Sewer Line Replacement Cost Calculator
Before you price the job, know whose pipe it is. In most of the US the line from the house to the street belongs to the homeowner, so the sewer line replacement cost lands on you, and standard home insurance rarely helps. The average job is about $3,320, though $5,000 to $10,000 is common. The calculator works from the length of pipe and the method.
Who pays for a broken sewer lateral?
Insurance industry guidance treats the sewer lateral as owned and maintained by the property owner, including any part that extends into the street or public right of way. Seattle Public Utilities says the same of its side sewers: you own yours until it connects to the public sewer pipe. A break in the city’s main sewer line can be the city’s responsibility. Local rules decide where the line is split, so check with your utility.
Insurance is a separate question. Sewer line damage is not typically covered by homeowners insurance unless an endorsement has been added. Some insurers sell service line coverage, an optional add-on that can pay to fix damaged water, gas, sewer or other underground utility lines.
Sewer line replacement cost per foot, by method
| Method | Cost per foot |
|---|---|
| Dig and replace (open trench) | $50 to $200 |
| Pipe lining (cured-in-place) | $80 to $250 |
| Pipe bursting | about $55 to $200 |
The trenchless sewer line replacement cost per foot is not much lower than digging. What changes is the damage to the yard: restoring a driveway or garden after a trench costs $1,000 to $3,000, new landscaping $4.50 to $12 per square foot and concrete $1 to $20 per square foot.
How long is your line?
The run from house to street is often 50 to 100 feet, buried 4 to 8 feet deep, though a typical job replaces about 40 feet. At $50 to $200 per foot, 50 feet of sewer line comes to $2,500 to $10,000 before any extras. One price list runs digging up to $250 a foot; the others stop at $200, which is the figure the calculator uses. Published totals vary widely, from $1,000 to $20,000.
Not every problem needs the whole run replaced. Swapping a 10-foot section can cost up to $2,750, so the sewer line repair cost for one break is a fraction of a full replacement. A camera inspection shows which you need.
Sewer pipe replacement cost add-ons
Camera inspection
A sewer camera inspection costs $100 to $500, and up to $800 for one line in some areas.
Permit
This is the least consistent figure, anywhere from about $75 to $2,000 or more depending on the city. The calculator assumes $150 to $1,000.
Jetting and cleanouts
Hydro-jetting costs $300 to $600 and a new cleanout $600 to $2,000.
City connection fees
Some cities charge to connect a new line to the public sewer. We could not confirm current fees from enough cities to include them, so ask your utility.
Signs of a failing sewer line
Watch for sewage backups, slow drains, sewage smells, soggy or unusually green patches of lawn, sunken spots in the yard, pests, gurgling and several drains clogging at once.