Main Sewer Line

[captaincrab55]

Looking for a Plumber in Charlotte NC for my daughter. Her sewer line settled and pulled apart... She needs 50' of line replaced that's 18" to 24" deep, First estimate is over $1500 and 50% pay-cut has crushed the bank... If she lived in Maryland, my backhoe would take a ride...

 

[kenmac]

Looking for a Plumber in Charlotte NC for my daughter. Her sewer line settled and pulled apart... She needs 50' of line replaced that's 18" to 24" deep, First estimate is over $1500 and 50% pay-cut has crushed the bank... If she lived in Maryland, my backhoe would take a ride...

That could be dug by hand. It's not that deep. Is the pipe ductile iron or PVC ? Around here dutcile iron is required for sewer. PVC for septic tank

 

[captaincrab55]

That could be dug by hand. It's not that deep. Is the pipe ductile iron or PVC ? Around here dutcile iron is required for sewer. PVC for septic tank

I did a test pit on the pipe Easter weekend and it's cast iron pipe... It could be hand dug, but if I drive down for a weekend-end repair time goes fast.. Hand digging and the gout don't mix well.. I did give thought to flying my son in from Boston, if she can't get a reasonable price... Her first quote was on PVC replacement.. LOWES in Charlotte carries all needed parts for less then $130....

 

[Kays Supply]

Have you checked on renting a small machine to do the work? A Terramite backhoe would be perfect for that job. If settling was a problem be sure and have some packable fill ready to correct the cause.

 

[captaincrab55]

Have you checked on renting a small machine to do the work? A Terramite backhoe would be perfect for that job. If settling was a problem be sure and have some packable fill ready to correct the cause.

My daughter priced one early this morning, but one must return it on Saturday by noon or pay till Monday... Looking for a Rental Center that's open on Sunday...

 

[CurlyDave]

If the $1500 estimate is for the complete job, with a warranty, I suspect you will be hard pressed to do better than that.

When you think about travel costs, time off from work, etc. the side costs start to add up quick.

That new pipe is not going to jump in the trench and hook itself up, and if it has been leaking since before Easter the trench is not going to be like working in the Garden of Eden.

The other option might be to rent the machine at close of business on Saturday and return first thing Monday.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I agree $1500 sounds great for a quality job.

 

[captaincrab55]

I agree $1500 sounds great for a quality job.

$1500 was the rough estimate over the phone.. They needed to put a camera down the pipe before giving a written estimate... Now they want $2300 to replace 16' of pipe and additional footage would be more...

 

[scesnick]

The other option might be to rent the machine at close of business on Saturday and return first thing Monday.

That is always my strategy...

 

[Kays Supply]

I am a plumbing contractor. I just replaced 25' of the hardest to get to pipe I have ever seen. I had two concrete porches, two cable vision lines, two water lines, two air conditioners, a criscross of gas lines and tree roots as big as your leg. I did it by the hour and it cost the customer $1250. I don't work cheap. I had my own machine and and another plumber on the job. I could almost drive out and do your job for $2300.

 

[captaincrab55]

Quote:
Originally Posted by CurlyDave View Post
The other option might be to rent the machine at close of business on Saturday and return first thing Monday.

That is always my strategy...

I like the strategy... I'm thinking about driving down Thursday night and taking Friday off to do the repair. I could clean up the excavation on Sat morning, if I can't finish on Friday... If I rent a machine, I'll replace all 50'...

 

[captaincrab55]

I am a plumbing contractor. I just replaced 25' of the hardest to get to pipe I have ever seen. I had two concrete porches, two cable vision lines, two water lines, two air conditioners, a criscross of gas lines and tree roots as big as your leg. I did it by the hour and it cost the customer $1250. I don't work cheap. I had my own machine and and another plumber on the job. I could almost drive out and do your job for $2300.

Just as I suspected, that my daughter was getting overcharged... Years back I had a dump truck and IH 3400 BH.. I did a lot of trenching for plumbers back then and installed sewer & water line for one plumber when he was busy.. He did pay extra whenever I helped or did the work. I hung up that extra work when OSHA went Ape about using trench boxes...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm thinking a 25' repair / 18 to 24" deep in a wide open area without other utilities should run about $850...

 

[Kays Supply]

I gave the customer a "guess " before I saw the utility marks of " less than a thousand" . So $850 would be reasonable, but I don't think you would get anyone to bid it for that. You always have to leave some room for the unexpected.

 

[CurlyDave]

1. Charlotte is a pretty big city. Call around for rental yards. I have the choice of about 6 within 10 miles of Redwood City, CA. Both equipment and charges vary from yard to yard. Many yards do not rent excavators with a thumb, the lowest priced yard has one with a thumb, just as an example.

2. You are going to need some fill to correct the settling problem, think that one through before you start driving. I am thinking gravel pushed down into the soft mud near the settlement, using the hoe. Decide where you are buying, how it is getting there, and what to do with any excess.

Maybe a pro will chime in, but I am thinking that replacing good sections may be asking for future trouble. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Just do the section that has settled.

3. Before you replace any of the pipe diagnose what is really wrong. If it has just pulled apart, all you need is couplings and fill. Re-use the pipe, otherwise you have a disposal problem at the end of the job.



Good luck

 

[captaincrab55]

3. Before you replace any of the pipe diagnose what is really wrong. If it has just pulled apart, all you need is couplings and fill. Re-use the pipe, otherwise you have a disposal problem at the end of the job.



Good luck

Back when the house was built in the 70s, it was common practice to dig a pit and bury the construction waste.. There's a sink hole in the yard where the sewer line settled....

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Back when the house was built in the 70s, it was common practice to dig a pit and bury the construction waste.. There's a sink hole in the yard where the sewer line settled....

That is common here now due to burn laws and I know of some that will have this same problem some day. Things for stating the cause of the problems.

 

[2manyrocks]

Home Depot got into the rental business in Tennessee, and I would guess you could rent a small backhoe there any day of the week in Charlotte, NC. You could always call the store nearest your daughter's place and ask.

 

[captaincrab55]

Home Depot got into the rental business in Tennessee, and I would guess you could rent a small backhoe there any day of the week in Charlotte, NC. You could always call the store nearest your daughter's place and ask.

There's a LOWEs nearby that has a SUNBELT Rental Center..