North Dallas - Need Recommendations For Replacing Cast Iron Sewer Pipe
Posted by woodstock9999@reddit | Dallas | View on Reddit | 33 comments
We live in a 1964 home on a slab in North Dallas and while we have not had any indications of a problem, we know it is a matter of when not if the cats iron sewer pipe will need replacing. Pretty much weekly as we take our daily walks there is a another home in our 'hood getting this done. We are planning on a mini refresh including new flooring and it may makes sense to do this proactively and not ina. crisis.
Looking to get estimates for trenchless method as well as conventional. If our home is suitable for trenchless, are there any negatives to using that method? I understand it is generally less costly, will not cause foundation issues and trenchless.
I searched old posts and there are a few but not many recent recommendations. Thanks.
No-Profession6086@reddit
Do you have cleanout access? DM me and I can come do a camera inspection for you if you have cleanout access.
king_taint@reddit
How much do you charge for the camera inspection? I have a clean out on the side of the house
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
We do but can not find it although we know the general area. Had a plumber out one in 2014 but now my spouse tells me he thinks the guy out it in backwards, I asked why didn't he fix in then? No answer. Sigh, Need to feal with this first before having anyone out to do camera inspection. Sigh. Thank you.
justforfun176@reddit
This is random but maybe try the Bidsie app. I found it on nextdoor and been having a lot of luck finding contractors for cheap on different house project. Tbh, I'm guilty of using it just to see quotes sometimes lol
https://www.getbidsie.com/
VelociTopher@reddit
Had to have ours done last Feb. About $30k, but we have a wide, single story house, with 3 bathrooms, that was a lot of pipe and a lot of tunneling( I think it was about 120 ft in all?) Pipe liners only work if there's no intrusions into the pipe from roots, etc and they narrow the pipe diameter, so it's not a perfect option.
I'll say though, our home was built in '83 and the pipe they pulled out was plenty rotted away in spots. Yours being 20 years older, it's almost guaranteed to be as bad or worse. Get it done while the ground is soft. We used American Leak Detection, but I'm sure there are cheaper/more expensive options. We had a few quotes that were right around the same amount.
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
question I was looking at their website and and came across so was curious if they just did the insnection and work or referred the work out. Thanks.
Do you perform the actual excavation and repair work?
Our core focus is providing unbiased, highly accurate diagnostic inspections. By separating the detection phase from the physical repair phase, we avoid any conflict of interest. We find the exact problem and provide you with the blueprint. You then use our data to hire the local plumbing contractor of your choice to perform the actual repair work.
https://www.americanleakdetection.com/dallas/residential/plumbing/sewer-camera-inspection/#\~7b2cb533-2021-4456-b7d0-9a86bf84881c
VelociTopher@reddit
They did the repair work for me too.
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
thanks.
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
Thank you.
sjj0001@reddit
Anyone try the resin repipe option?
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
Is that the trenchless? I am curious about that as well.
naked_avenger@reddit
This is a huge task. I would rather suggest you find an insurance company that actually covers it failing (Lemonade did for us a few years ago) and wait for that to happen.
It would have been 27k for us, and that's with all the piping lining up since our bathrooms were in the middle of the house. Our friends had to spend over 40k with their layout. Thankfully we just had to pay the deductible. After we put in our claim, they sent an email with a cat high fiving, saying they owe us money to start the work lol
I wish I could remember who we used, but I'll comment now just in case I remember or come across a business card.
rsuess14@reddit
Cost me ~$14k out of pocket in 2022. Used a local guy. 75% of the cost was tunneling (I believe it was 90 feet total.
I've been curious about these insurance companies that claim to offer coverage for stuff like this. Might want to look into that.
dallasjava@reddit
https://inhouseplumbingcompany.com was recommended a while back. They specialize in under slab work.
ERCOT_Prdatry_victm@reddit
Friend engaged an insurance co that later covered a water line replacement. Would think a sewer line policy should be out there somewhere.
azseminole2@reddit
Anyone get this done in Kessler Park? We're prob due pretty soon to have ours replaced.
No-Profession6086@reddit
Oak cliff has a lot of areas with bedrock, make sure you are aware of any change orders if they hit rock while digging!
Thetinydeadpool@reddit
We used Brooks Plumbing - they did a good job and were the best quote of the 3 we got though there may have been cheaper options out there I suppose - it’s all expensive.
ViolentSkyWizard@reddit
+1 brooks, also Hooper out of Garland are good priced and great to work with.
FreakingEthan@reddit
We used In House Plumbing Company. They had the best price and did really good and efficient work.
Just note that if they need to tear up any existing patio or driveway, you may want to budget to get the entire patio/driveway paved afterward. Or live with an eyesore.
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
Good to know. Thanks.
volkerer@reddit
Also had a good experience with In House. Much more affordable than the other quote and they did everything in 3 days with a pretty big crew of guys. All they do is cast iron replacement. About 19k for our house and we financed it... Trying to pay off early so we don't have to pay so much interest.
xtnamht@reddit
Slab or pier and beam foundation?
volkerer@reddit
Slab
rickmoney21@reddit
CMH Plumbing Solutions Honest, well priced, top notch people — ask for Abraham
happyklam@reddit
We're north of Dallas, neighborhood built in the early 80s. We have seen no less than 15 houses go through this in the past year on the blocks around us. We did it ourselves as a part of the move-in. We used Reliant.
Cost was around $35k. They gutted all cast iron from under the house and were able to do so with tons of tunneling and rebuilding the lines. They did not have to drill through our slab which was a blessing. My old house on the Lewisville side had a slab leak and that one ended up with lots of holes in my floors, walls, and a reroute through the attic!
We also had Reliant do our electric upgrades that were required to make the home sale go through. All new panel, GCIs in bathrooms and kitchen, we found a rats nest of wires just bundled together in the attic (huge fire hazard) and another under our stove top so we had them sweep through the entire house. About $11k for electric.
ALL the technicians were incredibly kind, went above and beyond to check with us every step of the way before continuing when finding new concerns, and we haven't had a single issue. Very very happy with the service quality.
insane_membrane214@reddit
Ben FranklinPlumbing ask for Ben A. He just replaced ours. Made sure we got the best price for our budget and 10 year warranty
dukedeen1@reddit
I got (a portion) of mine replaced last week. DM for details / referrals / advice
Careless_Ocelot_4485@reddit
We used Rescue Air and Plumbing to replace ours in 2022 for our 1960 house. It was about $16K.
Donbeth972@reddit
Commenting to save the post.
this_aint_no_hobby@reddit
I had Mai Plumbing out recently for a different issue but while they were here I asked about replacement and they gave me a couple of different options. Seemed very reasonable
FoolishConsistency17@reddit
Are you sure it hasn't been done? Ours had to be replaced right about the 50 year mark. It may well have been done before you bought the house.
woodstock9999@reddit (OP)
Yes - we have been here 14 years and had a clog when we first moved in and had the camera inspection done. I learned we needed to downgrade our TP but we were told they were original. Mist of my neighbors have only been doing it past couple of years and we still have many original or longtime owners.