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Estimate for sewer line replacement
Posted on 7/22/24 at 4:05 pm
Posted on 7/22/24 at 4:05 pm
Our house was built in the late 60s, and we have old terra cotta sewer drain lines. We'd been in the house maybe less than a year, and had a little backup. A plumber came out and ran the rooter, and a camera, and showed me where one of the joints had shifted. It was close enough to the main sewer connection and the cleanout that the local utility came out and repaired it for us. That was about 15 years ago. Since then we've had to have the line rooted a couple of times, most recently about a month ago. They showed me a few cracks in the line, as well as another joint that had almost become disconnected. He basically told me rooting it this time would buy me some time, but sooner rather than later I need to replace with PVC.
The quote was $2,600-2,800 to replace 30 feet of drain pipe. Is this about right, a good deal, or a ripoff? As much as I like to DIY, by the time I rent something to help dig it up, or go old school with a shovel, I'm thinking I'm better off just paying a pro to handle it. 15 years ago I would have definitely done it myself, but I just don't have time to take on a project and have the inevitable slip up and be stuck in a house for a day or two without a functioning sewer drain.
The quote was $2,600-2,800 to replace 30 feet of drain pipe. Is this about right, a good deal, or a ripoff? As much as I like to DIY, by the time I rent something to help dig it up, or go old school with a shovel, I'm thinking I'm better off just paying a pro to handle it. 15 years ago I would have definitely done it myself, but I just don't have time to take on a project and have the inevitable slip up and be stuck in a house for a day or two without a functioning sewer drain.
8
Posted on 7/22/24 at 4:15 pm to TU Rob
My plumber told me $2,500 for about that same distance.
I'm buying time for now.
Is it getting clogged with tree roots?
That's the problem I was having.
If so, drop some of that ZEP root killer down the toilet every few months.
I was having to root it once a year, but haven't had to in two years after using this.
I'm buying time for now.
Is it getting clogged with tree roots?
That's the problem I was having.
If so, drop some of that ZEP root killer down the toilet every few months.
I was having to root it once a year, but haven't had to in two years after using this.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 4:25 pm to Shexter
Yeah, they got a bunch of roots out, and I was getting decent flow after that. But it is the cracks and the loose joint that I think is causing backup now. Taking a shower, running the dishes, flushing toilets is all fine. The spin cycle on the washing machine dumps a bunch of water at once though, and it backs up into a utility sink in my basement. Not enough to overflow the sink, and after about 10-15 minutes it will drain out. But I don't want to have to watch the sink every time we run a load of laundry so it doesn't overflow. I had to get the shop vac out last night and got at least a couple of gallons out of it.
So the price seems in line. I priced out pipes and rental equipment, and I know I could save myself a good bit, but I just don't have the time to take off work, and have too much going on during the weekends right now. Busy time at work.
So the price seems in line. I priced out pipes and rental equipment, and I know I could save myself a good bit, but I just don't have the time to take off work, and have too much going on during the weekends right now. Busy time at work.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 4:28 pm to TU Rob
If you are not up to doing it yourself then it's just money pay someone else to resolve. This distance of 30 feet should not take an experienced crew more than half a day at most to complete.
Had to replace 80' worth several years ago as a DIY. Rented a mini excavator for a day and ran new PVC. Took just me roughly 8 hours to complete.
Had to replace 80' worth several years ago as a DIY. Rented a mini excavator for a day and ran new PVC. Took just me roughly 8 hours to complete.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 7:23 pm to TU Rob
I had 60 ft replaced last year for $2900 so your price may be a tad high but we probably live in different areas. Plumber actually found where my previous PVC pipe was pierced by underground utility. Maybe you will be so lucky! Take pictures if they find anything like that bc utility company will usually pay for replacement.
Posted on 7/22/24 at 9:38 pm to TU Rob
I think $2800 to run a joint and a half of pipe is high. Get some other estimates. That shouldn’t take that much skill to do. Maybe you could buy materials and rent a trencher for some handyman-types to do it for you!
Posted on 7/22/24 at 11:22 pm to TU Rob
Get ready to bend over and take it.
Had 100 feet plus a 14 foot tunnel under the house to replace what was busted up by tree roots. Let’s say I could have purchased a vehicle with what that cost.
Had 100 feet plus a 14 foot tunnel under the house to replace what was busted up by tree roots. Let’s say I could have purchased a vehicle with what that cost.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 12:42 am to TU Rob
Location?
Posted on 7/23/24 at 8:07 am to LSUDad
quote:
Location?
Birmingham area. I went back and looked at the quote, and it said 2,600 to 2,800 to replace 30-40 feet of terra cotta with PVC. There are no buried pipes in the house, there is a slab foundation in the basement/garage, but the only plumbing down there is the utility sink, which is about 5 feet away from the main drain of the house. Big cast iron pipe right along the back wall, which exits underground, goes out about 10 feet or so, then there is a 45 degree elbow and a straight run from there to the side of the yard. He's talking about replacing everything between that elbow and the cleanout in the yard.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 9:37 am to TU Rob
I had one replaced in BTR, years back, they use a rubber boot to go from cast iron to PVC. They kind of bust up the old terra cotta pipe, before covering everything back up.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 11:31 am to LSUDad
Update, had it replaced yesterday. They ended up replacing 45 feet with PVC and still just charged me $2,600. Brought in a mini-excavator, dug about a two foot wide and deep trench, busted out the clay pipes, replaced with PVC, and covered it all back in with about 4-5 hours of actual working. We got a big storm around lunch time, but they had left to go get enough pipe at their supply warehouse after digging the trench, so it didn't mess with their time in the yard. Not bad, I didn't kill my back, and I was wanting to spread grass seed back there again, so I have a nice muddy area for it to take to.
I don't know how much laundry we did after they left, but we're still not caught up. That was the main thing causing it to back up into the utility sink in the basement. The dishwasher only uses about 4-6 gallons per use, and showers are only about a gallon or so per minute, so we were able to still use that, just quickly. But just washing a small load of towels it was still dumping several gallons at once and with the blockage it just wouldn't drain fast enough.
I don't know how much laundry we did after they left, but we're still not caught up. That was the main thing causing it to back up into the utility sink in the basement. The dishwasher only uses about 4-6 gallons per use, and showers are only about a gallon or so per minute, so we were able to still use that, just quickly. But just washing a small load of towels it was still dumping several gallons at once and with the blockage it just wouldn't drain fast enough.
Posted on 7/25/24 at 9:18 pm to TU Rob
I replaced close to 100’ of my sewer line digging by hand after work for a couple days and saved $6500. Was quoted at $6700-6800 and spent $200 on new pipe and supplies
Posted on 7/26/24 at 1:55 pm to TU Rob
The plumber had to figure it as a one day job whether it’s forty feet or sixty feet.
It’s not like he could schedule his crew to go to another job. And most likely his guys grt paid for a full day. That or they’d go work elsewhere.
It’s not like he could schedule his crew to go to another job. And most likely his guys grt paid for a full day. That or they’d go work elsewhere.
Posted on 7/26/24 at 2:23 pm to TU Rob
The quote I got for that was $7K
Posted on 7/27/24 at 7:10 am to h0ll@yaboy
quote:Not trying to be a dick but 4" charlotte pipe is like $25/10' stick
I replaced close to 100’ of my sewer line digging by hand after work for a couple days and saved $6500. Was quoted at $6700-6800 and spent $200 on new pipe and supplies
Assuming you had a back hoe readily available.
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