Sewer Line Relacement costs

[Jughead]

House is 50+ years old. Terra cotta pipes. It's constantly clogging...every 2-3 years we have to call someone to snake. I think it's partially collapsed. One of the exterior "vent" pipes did collapse about 15 years ago.

One guy said it's cuz the exterior pipes aren't angled correctly and almost flat. Another guy said the clog was from my neighbors giant pine tree. The line is about 8-10ft under the surface. Do pine tree roots grow that deep?

Most of the neighbors around us have had their line replaced but only after it collapsed. I don't want to wait until tragedy strikes.

Any idea how much it would cost? Next door neighbor said theirs was $15,000 and was 15ft deep to the main. Approximately 40 feet from the house to the main.

I called 1 company for an estimate and they want to charge $100 just to come to the house "to see if I really need it replaced." I know I need it replaced and want it replaced.

[LATB]

15 grand for 40 foot of 4” sch 40 pvc?

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by LATB

15 grand for 40 foot of 4” sch 40 pvc?

yep 15ft deep and they were there for a week!

[Big bob]

You might want to look into lining them first.

[Rodnok1]

For 15 grand I'd buy a tractor with backhoe and do it myself.

[LATB]

Originally Posted by Jughead

yep 15ft deep and they were there for a week!

That was a good contract. For the contractor.

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by Rodnok1

For 15 grand I'd buy a tractor with backhoe and do it myself.

don't think you can get a backhoe that digs 15ft for $15,000.

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by LATB

That was a good contract. For the contractor.

They might have had some interior work done too.....don't remember. I remember the backhoe dipshits cut thru my cable line after it was clearly marked.

[The_Dude]

Originally Posted by LATB

15 grand for 40 foot of 4” sch 40 pvc?

I'm about to spend $35k on a new septic tank and drainfield.

[6spdC6]

Originally Posted by Jughead

yep 15ft deep and they were there for a week!

Was the contractors work under constant looking at by code enforcement. If that was the case they might have had to wait till a official showed up and signed off at different steps. To me (retired pipefitter) they were there at least two and a 1/2 days too long unless battling super bad weather!

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by Jughead

don't think you can get a backhoe that digs 15ft for $15,000.

I'd rent an excavator then.

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by 6spdC6

Was the contractors work under constant looking at by code enforcement. If that was the case they might have had to wait till a official showed up and signed off at different steps. To me (retired pipefitter) they were there at least two and a 1/2 days too long unless battling super bad weather!

Yep of course they had to have townships inspectors involved. I wouldn't even attempt such a repair, just stupid.

The weather was a factor as it was early January and ironically the temp dropped to -6 the first 2 days they were digging. Weather wasn't that cold the rest of the winter.

[Torqaholic]

That's crazy deep. Frost line here is only 3-5 feet deep.

Just had my whole plumbing system redone and a huge maple tree ripped out because of the root situation. Nearly the same situation you have. Old drain tile collapsed where it had been routed through a defunct septic tank. Main difference being I had twice the length and only 4-5 feet deep.

Also on my bill was having the entire plumbing system rebuilt, a water pump replaced on my furnace, the cobblestone foundation insulated, and that old septic tank pumped out and filled with dirt. Total ~8 grand. Don't have the receipts handy but subtracting the items you won't need I'd guestimate the tree removal and sewer line alone probable ran me close to $6500.

And yes, pine tree roots go deep. They have a tap root that probably goes as deep as the tree is tall.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by LATB

That was a good contract. For the contractor.

Lots of safety rules for trenching, shoring up trench walls, etc. We see stories here about workers killed every so often by trench collapse. 15' deep is no joke.

Slope, shore, or shield. I'm assuming they didn't slope a 15' ditch in his front yard.

YouTube

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Lots of safety rules for trenching, shoring up trench walls, etc. We see stories here about workers killed every so often by trench collapse. 15' deep is no joke.

Slope, shore, or shield. I'm assuming they didn't slope a 15' ditch in his front yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-sVn_AUEM

Yeah they used wall supports like that.

No one know why the main sewer line is that deep. My other neighbor they had to dig down 18ft to get to the main.

[Onebadcad]

Damn, I was bitching three years ago when I had to call the man to replace the pipe from the street to the house, $600, it ruined my scotch buying that month.

[MadInNc]

Originally Posted by Jughead

yep 15ft deep and they were there for a week!

In city? Licensed contractor, permits etc. I bet it’s more today. Digging, special hauling per new standards as clay returns I’m sure collapse when removing etc…

[Jughead]

Originally Posted by MadInNc

In city? Licensed contractor, permits etc. I bet it’s more today. Digging, special hauling per new standards as clay returns I’m sure collapse when removing etc…

No in suburbs but not rural. Yes a licensed contractor. IIRC they stopped for a day or 2 shortly after starting.

[Onebadcad]

Originally Posted by LATB

15 grand for 40 foot of 4” sch 40 pvc?

I think you may have found a new business to occupy your idle time once the home is built.

Send me a company t-shirt when you open for business.

[Egnalf]

i would hire an inspection company to put a camera DOWN there and see what is going on, cost a few hundred bucks or less. they can share the video with you as well.