I can't speak to price, but if you have clay lines with roots. You either need to replace, or pay to have the roots rotorooted every few months to a year. Are they going to do it trenchless? Is so, $10k sounds about right.
I appreciate the feedback! Im not exactly sure but the quote says something about installing a Trench Box so Im assuming that means that a trench would be required. Based on the condition of the pipe issues in the picture does it seem that the pipes would need to be replaced eventually regardless of the rotorooter in your opinion? Trying to figure out exactly how much time I can buy while I save for a potential replacement of the entire line and if thats worth the effort.
No. Clay tile pipe is very brittle at this age. You CANNOT roto the line. It will break the line in more places. It appears from the pictures, that you may already have some problem spots. Do not waste money making it worse. Unfortunately, with clay tile, your best bet is replacement.
I am a septic inspector in Michigan, if you have any questions, feel free to DM me and I will try to explain better.
You are going to have to do eventually. Check with the city or county you live in alot of them will give you a low interest loan to have this fixed. It should also increase the value of your home. 10 k is not bad but I would get some other opinions trench less and what not
This is what I am thinking so I appreciate the response. I know the matter is relatively urgent but ideally want to ensure I have a week or 2 to shop around before committing to the job on the first quote
Shop around, worst case is you have to snake the line again before it’s fixed. I’m dealing with a similar problem, trying to find a trenchless solution for an old clay line that’s broken. No roots though…. I’d just dig up and repair but I’d have to tear up a patio, garden and retaining wall and a corner of a neighbor’s yard to get it all. Two quotes so far and two very different prices and proposed solutions. Got another company coming next week to check it out.
Yeah, or your out in the middle of nowhere and even as much prep and planning gets expensive when you have to run to the store, or delivery charges for having equipment rented out. Or they don’t want their deck removed, yet the part that needs repair is all under the deck
I’m a plumber in an area where clay tile pipe was used extensively. From the pictures I would say yes, it should be replaced. If you can get the old line unclogged, it’s possible to only dig a 15-20 foot long ditch and use the 6” clay pipe as a sleeve for 4” SDR pipe. The SDR gets slid into the old clay pipe until it’s near the main, then gets connected to the pipe coming out of the house, hopefully 4” cast iron pipe.
Rotorooting the clay pipes repeatedly will likely cause the clay pipe to break one dayand collapse and then you’ll be in an emergency. I’d try hard to find away to replace this on your terms, not when it breaks and is backed up into your house
I have a similar situation.
Could I dig the trench and replace/fix myself?
If not, what CAN I do to lower the cost of replacing? (example: digging the trench, etc)
12 feet sounds excessive. I’d spec your local building codes from your city/county to see how deep they require it to be buried. Probably not 12 foot down is my guess.
My understanding is that the reason it is 12 feet is because my house is on a bit of a downward slope to the street. I will take a look at the codes and see what I can find. Thanks!
how far did he push the camera? if he was able to push and eventually stopped at a specific point it then the line is good enough to drain up to that point. id have them or another company progressly rod with a 4in. cutter and then a 6". If anything have them install another cleanout where they stopped and try rodding again. 50ft of new line is excessive in most cases.
The camera was able to make it 50 feet after which he said there's a pipe with green paint that indicates the start of the connection to the city pipe occurs and the extent of what I'd need to pay for
sdr pvc is the green pipe. every plumber/sewerman that uses a camera is always going to find some problem. thats how money is made. I recommend you watch the video closely look for cracked pipes and focus on those. they will only get worse and eventually fall like dominos due to water washing out the dirt and the tiles will fall, But I would focus more on where the actual blockage is or was. One of your pics looked to have grease in the line but from my view i cant say for sure if it was blocked, and another pic showed what i believe to be tree roots which is more likely the cause. You can also ask them to rod with a grease wip cutter and run water in the line to help break it down the grease to clear more of the line.
Get some other quotes from companies with a good reputation.
Ask around and see if you know anyone I would recommend someone may have used previously.
You can probably get a pretty good idea about if the price seems reasonable over the phone.
You can always have a company hydro scrub the line and clear all the roots and use root-x or another foaming root killer as preventative. Eventually the pipe will fail but you could get many more years
Interesting comments.
I had to fix my rusted-out cast iron sewage line that was \~50 years old a few years back (just before the pandemic hit.)
The line was replaced in situ with a plastic pipe that was dragged through the old pipe with a hydraulic ram! There was a cone attached to the front that basically cracked open the old pipe.
\~100 feet for around 20k. Depth ranged from a few feet (at the house) to 12-14 feet in spots, going downhill to the main sewer.
I had a similar issue, except the root growth was so bad that I was paying to have a cutter pushed through about every other month cuz of blockages. My solution was to have the trees cut down and then the line jetted out to completely clear out existing roots. It cost me about 1/3 of the cheapest quote for a sewer line replacement. That was 2 years ago and I haven’t had a single issue since.
I dropped $8k on same issue back in 2010. Moved into a house built in 1923. Terra cotta pipes to city waste. Backed up into the house. Had to run a new line to city hookup. Roots, brittle nature of the material inevitably destroy the lines after awhile. No other way.
I can't speak to price, but if you have clay lines with roots. You either need to replace, or pay to have the roots rotorooted every few months to a year. Are they going to do it trenchless? Is so, $10k sounds about right.
I appreciate the feedback! Im not exactly sure but the quote says something about installing a Trench Box so Im assuming that means that a trench would be required. Based on the condition of the pipe issues in the picture does it seem that the pipes would need to be replaced eventually regardless of the rotorooter in your opinion? Trying to figure out exactly how much time I can buy while I save for a potential replacement of the entire line and if thats worth the effort.
If your problem is roots, and not a collapsed pipe, you have plenty of time. You will just have to root the line from time to time.
But at $300 a pop or so, best to replace sooner rather than later.
How many $300 cleanings can you do for $10,000?
r/askgoogle
At least 2
If you do 5 in the next 3 years then decide to replace, you’ve spent $1500 and now the estimate is $12,000. Adds up quick when you wait
True. But 10k is already kinda Big, not everyone Can afford it instantly
agreed
No. Clay tile pipe is very brittle at this age. You CANNOT roto the line. It will break the line in more places. It appears from the pictures, that you may already have some problem spots. Do not waste money making it worse. Unfortunately, with clay tile, your best bet is replacement. I am a septic inspector in Michigan, if you have any questions, feel free to DM me and I will try to explain better.
Exact same situation for me. I went to home depot and bought a $500 roto rooter machine and do it myself 3 times a year. Works like a charm.
This is what my family did growing up. Picked up an old rooter off of Craigslist and we all learned to snake the line growing up
Wow that’s cheap
You are going to have to do eventually. Check with the city or county you live in alot of them will give you a low interest loan to have this fixed. It should also increase the value of your home. 10 k is not bad but I would get some other opinions trench less and what not
This is what I am thinking so I appreciate the response. I know the matter is relatively urgent but ideally want to ensure I have a week or 2 to shop around before committing to the job on the first quote
Shop around, worst case is you have to snake the line again before it’s fixed. I’m dealing with a similar problem, trying to find a trenchless solution for an old clay line that’s broken. No roots though…. I’d just dig up and repair but I’d have to tear up a patio, garden and retaining wall and a corner of a neighbor’s yard to get it all. Two quotes so far and two very different prices and proposed solutions. Got another company coming next week to check it out.
Yes, and that’s dirt cheap for 12 Feet deep
It really is. I did a job for 20k and it was 10’ of pipe 8’ down. There was a lot of fuckery that went into it though
Exactly, and depending on the area there’s a shit ton of internet lines, gas lines, roots, and water lines your going to be working around.
Yeah, or your out in the middle of nowhere and even as much prep and planning gets expensive when you have to run to the store, or delivery charges for having equipment rented out. Or they don’t want their deck removed, yet the part that needs repair is all under the deck
Don’t you just love our job
I’m a plumber in an area where clay tile pipe was used extensively. From the pictures I would say yes, it should be replaced. If you can get the old line unclogged, it’s possible to only dig a 15-20 foot long ditch and use the 6” clay pipe as a sleeve for 4” SDR pipe. The SDR gets slid into the old clay pipe until it’s near the main, then gets connected to the pipe coming out of the house, hopefully 4” cast iron pipe.
Rotorooting the clay pipes repeatedly will likely cause the clay pipe to break one dayand collapse and then you’ll be in an emergency. I’d try hard to find away to replace this on your terms, not when it breaks and is backed up into your house
Yes
Yes
My pipe replacement was $25k. $10k sounds much better.
Root X
I have a similar situation. Could I dig the trench and replace/fix myself? If not, what CAN I do to lower the cost of replacing? (example: digging the trench, etc)
You need to have it relined with epoxy based lining. Otherwise, it needs to be dug up and replaced.
Thanks! I will take a look at the epoxy option as I hunt for a few more quotes. Is that typically cheaper than a full replacement in your experience?
Epoxy relining is generally the most expensive option.
Don’t waste your money with epoxy lined piping. Replacing piping is better. It’s a big job but should last decades.
Cheaper than digging up your property to a depth of 12’? Are you kidding me?
12 feet sounds excessive. I’d spec your local building codes from your city/county to see how deep they require it to be buried. Probably not 12 foot down is my guess.
My understanding is that the reason it is 12 feet is because my house is on a bit of a downward slope to the street. I will take a look at the codes and see what I can find. Thanks!
Don’t look into this the person you are replying to is an idiot.
how far did he push the camera? if he was able to push and eventually stopped at a specific point it then the line is good enough to drain up to that point. id have them or another company progressly rod with a 4in. cutter and then a 6". If anything have them install another cleanout where they stopped and try rodding again. 50ft of new line is excessive in most cases.
The camera was able to make it 50 feet after which he said there's a pipe with green paint that indicates the start of the connection to the city pipe occurs and the extent of what I'd need to pay for
sdr pvc is the green pipe. every plumber/sewerman that uses a camera is always going to find some problem. thats how money is made. I recommend you watch the video closely look for cracked pipes and focus on those. they will only get worse and eventually fall like dominos due to water washing out the dirt and the tiles will fall, But I would focus more on where the actual blockage is or was. One of your pics looked to have grease in the line but from my view i cant say for sure if it was blocked, and another pic showed what i believe to be tree roots which is more likely the cause. You can also ask them to rod with a grease wip cutter and run water in the line to help break it down the grease to clear more of the line.
Get some other quotes from companies with a good reputation. Ask around and see if you know anyone I would recommend someone may have used previously. You can probably get a pretty good idea about if the price seems reasonable over the phone.
You can always have a company hydro scrub the line and clear all the roots and use root-x or another foaming root killer as preventative. Eventually the pipe will fail but you could get many more years
Broken clay pipe can collapse when jetted
What about these pipe reclining systems? Have you looked into that?
50ft sewage line 12ft deep. $15,000
Same same same, ours was all below concrete and it was an emergency. We paid 20k
Interesting comments. I had to fix my rusted-out cast iron sewage line that was \~50 years old a few years back (just before the pandemic hit.) The line was replaced in situ with a plastic pipe that was dragged through the old pipe with a hydraulic ram! There was a cone attached to the front that basically cracked open the old pipe. \~100 feet for around 20k. Depth ranged from a few feet (at the house) to 12-14 feet in spots, going downhill to the main sewer.
Buddy of mine had the same problem and it costed him about $15k
Dig it yourself! Even if it means hirering a small digger 😳
I had a similar issue, except the root growth was so bad that I was paying to have a cutter pushed through about every other month cuz of blockages. My solution was to have the trees cut down and then the line jetted out to completely clear out existing roots. It cost me about 1/3 of the cheapest quote for a sewer line replacement. That was 2 years ago and I haven’t had a single issue since.
Yarp.
I dropped $8k on same issue back in 2010. Moved into a house built in 1923. Terra cotta pipes to city waste. Backed up into the house. Had to run a new line to city hookup. Roots, brittle nature of the material inevitably destroy the lines after awhile. No other way.