From time to time as a homeowner, you will run into things that you need to get repaired. If you ever believe that your sewer main is damaged you might need to look into a sewer replacement, but how much does one of those cost?
Well, there re a few factors that go into determining the price of a sewer replacement. Here are a few of the factors that are the most influential on the final price.
Type of Material Used
There are several different types of material used for sewers. Each will have a different price, and they are used for different reasons. Here are the four most common materials you will see used for sewer maintenance.
Plastic
Plastic pipes are the most commonly used for new pipe installation today. They are the least expensive option and are fairly reliable. They will burst from pressure at much lower pressures than other options.
Cast Iron
Cast Iron is the second most popular material used in sewers today. It is a lot stronger, but it is also more difficult to repair than plastic pipes are. If you need strength in your sewer system, this is the material to use. It is more expensive than plastic.
Clay
This material is not used very often in new installations today, but it was used in the past. There is a chance you have an existing system with this type.
Orangeburn
Similar to clay, this was used a lot more often in the past. It is pretty lightweight, and there is plenty of reason to use this if it available. As it is made from wood, it is easy to work with.
Ease of Access and Technique Used
Of course, the difficulty of the job will affect the final price. If the job is easy to perform, it will take less time, and you will be charged less for labor costs. There are also a few different ways to do the job. The more labor-intensive the work, the more expensive the project.
The biggest addition to the price will be if they need to replace the piping underneath the slab. This could add up to an additional 200$ per square foot. That is because they will have to break apart and replace the slab foundation of your home.
Repair or Replace?
Another major factor that affects exactly how expensive a job will be is whether you need to have the entire sewer replaced or simply repair a small section of it. The more of the sewer lines you need to have replaced, the higher the final cost will be. If it is possible for you to get by with only a small repair done to a limited portion of your sewer lines, you could save a ton of money over the cost over replacement. If you are looking for the lowest cost option, you should always go for repairs instead of replacement, if possible.
The extent of the Damage
Even when you opt for repairs instead of replacing the sewers, you could still be faced with significant costs. The amount of damage and the type of damage to your sewer system will determine the final cost. The more piping they need to have replaced or repaired, the more expensive it will be to have it done. If you have extensive damage to the pipes underneath your home, then you might be looking at a very large repair bill.