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Started By
Message
Any plumbers here? Have a belly in the main drain line under slab
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:06 pm
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:06 pm
During inspections we found a 20ft belly in the main drain line from the end of the house with 2 full bathrooms. One end has the master and laundry, other end has the rest of the rooms and bathrooms. The 20ft section is fluid packed but no material build up present. The line is roughly 15ft from an exterior wall. To fix would take making a man hole in the back porch slab and tunneling under.
Currently there is no occupancy on that side of the house so minimal use of the bathrooms on that side.
How safe of an assumption is it that you can maintain proper drainage with periodic cleanouts of the line?
Tunneling under makes me nervous about the fill be compacted correctly and causing foundation issues down the road.
TIA
Currently there is no occupancy on that side of the house so minimal use of the bathrooms on that side.
How safe of an assumption is it that you can maintain proper drainage with periodic cleanouts of the line?
Tunneling under makes me nervous about the fill be compacted correctly and causing foundation issues down the road.
TIA
13
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:07 pm to GREENHEAD22
call roto rooter. they fix these ever day
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:12 pm to GREENHEAD22
Buy one of those $350 hydro jets from Habor freight
Every six months or so just wash it out
Every six months or so just wash it out
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:15 pm to GREENHEAD22
No, my plumber is in Monaco with his ole lady
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:16 pm to cgrand
The concern is how often will is need to be cleaned out. Will also now have to be disclosed if we ever go to sell it.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:22 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
Tunneling under makes me nervous about the fill be compacted correctly and causing foundation issues down the road.
Depending where you live.. I would imagine that there is already erosion under your slab. (That could be causing the belly). That is why there are pilings (hopefully) under your slab...
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:25 pm to Athis
Only a 5-year-old house and I don't live on the coast so no pilings. More than likely the original plumbers did not lay a good base or put enough hangers in.
We shot the slab for settling and it is very even, .5" or less from any one corner to the other of the house.
We shot the slab for settling and it is very even, .5" or less from any one corner to the other of the house.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 3:31 pm
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:48 pm to GREENHEAD22
it will eventually back up with solids (TP/"Feminine Hygiene products"/literal shite)
only two ways to get to it. tunneling like you said, or saw cutting the slab where the belly is and excavating the pipe and re-level and then backfill and pour back the saw cut slab.
What type of slab do you have? if post tension, the saw cutting the slab is not a good option, if the "expert" contractor cuts a cable, the bellied pipe would be a minor concern. But if post tension, then undermining the slab and anchoring the pipe to the slab would work. would then need to bump sand back in to the excavated tunnel.
i was given a PM assignment on a commercial project my company did years earlier, that was plagued with numerous sewer backups. after having a contractor camera the line we found a belly. was located in the restroom area. we closed the restroom, put up protections, and saw cut the floor. turned out a section of the sewer main trunk running in that area had what looked like an outrigger indention. likely from a back hoe the GC used to dig his footers after the plumbing was installed and tested.
needless to say the cost to fix the line wasn't cheep. concrete cutting, plumbing labor/material, concrete pouring, and tile replacement, all after hours so the building could still work.
only two ways to get to it. tunneling like you said, or saw cutting the slab where the belly is and excavating the pipe and re-level and then backfill and pour back the saw cut slab.
What type of slab do you have? if post tension, the saw cutting the slab is not a good option, if the "expert" contractor cuts a cable, the bellied pipe would be a minor concern. But if post tension, then undermining the slab and anchoring the pipe to the slab would work. would then need to bump sand back in to the excavated tunnel.
i was given a PM assignment on a commercial project my company did years earlier, that was plagued with numerous sewer backups. after having a contractor camera the line we found a belly. was located in the restroom area. we closed the restroom, put up protections, and saw cut the floor. turned out a section of the sewer main trunk running in that area had what looked like an outrigger indention. likely from a back hoe the GC used to dig his footers after the plumbing was installed and tested.
needless to say the cost to fix the line wasn't cheep. concrete cutting, plumbing labor/material, concrete pouring, and tile replacement, all after hours so the building could still work.
This post was edited on 7/7/26 at 3:53 pm
Posted on 7/7/26 at 3:51 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
Only a 5-year-old house
Isn't this still under the new construction "warranty", or whatever it's called? Meaning contractor is on the hook?
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:09 pm to GREENHEAD22
It's going to back up on you, only a matter of when. If your plan is to sell the house soon, since you mentioned needing to disclose it if you sell, then having it snaked/jetted will probably get you by, but that's obviously a half arse bandaid. The plumber above me hit the nail on the head. Y'all also deal with different soil situations than we do here in KY. I can only imagine the erosion issues in some parts of the state y'all have to deal with down there 
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:15 pm to tigeraddict
Cutting through the slab is a no go. Tunnel or nothing.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:16 pm to GREENHEAD22
Tunnel and replace. Will probably cost you 15K minimum though.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:19 pm to GREENHEAD22
It’s all those “dude wipes” you flush
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:24 pm to GREENHEAD22
Which builder? Someone in my neighborhood was just telling me they have a belly. Builder was Inline, they also seem to have lots of plumbing issues from what I hear.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:25 pm to sidewalkside
Yea that is another thing I am waiting for. Have one quote from a plumber through the realtor for 7600 which seems way to low.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:32 pm to ChatGPT of LA
quote:
Isn't this still under the new construction "warranty", or whatever it's called? Meaning contractor is on the hook?
if in louisiana, you have the Louisiana New Home Warranty Act
Under that act builders must warranty:
1 year: the home is free from defects due to noncompliance with building standards or poor workmanship.
2 years: plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, and ventilating systems are free from defects due to poor workmanship or building standard violations.
5 years: the home is free from major structural defects
so a 5 years old, if want go back on the builder unless it can be proven he knowingly sold a defective product and you have to go to court to prove.
if in a different state, then he may have more time
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:36 pm to GREENHEAD22
How old is your house?
If there were hangers on the line, and they broke, insurance will cover it..
Covered mine...
Tunneling is usually about $100 a foot. At least it was five years ago..
If there were hangers on the line, and they broke, insurance will cover it..
Covered mine...
Tunneling is usually about $100 a foot. At least it was five years ago..
Posted on 7/7/26 at 4:52 pm to Hangover Haven
If the house in question is in south Louisiana in a broad soil area (NO/houma/Thibodeaux) and is a pile supported structural slab the pipe should have a hanger from the slab. Tunneling under the house should not effect slab. However if post tension or just a slab on grade foundation the. Make sure the contractor knows what they are doing.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 5:03 pm to GREENHEAD22
When I looked at homes with iron sewage pipes, I was told it would be 45k to tunnel underneath and replace them all. I realize your situation is more limited than this, but this is my only experience.
I ended up buying a 90s house with PVC.
I ended up buying a 90s house with PVC.
Posted on 7/7/26 at 5:16 pm to GREENHEAD22
quote:
Any plumbers here?
I just replaced a shower head, so I'm basically a master plumber now.
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