Source
r/homeowners•
zsquared

Need some advice on the state of our main sewer

Hoping someone not trying to sell us something can provide any guidance. Long story short, a grounding rod was found sticking straight through the cast iron part of our main sewer line underneath our patio, a few feet beyond our foundation. They cut part of our concrete patio and pulled the rod up a bit to get it out of the pipe, but now there is a hole on the top and bottom of the cast iron pipe where it used to be. The same company descaled and flushed the whole run of pipe after removing the rod. They are saying a smaller patch would fix the pipe where the hole is, but after reviewing the state of the remaining 65' of pipe, they are recommending a full liner, which would bring everything to around $16k total.

Here is the video of the worst part of the piping. https://youtu.be/J77oPgqiSco

You can see cracks and separation, however, we'd just like to understand how bad it is. Is anyone familiar with this sort of thing and can help us understand if this is something that needs addressed now or do we have a decade before it is a bigger problem?

We feel like we are being coerced into the full liner, especially since they decided to withhold the information that they wouldn't be able to do a full liner in the future, if they installed a smaller patch now. And of course no one will say how needed it is, just that "we are a perfect candidate" for the liner...

Thanks!

Posted May 25, 2023, 3:44 PM UTC

58
WithoutTheH•

From what I see, your colonoscopy looks great my dood!

6
zsquaredOP•

bruh

2
Civil-Surveyer•

You'd be a good candidate for a liner because the pipe runs under a concrete patio making it difficult to dig and replace. At $16k it might be worth while to talk to a contractor about replacing the pipe, and how much more of the patio would need to be removed/replaced to do that work.

5
zsquaredOP•

Very true. It would be difficult to accept any additional deconstruction of our patio, with it being stamped and painted. Likely will never get the 1'x3' patch they already dug up to match as it is....starting to make more sense to get the liner. Thanks

1
distantreplay•

I've certainly seen far worse that remained in use.

But as others have pointed out, that's not the only consideration. All mechanical infrastructure has a limited service life. And while you don't share with us the age, we can assume that since it is CI it is already at least a half century old if not much older. Given the right conditions CI can last for 100 years. Or it can begin to separate, crack, and corrode beyond useful performance within 50. Nobody can tell you how long it will be. But it will happen. And so it wouldn't be at all irresponsible or coercive to recommend relining now while you still can.

3
zsquaredOP•

You are right about the age, built in 1957. Appreciate your input. Certainly gives me more to consider.

1
chrisinator9393•

Seems to me there is never a right time for this kind of thing. But I'd say get a few estimates on the liner. The tech is absolutely incredible. If this would've happened a couple decades ago even, you would be totally forced to lose the patio and landscaping and dig the line up for replacement entirely.

16k sounds pricey for a 65' run to be lined but I don't know your area, as far as how much labor is or materials. Could be reasonable.

I would be chalking this up to a "buy once, cry once" situation.

No one wants sewer issues.

2
sfertich•

I didn't see any roots which is good. What happens if you defer doing anything else until you are forced to do it? Now that the rod has been pulled out, you may go years.

1