Why Is Repairing a Sewer Line So Expensive? How to Save by Not Digging
Ditch the digging and preserve your lawn with trenchless sewer repair
Highlights
Sewer lines are often hard to access, which can make repairs expensive.
One alternative to consider is trenchless sewer repair.
With this method, there’s no excavation or trenching required.
You can save as much as 75% by choosing a trenchless repair over a traditional one.
However, trenchless repairs won’t work on damaged or corroded pipes.
In most cases, repairing or replacing a sewer line is a huge headache—and a pricey one, too. So, why is sewer line replacement so expensive? This is partly because these pipes are underground, so accessing them requires heavy equipment and some serious manual labor.
There's got to be a better way, right? Fortunately, there are ways to fix a damaged sewer line without tearing up your property. However, it will take some planning and up-front expenses on your part.
This guide breaks down how you can install or repair a sewer line without digging, and what it's going to cost.
Why Sewer Line Replacement Is So Expensive
The average cost to repair or replace a sewer main is $3,130, and the typical range is just between $1,310 and $4,960. You could pay as high as $9,320 depending on how much digging needs to be done and whether it’s in an area that’s difficult to access due to vegetation and such. If you don't make the repairs, you could be paying even more than that to fix sewage water backup in the basement, in crawl spaces, and underneath landscaping. And that's to say nothing of the smell.
The reason it's so expensive to conduct any repairs of a sewer line is because it's so difficult to access. The main is usually buried underground, so you have to do excavation, trenching, and even wall removal in order to replace all or part of a pipe. That means heavy equipment, lots of labor hours, and consequently a large bill when it's all said and done.
As a result, any method of avoiding this massive upheaval of earth has the potential to save lots of money.
What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair?
Trenchless sewer repair is new technology that has only been around since the turn of the 21st century. With this method, workers use two less-intrusive methods to fix your sewer main: pipe bursting and pipe relining.
Pipe Bursting
Pipe bursting involves digging two access holes on both sides of the sewer line, and then pulling a new sewer pipe through the damaged pipe while fracturing or "bursting" it.
Pipe Relining
This method uses a pipe liner that workers install inside the damaged pipe so it doesn't have to be removed at all. The liner is inflated after it is pulled into the pipe, and a resin hardens to firm up the structure.
Usually, a pro will recommend pipe bursting over relining since it involves putting in a new pipe that may last longer, and you won't have to wait for the pipes to cure, unlike relining. But relining is a potentially less expensive option.
Pros and Cons of Trenchless Sewer Repair
Trenchless sewer repair has some excellent advantages over traditional sewer repair, but there are disadvantages you should be aware of as well. Here are some of the pros and cons of this system.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Budget-friendly | Not always viable |
| Takes a few hours | No corroded lines |
| Okay for landscaping | Can get expensive |
Pros
It’s (Usually) Affordable
This is the chief advantage of this system. A trenchless approach to sewer repair could result in you paying a fraction of what you would have had you decided to dig up the pipe.
It’s Quick
Sewer repair can take a while, leaving you with an unsightly yard potentially for days or even weeks. Workers could be in and out in a few hours with trenchless sewer repair.
It Won’t Tear Up Your Landscaping
Workers can replace the dirt once they finish with a sewer repair job, but they can't repair the landscaping that was on top, leaving you with an unsightly patch of earth in the middle of your lawn. Trenchless sewer repair won’t tear up your landscaping.
Cons
It’s Not Always an Option
In some cases, your sewer line will be too far gone for this approach to work. Your sewer main could be damaged beyond repair, meaning these less-intrusive efforts won't solve the underlying issue. In that case, it's time to call in the excavators.
It Won’t Fix Corroded or Old Lines
Trenchless sewer repair is best used on pipes that are otherwise healthy. With this method, you can't reverse the effects of corrosion or degradation caused by age. Even if you were able to temporarily repair the portion of the line that is in the worst shape, the other sections will soon go, too.
It Doesn’t Always Save Money
Trenchless sewer repair isn’t automatically less expensive than traditional repair. In fact, in some cases, it can be pricier. Get a consultation from a local professional to determine if it’s the best choice in your case.
How Much Money Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Save?
In a best-case scenario, a trenchless sewer repair job could save you 75% over that of a traditional repair. However, this is not always the case.
Because the equipment and skills needed to do both jobs are roughly equal, the typical cost range of trenchless sewer repair and traditional sewer repair is similar—around $50 to $250 per linear foot. As a result, choosing trenchless sewer repair should be done on a case-by-case basis and isn't automatically the right choice for you. It's just another option to consider—you may find huge savings, and you may not.
Generally, a trenchless system is best when the pipes are in a location where streets, utilities, and driveways lie directly over the pipe. In this situation, digging up the pipe would send costs through the roof. If the sewer pipe is easy to access and you don't have a lot of landscaping that would need to be replaced, traditional repair might be just fine.
Still Wondering What to Do? Get a Professional Opinion
When it comes to sewer repair, every case is different. Trenchless sewer repair is a great option, but it's not necessarily the right one for your situation. A certified professional is the only person who can tell you the correct way forward.
Contact a sewer repair professional near you to come take a look at your property. They can look at where your pipes lie and give you some options and price quotes so you can make an informed decision. Consider getting a second or even third opinion for an expensive job like this.
D.P. Taylor contributed to this article.
Frequently Asked Questions
For some people, sewer pipe relining is worth it—but it depends on the specifics of your property. If your sewer line is hard to access, opting for a trenchless repair could be less expensive than traditional sewer line repair since you’ll skip the pricey excavation and trenching. However, relining a sewer pipe isn’t always an option—particularly if your line has severe damage or corrosion.
Many types of sewer lines (including plastic, cast iron, and lead sewer lines) last between 50 and 100 years. You can expect a similar timeline for the materials used in a trenchless sewer repair job. Factors that can reduce your sewer lines' life span include poor soil conditions and growing tree roots.
Sewage smells are among the most common signs of a broken sewer line. You might also have slow or backed-up drains, gurgling noises coming from your toilet, and sunken spots on your lawn. Similarly, if one area of your lawn starts to come alive and looks abnormally healthy, it might be due to a broken sewer line under your yard.