The cost to replace a sewer pipe in Denver usually ranges from $5,000 to $10,000+ but can reach as high as $25,000.
We know, that’s pretty disheartening news if you’ve been told you need to replace a busted sewer pipe. But if you’re lucky, a plumber might be able to repair the sewer line (versus completely replacing it), in which case that number could go down considerably.
However, if it turns out the whole sewer line needs to be totally replaced, you can expect to pay between $5,000 and $25,000 based on 2 main cost factors:
Let’s go into more detail about each of these factors and how they affect price.
Your home’s sewer line is located underground—under your lawn, and possibly your carport—which makes it difficult to repair. However, professionals can do 1 of 3 repair methods to fix your pipes:
Let’s go into each of these repair methods in more detail…
Our team performing a necessary sewer line excavation
Excavating is generally the costliest way to replace a pipe. It involves digging up ground (which can include concrete carports) to reach the pipe.
From there, the replacement process is relatively simple: the plumber will manually remove the broken pipe and replace it with a new pipe.
The cost to replace pipe by excavating is about $50–$250 per foot of pipe. If the broken area of the pipe is small, that would mean you’d be out roughly $3,000–$6,000. But for longer runs (50+ feet of pipe) you’d pay $5,000–$13,000+.
Of course, the BIGGEST expense of excavating is the additional cost of restoring your lawn/carport after the plumbers dig it up. The cost to do this can vary greatly depending on how much the plumbers had to dig but will probably range from $5,000 to $10,000+.
Lining is usually less expensive than excavating because it doesn’t involve putting back together a torn-up lawn/carport. It’s called a “trenchless” form of replacement because there’s very little digging involved.
Lining typically costs $80–$250 per foot of pipe, which means a typical replacement would cost between $6,000 and $12,000+.
Lining involves drilling a hole near the old pipe and blowing/pulling a resin-coated, flexible pipe into the interior of the old pipe. The lining inflates and settles inside the new pipe, creating a new pipe in the process.
The lining adds one-quarter inch of space to the inner lining of the pipe, but it doesn’t negatively affect the pipe’s ability to carry out waste. In fact, the lining offers a slippery surface that increases waste flow in the sewer line.
Similar to lining, bursting is another “trenchless” form of repiping that doesn’t require you to dig up the entire line of pipe—which cuts down on landscaping costs.
Instead, bursting involves running a cone-shaped “bursting” head through the old pipe, which breaks up old pipe and pulls new pipe into its place.
Bursting typically costs $60–$200 per foot of pipe, which could total anywhere from $3,500 to $18,000+ to replace a full sewer pipe.
You’ll need to contact a professional to assess your particular situation and help you decide which method is right for your situation. That’s because choosing a pipe replacement method depends on factors like:
Not all contractors are alike. Plain and simple, some contractors do a better job than others. A general rule of thumb is: the better quality the contractor, the more they’ll likely charge for their labor.
So don’t let price deter you from hiring a quality contractor, especially since this project greatly affects your home’s plumbing system and requires a significant amount of labor and skill.
Look for these things when you are determining if a contractor is quality:
Obtain a written estimate from the contractor so that they’re bound to the price they quote you.
For your convenience, you can request an appointment in one of two ways:
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