Homeowners who are dealing with a broken sewer line in their homes often assume that fixing the problem is as simple as taking out the old pipes and replacing them with new ones, says House in Order Management. But those expectations are usually dashed when presented with the real cost of replacing a sewer line.
Sewer line replacement is unbelievably expensive, for reasons that most homeowners do not fully grasp until they are dealing with this problem directly. Sewer line repair costs can range from as little as $1,000 to as high as $20,000. They are even higher if the home in question is an old home.
Why are sewer line replacements so costly? Due to the location of the sewer line inside the home’s walls or flooring and underground, it is often impossible to replace the sewer line without affecting other aspects of the building. These damaged features have to be repaired or replaced.
Additionally, replacing a broken sewer line is not a job for one person; it is labor-intensive. Also, heavy earth-moving equipment and other specialized tools or machines are needed for this project. This is besides the fact that you need expensive permits before you can replace a sewer line.
But this is not everything. Below is a breakdown of the hidden costs you may encounter when trying to replace your sewer line. Note this is not an exhaustive list. Depending on the peculiarities of your home and sewer line, there may be other costs that do not appear on this list.
Common hidden costs when replacing a sewer line
- Inspection costs
This is a necessary cost because the sewer line must be inspected to determine the extent of damage and the exact location of the problem. Sewer line inspection fees range from $100-$500. The inspection results help you decide the best repair method for fixing your sewer line.
- Excavation costs
Most sewer line repair jobs require some level of excavation. The amount of excavation needed depends on the location of the line and the repair method chosen. Excavation costs are minimal for trenchless repair methods but it is not always possible to use trenchless repair for every sewer line replacement.
- Tree removal costs
Especially if tree roots are the main cause of the sewer line damage, the trees must be removed before the sewer line can be repaired. Tree removal costs vary greatly, with prices ranging between $100 and $200 per hour. If the trees in your yard are many and very large, this cost can run into thousands of dollars.
- Pipe disposal (landfill) costs
Getting rid of your old sewer line is going to cost you. Concerns about the environmental impact of dumping disused sewer pipes in landfills and other locations mean that your contractor will have to pay a fee to dispose of the pipes. This is usually around $250.
- Permit costs
Because it depends on local regulations, permit costs for sewer line repair vary greatly. Factors that may influence how much you pay for a permit include your location and the impact of the work on the city’s property, such as roadways. Permits costs range from $200 to $450
- Drywall and flooring repair costs
This only applies if your sewer line runs through the walls and floors of your home. The cost depends on how much of these features will be affected. The project may also impact other concrete surfaces like decks, patios, walkways, and driveways. Expect to spend as little as $350 and as high as $2000 or even more.
- Restoring your landscaping
It is almost impossible to repair a broken sewer line without disrupting or damaging at least one aspect of your landscaping. You may need to dig up the lawn or destroy a flower bed or other landscaping feature. The cost of fixing damaged landscaping varies.
- Additional plumbing repairs
The issues in the sewer line may cause problems in other parts of the plumbing. These issues must be addressed before sewer line repair can be concluded. How much you spend on fixing those plumbing issues depends on the kind of sewer line problem.
- Additional labor costs
With every new problem that is added to the sewer line repair project, your labor cost also increases. The contractor may need to hire more hands or the workers may need to work longer hours on your project. Final labor costs are not always easy to predict.
How can you minimize the impact of this hidden cost on the overall cost of repairing your sewer line? In all honesty, there is very little you can do to avoid most of these costs because the majority of them are necessary steps that must be done for complete sewer line repairs.
Instead of trying to avoid these inescapable costs, focus on hiring a competent sewer line repair company. Working with a trustworthy company does two things for you. Firstly, it ensures you don’t pay twice to solve the same problem. Secondly, the longevity of the sewer line is guaranteed.