What's the best way to fix sewer pipe and a reasonable estimate?

What's the best way to fix sewer pipe and a reasonable estimate?

Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 154 posts · 24 votes

So my friend recently bought a house but unfortunately didn't do a sewer inspection on the main line before purchase. Having had one done recently with a camera inspection on the main line, the inspecting plumber noted that the pipe had tree roots on several parts of the mainline. The plumber recommended a sewer trenchless replacement. They also mentioned they would seal the replacement pipe with some kind of "sealant" so that tree roots couldn't get in their again.

My friend was also planning to build an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in their backyard.

A few questions:

1) Should my friend have the sewer pipe replacement done with the ADU construction (thinking it might result in a lower overall total cost for all the work done) or should they hire out the sewer replacement job separately? And how soon should it be done?

2) What's a reasonable estimate for this type of work? (they live in Southern California, Ventura County - Simi Valley/Moorpark area;  you can think Los Angeles if you're not familiar with Ventura).

3) Is there any other part of the sewage system of the house that can or should be inspected

4) What is the name of the "sealant" for the new pipe that the plumber was referring to so I can compare brands/solutions?

For additional context:

There doesn't seem to be an immediate problem with sewer blockage. The only thing my friend noted is that when there was a heavy rain, and they did laundry, water backed up into the master bedroom shower and the hallway bathroom bathtub. So clearly there's a problem, but on other days there's been no issue so far.

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Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 625 posts · 601 votes
6y

@CJ M. Jetting is cheap in Canton lol. Can't get it done around Columbus for less than 5/600.

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  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    If your friend is noticing a problem with the sewer and didn't get an inspection it probably can't wait because it is already causing problems, it might be slightly cheaper if you do it in addition to extending the line to an ADU. However if it is currently backing up toilets showers etc. it isn't worth it to wait especially if he is planning to live there or already has tenants. Had tree roots in Moreno Valley about a year ago and it was $600 to clear the roots a replacement wasn't necessary. I'd ask for the camera footage if the person who did the inspection has it and shop around, it is not uncommon for a vendor to see the value of a house, size someone up and recommend higher priced fixes than are necessary.

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 154 posts · 24 votes
    6y

    Thank you for the great suggestion @Aaron K. - I just edited the post to add some additional context for future posters regarding the immediacy of the problem:

    It does seem like sooner is better rather than later, but with all the Covid-19 stuff (court closures for enforcing contracts, etc), my friend has been trying to wait a bit for things to stabilize. My friend is the sole tenant there at the moment due to Covid-19 and they did get a recording of the footage, so they'll be able to follow up on your good idea to shop things around.

  • Dylan VargasPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Chico, CA · Member since 2016 · 625 posts · 336 votes
    6y

    @Bruce P. Welcome! Agree with @Aaron K. about getting it done sooner than later if backing up. What was the price for the price for the trenches replacement? If its anywhere near Arons price he had I would write a check asap. These things can get real expensive real fast. Good luck and keep us posted.

  • Paul DashevskyPro Member
    Investor · Los Angeles · Member since 2020 · 152 posts · 60 votes
    6y

    A reasonably priced company for sewer in our area is Leak Free Plumbing (Aram). I have used them many times personally. Start with a sewer video inspection, then sewer hydrojet to clear the line.  

  • Investor · Ft. Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2019 · 71 posts · 50 votes
    6y

    For something like this, I'd also recommend paying for a 2nd company (minimum) to do another camera scope.

    Once upon a time, a company did a scope on my first rental (pre-purchase) and asked for $6k to fix what they said were tree branches stuck in there. I paid for a 2nd opinion, turns out it was just hair and there was no issue. There are some crooks out there.

    I see this all the time, people pay out of pocket for a home inspection and think it's enough, and try to not do the $150-200 camera scope on the sewer line. $10k later, you'll wish you would have done it. That could be 3-4 years cash flow!

  • Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    Have it cleaned out with a 4” bit then camera. Camera again in 6 months and see what it looks like. Many municipalities will do this at no charge. And internal liner with impregnated fibreglass is ~2x a dig/ insert abs liner. Around here that equates to ~$6k & $12k respectively. Homeowner is responsible for 60% where I’m at. So 4& $8k for those two options. Clay tile is old technology but if it isn’t collapsed I would be tempted to run it and see what happens

  • Rental Property Investor · North East US · Member since 2019 · 114 posts · 31 votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    Get estimate from two independent guys who knows this topic.

  • Rental Property Investor · Ithaca, NY · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    Is it something you two can do together or is it the mainline from the house to the street connection and you need a licensed plumber? How far down do you have to dig?

    Replacing pipe isn’t that hard but the local government red tape can be. I had to replace my mainline for my first and second property. It ran me 10k the first time with a plumber and 2-4K when I did it myself. I live in NY so CA prices are probably around the same as what I paid.

    Get it fixed now, its going to be more expensive in the future.

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    I have a few properties that get tree roots in the sewer line. It's a rental, so I just have a local company hydro jet the lines once a year for a 150-$200.

  • Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 625 posts · 601 votes
    6y

    @CJ M. Jetting is cheap in Canton lol. Can't get it done around Columbus for less than 5/600.

  • Remington LymanBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt P.:

    @CJ M. Jetting is cheap in Canton lol. Can't get it done around Columbus for less than 5/600.

     Call CPO

  • Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 625 posts · 601 votes
    6y

    @Remington Lyman I have my own 4k psi jetter :-) makes short work of main line clogs.

  • Remington LymanBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Matt P.:

    @Remington Lyman I have my own 4k psi jetter :-) makes short work of main line clogs.

     Nice!

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 154 posts · 24 votes
    6y

    @Dylan Vargas - It was thousands of dollars above Aaron's price (for a replacement) and the plumber didn't even give me the option for root clearing. @AaronK had a good idea about shopping the camera footage around.

    Thanks for the recommendation @Paul Dashevsky - I'll try and get a quote (it looks like there's only one by that name in the area via Google)

    Thank you for the great suggestion @Layne T., I plan to do just that to double check - I was just reading a book about contracting and the author mentioned how there are definitely varying levels of quality and honesty among contractors (like any profession I suppose).

    thank you @Account Closed, I'll ask City Hall about that then - I thought I was responsible for the sewer line all the way up until it connects to the main line in the street.

    Thanks @Nick Rutkowski - it's the mainline from the house to the street connection and I'd have to dig anywhere from 3 to 6 feet. My friend and I are both extremely busy with our jobs and so this would be something we'd have to hire out.

    Thanks @Account Closed - I wonder if there's a more permanent solution? I don't want to keep shelling out $ every year if possible. That's why I was trying to find out the name of the sealant in the pipe.

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    There is a more permanent solution...getting the pipe replaced. I say do the math on the cost of replacement vs jetting. If you spend $200/yr to have it jetted, it'll be 30 years before it costs you $6K. I'm not saying to not get it replaced, all I'm suggesting is, replacing it is a lot of money out of pocket right now when you could reinvesting that on more income producing properties.

  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    @Account Closed keep in mind this is LA which means whenever he decides to sell if a replacement is necessary and the contractor isn't blowing smoke the buyer will ask for it.

  • Rental Property Investor · Canton, OH · Member since 2017 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    @Aaron K.

    Understood. And I'm not implying jetting is the only way. I guess it depends how long he's planning on holding the property. Everyone's different, and personally I would rather spend the thousands of dollars I would save as a down payment on another property. But as you said, he's in California which is a whole other bear lol

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 154 posts · 24 votes
    6y

    Thank you Aaron and CJ, the house is probably going to be held for a long time (think decades)...You bring up a good point about using money for a downpayment...alas, even thousands of dollars won't get you that far in California lol

  • Investor · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 861 posts · 1k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Remington Lyman:
    Originally posted by @Matt P.:

    @CJ M. Jetting is cheap in Canton lol. Can't get it done around Columbus for less than 5/600.

     Call CPO

    Just curious, couldn't find CPO online except for the low-income prop managers..  CPR Plumbing? 

  • Investor · San Mateo, CA · Member since 2015 · 62 posts · 52 votes
    6y

    @Bruce Park

    One thing to keep in mind, at least this is true in South San Francisco, is that the building department requires sewer lateral compliance before issuing permit for ADU. They could demand a replacement of the sewer line prior to approving the ADU application which means there may not be a choice of not doing it anyway. Again not sure if your city has similar requirement, but something to check out.

  • Remington LymanBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus, OH · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Account Closed:
    Originally posted by @Remington Lyman:
    Originally posted by @Matt P.:

    @CJ M. Jetting is cheap in Canton lol. Can't get it done around Columbus for less than 5/600.

     Call CPO

    Just curious, couldn't find CPO online except for the low-income prop managers..  CPR Plumbing? 

     Yup! I meant CPR Plumbing

  • Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2017 · 154 posts · 24 votes
    6y

    oh thank you @Hai G., I don't think my friend had even considered that. No one has mentioned it so far, but it is definitely something to double check.

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