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Main sewer replacement

Aarons Air

Aarons Air

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Dayton ohio
Hi everyone ! My parents home main sewer line is made of clay tile. A video inspection showed a couple bad offsets, cracks, and tree roots. The line needs to be replaced with 4"pvc. Sleeving it isn't really feasible. Has anyone been down this road ? Any advice, other than checking contractors record ?
 
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If it’s clogged get someone with a good machine and knows how to use it.
Rotto Rueter is a scam. They will send a guy out and if he can’t get it cleaned out they will send a guy with a camera and he will tell you it needs fixing. 20 k later it will be fixed but if you have a good plumber he will clean it out and tell you if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
 
Replacing the line with PVC is remarkably easy to do in itself; it's the excavating that is
all the work.
As you might imagine, in my line of work, I ran all my own on our home back 20+ years
ago myself. When you install PVC, it's pretty much done for life, so it's well worth the effort.
If I was in the same position as you now, I'd be renting a mini-excavator and having at it.
Good luck!
 
Look into pipe bursting. The process involves a machine that goes through the existing clay pipe and pulls a new line through as it continues out to the main. NO DIG process
 
Around 2002 hooked to sewer about 200' of trench and town wanted 6" pipe, cost 5k. No blasting because of rock, don't think that applies in your case.
 
My home has the same of system from a home in the 1930's. About eight years ago my water line was leaking at the shut off. It was determined to be my responsibility. When they excavated it was found that when the street was reconstructed in 1985 it was done incorrectly using two different metals, so it corroded. Fast forward to 2020 and the street is due for a major reconstruction. It will include new water and sewer lines. The engineering firm marked where the lot lines are and found where my shut off valve is was in the "right of way" and not my responsibility. I did not pursue getting back my money and may have been limited by a statute of limitations for a lawsuit. If you are going to do this make sure you get 2-3 estimates. Consider a new water line also. Consider a one way valve built into the sewer line so no sewer back up can come into the basement or home. Also, make sure the lot lines have been recently confirmed by a surveyor. For my case a new sewer/water lines with the one way valve costs $3000. The distance from the right of way is approx. 50-60'
 
It depends on where your located? Out here in the country you just rent a mini excavator, dig it up and replace it. I did all of mine myself years ago and used ABS, no problems, very easy only requiring glue and a saw. Lemontwist's recommendation sounds interesting especially for folks who can't just dig it up themselves, I know nothing about it but sounds interesting.
 
I found a gentleman with a backhoe and asked him to quote . (120 ft.) He said 500 plus fuel.
Took two days and he helped with the PVC . I paid for the PVC etc.
 
Our clay pipes where destroyed by 2 trees. Had to have an outfit come in and dig up the original pipes and replace with PVC from the house to the street and take out both trees. 3 days and Cost was 6k. This was 5 years ago. Good luck.
 
hanks73340 said:
Our clay pipes where destroyed by 2 trees. Had to have an outfit come in and dig up the original pipes and replace with PVC from the house to the street and take out both trees. 3 days and Cost was 6k. This was 5 years ago. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Same here, only one tree. It looks so much greener than it's twin, on the other side of the yard. :)
 
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Just five months ago started out with a clog had it checked lasted two weeks then had to jetted and Camera. Found collapsed pipe at joint of house connection, halfway to the street replacing pipe . $6500.00 this Who knew that **** was expensive.
 
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Do your parents own the side sewer or does the City/County/etc? It's different in different in places. Check with the jurisdiction. The contractor may be required to have special side sewer licensing. There may be permits required for the sewer, and then more for working in the road if necessary. You'll need to figure this out so you don't end up with a non-compliant system. Keep good records for when it comes time to sell the house.
 
About 15 years ago my clay pipe broke where it comes out of the house, because the house settled on it. I fixed it myself, it was only about 40 feet to connect to the Pvc sewer line.
Pick and shovel.
Nasty where it was broke, couldn't get the smell out of my sinuses for a month.
One thing I will never fix myself again!
 
Some of these places charge crazy amounts... My sister just had to pay $3200 to repair the pipe exiting her house, the pipe broke right at the foundation and filled with dirt/stone... Backed-up into the house... Shop around..
 
first thing I would do is contact local township administration and locate lateral depending where it's located will be the deciding factor of who has the right equipment to perform the work.horizontal boring would only be an advantage if it was a very long run in an already landscaped yard. still need to excavate holes at building and to add clean outs every 100' depending on local codes and the lateral connection so there is still some mess to clean up!! how deep is the lateral,a trench box may be required unless you slope the excavation back and depending on location/soil conditions, maybe not an option! pipe should be bedded/covered in "A gravel".
locating the lateral can be very tricky without damaging it and I've seen some as deep as 12'. I've inspected hundreds of water/sewer new installs and they were all different unless your working in a subdivision and a must to make diagrams of install.
dishsoap to put those bell ends together,they can be a struggle!
HIRE a PRO!
 
pops, where's your trench box? I know, didn't need one! until you do!
 
Today was replacement day. I was amazed at the amount of stone. They had to use a quickie saw to cut through it, by where they tied in. They unearthed a real horse shoe, and a pop bottle, that had the word, city, on it. Great crew, did a great job.

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Anyone ever heard of, city, cola ? I think thats whats printed on the bottle.
 
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