 | Repairing a broken drain line |
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Question: This is for a home in Catawba County, North Carolina.... We have had a roto-rooter dude run his camera up a terra cotta drain pipe and saw that there is a break about 15-ft inside the concrete basement floor from the wall. They quoted $2400 to jack hammer the slab (inside a basement) and replace the pipe. That does not include pouring new concrete and finishing the floor. We have called a few other plumbers but one couldn't do it and the others either won't quote or won't even show up to look at it. Question is.... I heard that there was a way to insert a PVC pipe or tube inside just smaller than the original pipe which would allow normal drainage. It would not seal against the wall and not seal the hole, but roots (the current problem) would not penetrate the PVC. It would be slightly smaller diameter, but should be plenty big for what the drain pipe now carries (no washer or other high flow appliances, etc.) Anyway.... long story.... but ... 1 - Is $2400 reasonable? 2 - Is PVC insert an alternative? cheaper? 3 - Is there a general rule of thumb for when to repair an old line vs installing a new one? (This house has been added on and the new line would be a more direct route that the old one(s)
Answer: -City line for my house was 'fixed' with a liner of some sort. It was described to me as a double walled hose blown into place. It has been working for three years with no trouble. -Be real careful here, and get at least 2 more sewer guys to look at it. I think it's unusual for these tiles to break under a slab, but haven't done this kind of work for a while, and wasn't an expert when I did. Usually it's tree roots that break tiles. Nasty if it's a sewer drain and 6' under the slab. Regarding the PVC fix, I don't know except you have to get it in there. Maybe they can dig outside instead of breaking the floor.
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