That time a Ridgid SeeSnake saved my ass from a $5k disaster

Been in plumbing 12 years and I've got a story that'll make you double-check your gear before every job. Last month I was diagnosing a main line clog in a 1920s bungalow, and instead of blindly snaking, I ran the Ridgid SeeSnake through the cleanout. Found a tree root invasion 40 feet in that could've turned into a full pipe replacement if I'd ripped it up first - quoted the repair at $5k but caught it early for just $800. PSA to all you vets: invest in good inspection tools, they pay for themselves in near-misses like this.

Goddamn, I had a similar mess last week where my old snake got stuck and I had to dig up half the yard. Wasted two days and the homeowner was pissed, cost me $2k in labor I couldn't bill.

Felt that. My knees still ache from the last root job that went south. Same shit here with old houses and their crappy soil.

I commiserate, man. Pulled a SeeSnake out of a job in an old apartment complex and it showed the clog was from some idiot's kid flushing toys. Saved me from a flood claim that would've been a nightmare.

Haha, my near-miss was fishing a wedding ring out of a trap with my bare hand. Thought it was a quarter. Client laughed, I cried inside.