, which if you think about it, this is the sewer cleaning business, they are working through your crap, literally! It’s just revolting how someone can knock a company down and say they’d do it themselves because it’s too expensive, but as soon as they have a fecal matter all over their basement, they regret not doing things the right way.
However, I digress, I have learned that maintaining a sewer is extremely important and this really isn’t something to skimp out on and find the cheapest, quickest fix. Your drains may not seem important, but think about a household in which you could not use water, the toilets, the shower, laundry or yard drains, especially during the rainy season. Give your plumbers/​sewer cleaners a break and don’t get defensive when you get hit with a high price, i’m not rich by any means, but understand that this is a dangerous job for these guys since they are dealing with excrement, chemicals, diseases and anything else that people throw down their drains… All in all, NEGOTIATE as you would for anything else in life; if a price is high, ask for military discounts, senior citizens, additional services for the same price and so on. This company has a very old school and straight forward work ethic:
here’s a price, negotiate price for additional work, agree/​disagree, do the work, here’s a warranty!
This is how business should be conducted for everyone. Save the lying, get to the point, do the work.
I promised a mechanic @ North Star that I’d write a lengthy review because of the professionalism and additional work completed for no extra charge. When you see these people a few times a year or yearly, you start to build a professional relationship and they will take care of you as your local car mechanic or barber would.
As a business, North Star is not one of the biggest sewer maintenance companies, but they are a family owned and operated, and everyone knows that these people put in harder work, more attention to detail and value you as more than just a check, credit card or dollar sign.

Had a blocked sink which backed up and out of another sink… called and left messages for 2 other plumbers who haven’t even bothered to call back (a day later). Called North Star, they answered right away said they’d try to get there in an hour and a half; guy arrived 45 mins later. Snaked both sinks and did some other extra tightening for me and out the door in 45 mins. Couldn’t have asked for more!

Date of Service: 01/​21/​2016
Called for a yearly checkup appointment on my sewer line and requested a video inspection. Was told that a video inspection could be had if my line was checked in both directions for about $ 100.00. I agreed that this was reasonable. A «mechanic» named Mark then showed up WITHOUT a video camera, did the maintenance well (i.e., he showed me that he checked the line both ways), and then told me that a video inspection was not necessary and would be extra. I insisted on the video inspection in a phone call made while Mark was there and told North Star that no extra fee was quoted for the video such that I did not appreciate being «baited and switched.»
To their credit, North Star sent out Pedro one or two days later with a video camera, who did the requested inspection and was extremely polite and knowledgeable. There was no extra charge for the video inspection.
Thus, here’s my overall review:
4 stars for overall good service and doing the right thing at the end of the day.
Recommendation: when you call, take names of EVERYONE with whom you speak and INSIST on having Pedro sent over. Wait one or two more days for him if need be. If he were running the company, this review would have been 5 stars easy.

Very nice and fast. Our rental property had a blockage in the tub. They gave us an arrival time of 3−4pm. They were there at 2:50. In and out in 10 minutes for $ 60. Well worth it!

My shower drain was clogged. They sent a nice guy with a van and snake. He cleared the blockage (lots of hair). I paid $ 60, including tax and credit card fees.
No complaints.

Pissed.
Came 2 weeks ago regarding a backup in our sewer line, issue occurred again. They told me they will be here at 11am it is not 4pm. I called the guys told me to go screw myself and hung up.

I can’t give any star with these people. All they want from you is your money. They don’t do thier job well. They try to sell you other services like water jet, chemical treatment, and something else. Those other services are way too expensive. Ranging from 400 to 800. It is a scam. This company should be closed down.

Sewer line clogged. Called for the advertised price of $ 49.99. Of course he didn’t honor the $ 49.99 price because he said I had two lines (yeah whatever). However, he was the lowest price around. Called other plumbers who wanted $ 350. So an extra $ 50 was fine.
Spoke with Rootaway and he wanted $ 450 before even coming out to do the job. I questioned why he was much higher than the $ 49.99 dollar price and he said I just summed him up to $.02 cents. Oh my, he was rude. I explained I’m just a housewife and was hoping he could justify his fee by outlining what you would have done… hmmmm. (he couldna told me some bull crap and I probably would have been suckered) but instead, he got offended. glad he did. Just saved myself a shit load of cash!
Service was within an hour, friendly, got the job done in less than 30 minutes. I’m happy I can flush, wash dishes, clothes and take a shower. Now if I can just get the poo out of the back yark —– yuck
Grateful the neighbor allowed me to take a dump! lol

I live by a rule I learned from a boss I had years ago. If something really bothers you don’t take any action for 48 hours at which time you can act more level headed. With that said I want to alert anyone calling North Star for a $ 49.95 sewer service to the fact that you may find yourself totally «jacked up» by the person who responds. Mike, who was dispatched for my job, immediately, announced that the service would cost me $ 100. He actually denied even being from the $ 49.95 company. You should note that my main line was clogged going out to the street. Further, my trap is located on outside the front of my house adjoining the driveway and I had it uncovered and totally accessible with an external electrical outlet for his machine less than 5′ from the job. In addition to not being from the «$ 49.95 company» among his many reasons for the $ 100 fee Mike stated that he had to reach down into a trench. When asked if he would just run the snake down the line toward the street as asked he refused. Eventually after a call by him to his dispatcher and one by me to them he relented, complained and ran the snake as requested and cleared the blockage in less than one minute; the easiest job he will ever encounter. BTW, during my call to the dispatcher I realized that they too are part of this scheme. Just be aware of what you might expect and deal with it as you have to if you chose to use this company.
Why even the 1 star? Well despite the wrestling match over the agreed price the response was timely even on a Saturday, and of course the drainage problem did get solved. The aggravation this company caused me in turn caused them to lose the remaining stars; despite my self-​imposed 48 hour cooling off period.

The good news is they came on the 4^th of July and honored the $ 49.99 sewer snake out. I had already been quoted $ 285 by a local plumber. The bad news is the tech tried to up sell me on a water jet clean out (allegedly I had sand in the line that was stopping the snake). When I asked him to put a camera down the line so I could see the blockage, he offered to try the snake again. Magically the blockage was gone.

had a guy named jeff come out and worked his tail off to clear my main of roots. Roto rooter quoted 700+ to do this with water jet to clean it out and didnt guarantee that would work. Jeff unclogged it for a small portion of that and even though services like that arent guaranteed, the work he did has everything flowing beautifully. Man busted his ass and was completely professional. will def follow up on root treatment and camera work.

Was not happy with this company at all. I had a «lifetime» warranty with Dial-​a-​Sewer-​Man after spending $ 5,500 fixing my sewer line. I called the Dial-​a-​Sewer-​Man # for my annual routine maintenance and North Star showed up. I didn’t realize and wasn’t told that it was a different company until given the receipt. Two months later, my sewer is backed up again and I called North Star. They wanted to snake my drain for another $ 50 (which I was sorta OK with) but I asked about my warranty because I was concerned that it was clogged so soon after routine maintenance. The service man became defensive and told me «there is no way you have a lifetime warranty» and that he knew nothing about «Dial-​a-​Sewer-​Man». A subsequent call to the company was similarly confusing. They yelled at me that I had done business with them before and knew that they weren’t «Dial-​A-​Sewer-​Man» etc. It was bizarre. I did know but I thought after the first visit that they had bought «Dial-​a-​Sewer-​Man and would honor all contracts. I get now that Dial-​a-​sewer man went out of business and my «warranty» is invalid but North Star had their phone number for some period of time and it was just all confusing and they misrepresented themselves when I called. The way their employee yelled at me and the person in the office attempted to make me think that I had done something wrong was upsetting and not good business.

DON’T USE THESE GUYS!!!
They advertise for $ 49.95 but the «technician» Mike says it’s $ 49.95 each way! Then he says that the snake is getting caught and he’s going to have to use «high pressure jetting» for $ 1200! When I said I’m not prepared to do that he says «we can try CO2 canister» for $ 450.
I should have stuck to my guns and told him to just snake the line. Better yet, I should have gone to Home Depot and rented a power snake and did it myself!!!

DO NOT USE! I was overcharged for something they supposedly do on a daily basis! Extremely dissatisfied. Please heed my words and take a chance with someone else…

I had called Dial a Sewer Man and these folks showed up. Whatever– the guy, Mark, got right down to the job. I’m glad I put a tarp down because where he had to work was my finished basement. Everything looks to be clear now. 100 bucks for first service then 49.95 yearly if used yearly.

I actually was so happy that I was compelled to create this page just to write this review. I live in Brooklyn and called 7 places Friday evening after accidentally flushing a toothbrush. Don’t ask, long story. I’m sure I’m not alone in thinking this, but calling a plumber is just like going to see a gynecologist. It just feels embarrassing and a little icky.
But despite the number of set backs, the people at North Star were absolutely amazing. Not only did they give me quotes over the phone, they also didn’t have increased weekend rates or outrageous hourly costs like some of the other places and they guarantee the work for 30 days, too. As far as costs, they were absolutely affordable (trust me, if I can afford it, its affordable). But number one on my list are the plumbers. The guys that showed up were incredibly nice and respectful of everything. They turned the problem around in less than an hour.
Bravo to these guys. If I’m ever dumb enough to do this again, I know exactly who I’m calling.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!