Main Sewer Line Replacement: My Experience hired professionals

Main Sewer Line Replacement: My Experience hiring Roto-Rooter to replace the old clay pipe.  


What I learned about clay pipe, inspection camera down the pipe, what conditions affects clay pipe, the horrors of sink holes caused by broken drainage, and the overall expense for Denver CO.


Regardless of the age of your home have an inspection camera video of your main drain sewer line done to determine the condition.


This will show you if:  
Roots are present,
If shifts, or misaligned
Any damage
Any belly

Where it is located


Cost:

In my yard to replace 25 feet was $15,000.  It was a trench 2 feet wide, and 12 - 14 feet deep.


If the damage is under the city street:  To replace 10 feet under the city street is $20,000 - $30,000.  .Do not get to this point.  


Roto-Rooter used plywood and tarps and plied the dirt on top.  Per code: used rock around the pipe and tampered each 2 feet.  They added 2 clean outs.  1 clean out for the sewer, and 1 for the house.  Tey did it in 1 day.  They showed up with 60 foot of truck.  A dump truck pulling a bobcat back hoe on a trailer.  They re-scoped camera inspected the pipe.  They called all the "Call before you dig" and located all the utility lines.  They cleaned up afterwards and answered all of my annoying questions.  


Summary:  


1.  Have your sewer line camera inspected by an independent company


2.    Determine condition of your sewer line?  


3.  Do you need to replace or can you sleeve it?  Sleeve would have worked perfect since my clay was in really good shape with no roots.  However Denver County does not allow sleeve.  So we were forced to go with replacing the entire sewer pipe.


The one plumber had a good point.  He said with the price of things going up and up it might cost more next year.  

If you have an old house with old Clay Pipe chances are roots may have found their way in there, it could have shifted, broken, or is causing a belly or pool of water.  You will need to replace it.  


If you have a new house.  You will probably be smug and say it is a new house I do not have to worry.   Well..Not so fast:  They do not make the houses like they use to.  Meaning they put up everything so fast and many times do not properly seat or bed, the sewer drain pipe, or even hook it up.  


In that case there is no braces, and the pipe has broken.  I have heard horror stories where the builder never connect it to city sewer.  So before you buy a house please have the sewer line inspected.  


4.  Whom will be doing the work?  Professional company or your brother-in-law?  I hired Roto-Rooter I am not a professional plumber.  Roto-Rooter did the job in 1 day less than 8 hours and cleaned up everything.  


I know of a family friend who they decided the do the work themselves trying to save money.  Well their yard was dug up for 4 months, the entire yard, because you need to go down 12 - 14 feet.  They were without plumbing drain for weeks.   A huge mess.  


If you have 3 - 4 weeks of vacation, and want to learn how to drive a bobcat, and figure out plumbing code then maybe you like a challenge. Else I would rather spend my vacation doing something fun.  


5.  Does the damage extend into the street and involve the city?  $2000 - $5000 cost per foot if it involves the city


6.  What are follow up process?  


Leave the dirt heap and no sod for at least 3 months?  You will need to reconnect any sprinkler lines.  


7.  Will concrete need to be replaced?  


In my case no.  However you need to find out where your main sewer line is and what is above it.


8.  How to pay for it?   The cost for my project for 25 feet was $15,000


The company said most people use credit cards and did not offer much if any financing services.