Fixing a cracked sewer pipe typically costs between $60 and $250 per foot for trenchless repairs like pipe lining and pipe bursting, while conventional excavation methods range from $50 to $450 per linear foot. Projects that require breaking through a concrete slab can add an extra $150 to $200 per foot to the total price. Homeowners are advised to schedule a camera inspection immediately if they notice warning signs like sewage odors, slow drains, or unusually lush patches of grass, as delaying repairs can lead to severe foundation damage and mold growth.
Signs of a cracked sewer pipe
If you notice these signs in or around your house, chances are you have a cracked sewer pipe. If left alone, you run the risk of further damage and a higher cost for repairs. Check the list below to see if you may have a cracked sewer pipe.
Cracked sewer pipes can lead to more and more problems.
- Sewage Backups – If all of your drains are becoming clogged, it is most likely the sewer line. All of your drains lead to the sewer line, which will show multiple affected areas if it’s broken.
- Odor – If you can smell sewage in your house, you can be certain that your sewer line is cracked. That foul smell will ruin your home’s ambiance.
- Mold – You may not think it, but when a pipe is cracked, heat escapes and begins to flow into your walls, floors, and ceilings. Once that starts, mold now has the perfect conditions to begin growing.
- Slow Drains – A slow drain is a clear sign that something is wrong with your sewer line. With a simple CCTV sewer camera inspection, we can find out if the problem is just a blockage or actual damage to the pipe.
- Yard Issues – If sewage is leaking from a cracked pipe into your yard, you are going to see a few telltale signs. For one, the grass in certain areas will seem suspiciously luscious. Sewage acts as a fertilizer for your grass, making it grow faster in affected areas. You may also notice dips and valleys forming due to the soil dissipating under the grass.
Sewage acts as a fertilizer for your grass, making it grow faster in affected areas.
- Foundation Issues – Just as your yard may begin to dip and form valleys, the slab under your house could lose structural integrity. You may notice cracks in your walls or ceilings. If this is the current issue, call a foundation repair specialist immediately.
- Infestation – If a sewer line is cracked, rats, mice, sewer flies, cockroaches, or palmetto bugs can enter your home. Calling pest control may get rid of the current invaders, but the pipe is still cracked and they will come back.
What are the methods to fix a cracked sewer line? (How much do they cost?)
With New Flow Plumbing, we first check your sewer lines using a CCTV camera inspection and find out what exactly we can do for you. We will also determine the best possible method to fix any cracks or clogs in your lines. Our goal is to make sure your plumbing is back to normal. Let’s review trenchless sewer repair first. A cracked sewer pipe is worth the repair cost, over thousands of dollars in further damage.
Cost of trenchless sewer repair
What is trenchless sewer repair? Compared to conventional sewer repair, which involves digging, trenchless technology avoids tearing up your floor or yard. We only have to go through a cleanout or dig a small 4ft by 4ft pit to access the end of a pipe.
There are two methods of trenchless repair; sewer pipe lining and pipe bursting. Each of these methods is priced differently.
Note: To find out our most accurate prices, give us a call to schedule and inspection and receive a free estimate!
Trenchless Repair Method | Average Cost |
| Pipe Lining (CIPP) – First, we insert an epoxy-impregnated liner into the old pipe. Inside the liner is another layer called a bladder, which will inflate and press the epoxy against the pipe. After a few hours, the epoxy cures and we pull out the bladder. You now have a new pipe within your old one. | $80 to $250 per foot. The total prices do depend on how much of pipe that is being replaced, for example; - 30ft of pipe at the median cost of $165 will be $4,950.
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| Pipe Bursting (HDPE) – We perform a CCTV inspection and see how the pipe is holding up. Next, we find our two access points, one on each end of the pipe, typically in your yard. The brand new HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipe is attached to a winch with a cone-shaped bursting head and pulled through the damaged pipe. The damaged pipe is broken apart as the new pipe takes its place. | $60 to $200 per foot. Again, the total prices depend on how much pipe is being replaced , for example; - 30ft of pipe at the median cost of $130 will be $3,900.
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Cost of conventional sewer repair
Sometimes a sewer line is so badly damaged that no trenchless sewer repair method is viable. Trenchless technology cannot be used on pipes that are back-pitched, which means that the original contractors failed to use the right slope for your sewer line to your city connection.
If the pipe has collapsed onto itself, we will also have to go this route.
Conventional sewer repair may involve cutting into concrete slab to access the cracked sewer pipe.
Note: Conventional sewer repair quotes will be smaller than trenchless, but that is because it does not include the clean-up and repair costs to property damage.
Conventional Repair | Average Cost |
| Conventional repair involves trenching the run of the pipe to remove and replace it. | $50 to $450 per linear foot depending on the extent of the damage. |
| Excavation – Conventional repair always involves excavation and digging long trenches. | $33 to $68 per cubic yard and backfill is from $11 to $19 per cubic yard. Both prices depend on how hard the soil is. On average, $255 is the cost to haul away the broken pipe material. |
| Pipe Under Slab – If your pipe is located underneath your slab, the price will increase due to breaking the concrete. | An additional $150 to $200 per foot to your project. |
Call us to today schedule a CCTV sewer camera inspection and receive a quote!
Conclusion
Ignoring a damaged sewer line can lead to costly foundation repairs and health hazards, making professional intervention essential. As a trusted authority in the field, New Flow Plumbing utilizes advanced CCTV inspections to pinpoint the exact issue and determine whether trenchless technology or conventional repair is best for your home. Contact New Flow Plumbing today to schedule an inspection and secure a free estimate before the damage spreads.
