Ferndale homeowners know their city: dense blocks of bungalows and ranch homes built between the 1920s and 1960s, mature trees lining every street, and original clay and cast-iron sewer lines still running beneath most properties. When those lines back up, crack, or fail — and in Ferndale, they do — you need a plumber who understands this market specifically, not a contractor who just swapped the city name on a generic web page.
Bison Plumbing has been serving the Ferndale, MI area since 1998. Founded by Jeff and Kathy Bianchini in nearby Warren, Bison has built over 2,800 five-star Google reviews across Metro Detroit by doing one thing consistently: diagnosing the actual problem with a sewer camera, explaining it clearly, and fixing it right the first time — with no-dig trenchless methods whenever possible.
This page is your entry point for all Bison services in Ferndale. Whether you're dealing with a slow kitchen drain, a floor drain backing up during rain, or you're buying a Ferndale home and need a pre-purchase sewer inspection before closing — you're in the right place.
Ferndale, Michigan sits in Oakland County just south of Royal Oak and north of Detroit. Its housing stock is dense and aging — the median home was built in the 1940s. That means most properties have original clay or cast-iron sewer laterals that are now 75 to 100 years old. These materials have a finite lifespan, and that lifespan is running out.
Three specific conditions make Ferndale's sewer situation more demanding than newer suburbs:
Mature tree canopy:
The tree-lined streets Ferndale is known for — Silver Maple, American Elm, Sycamore — are the same species whose root systems actively seek out clay pipe joints. Root intrusion is the single most common sewer diagnosis in Ferndale neighborhoods.
Clay and cast-iron pipe age:
Original clay tile sewer laterals from the 1920s–1950s are now well past their 60–80 year service life. Cast-iron lines common in post-war construction are corroding from the inside, narrowing flow capacity and developing pinholes.
Combined sewer infrastructure:
Like many first-ring Oakland County suburbs, Ferndale's municipal system combines sanitary and storm flows in older sections. During heavy Michigan rain events, this creates backpressure that pushes sewage toward basement floor drains — a situation that requires both immediate response and a long-term solution.
Understanding these conditions isn't generic plumbing knowledge — it's specific to Ferndale's infrastructure reality. It's why Bison's approach in this market always starts with a sewer camera inspection before recommending any repair path.
Bison Plumbing provides a full range of residential and commercial plumbing services to Ferndale homeowners and businesses. The three highest-demand services in this market each have dedicated pages below — but the full service list includes everything from sewer camera diagnostics to water heater replacement and backflow testing.
Slow drains, clogged kitchen lines, backed-up floor drains. Mechanical snaking and hydro-jetting for complete clearing.
Camera-first diagnosis, then trenchless CIPP lining, pipe patching, or full replacement — whatever the line actually needs.
High-pressure water jetting clears grease, mineral scale, and root debris that a snake can't fully remove. Preventive and corrective.
Additional services available to Ferndale residents and businesses:
Every Ferndale sewer service call begins the same way: with a Picote Solutions sewer camera scoped into the line before any repair is recommended. This isn’t a formality — it’s the difference between fixing the actual problem and guessing.
Ferndale’s aging infrastructure means a single line can have multiple failure points: a root intrusion at the property line, a bellied section mid-run, and a corroded cast-iron joint near the foundation — all on the same lateral. Snaking the line without a camera clears the immediate blockage but leaves the structural problems in place. Six months later, the same homeowner is calling again.
Bison’s process in Ferndale:
All installations follow ASTM F1216 and ASTM F1743 standards for CIPP rehabilitation and comply fully with the Michigan Plumbing Code as enforced by LARA (Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs). Bison Plumbing is fully licensed and insured through LARA.
If you're buying a home in Ferndale, a pre-purchase sewer inspection is one of the most important steps in the due diligence process — and one of the most commonly skipped. Ferndale's housing market moves fast, but the age of these homes means a sewer lateral failure discovered after closing can cost $8,000–$25,000 or more.
Bison Plumbing schedules pre-purchase sewer inspections for Ferndale buyers, realtors, and their clients. We scope the lateral from the cleanout to the municipal connection, deliver a camera report with footage, and flag any defects before you sign. If the line is in good shape, you get peace of mind. If it isn't, you have the documentation you need to negotiate or walk away.
Learn more about the full inspection process: Pre-Purchase Sewer Inspection →
✓ 2,800+ Google Reviews
One of the most reviewed plumbers in Metro Detroit. Serving Oakland County since 1998.
✓ Camera Before Every Repair
We scope every Ferndale lateral before recommending a repair path. No guesswork, no unnecessary work.
✓ Trenchless — Protect Your Yard
No-dig CIPP lining protects Ferndale's mature trees and landscaping. Your yard stays intact.
✓ ASTM & Michigan Code Compliant
All CIPP lining complies with ASTM F1216. Fully licensed by Michigan LARA. Permitted work only.
✓ Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite 2023
Recognized by local communities across Metro Detroit including the Ferndale corridor.
✓ Financing Available
GreenSky financing plans (Ref: 81085618) make sewer repair affordable for every Ferndale budget.
Bison Plumbing serves all Ferndale residential and commercial areas, including neighborhoods bordered by Woodward Avenue to the west, 9 Mile Road to the south, 8 Mile Road / I-696 corridor to the north, and Hilton Road to the east. Adjacent service markets include:
Ready to schedule?
Call Bison Plumbing: (586) 754-4281 | Licensed & Insured | Michigan LARA | Serving Ferndale, MI
When Bison Plumbing is on the job, you can rest assured that your job will be done right, on time, and for a fair price. Contact us today for a Free Quote!
