Sewer Line Repair FAQ
How much should it cost to repair a sewer line?
The ranges below are typical national figures, useful for sanity checking a quote. They are not our price list, because the number depends on depth, length and what sits above the pipe.
Short answer
Nationally, a spot repair to one failed section typically runs somewhere around 3,000 to 6,000 dollars, while a full lateral replacement is more often 6,000 to 20,000 depending on length, depth and what sits above the pipe. Priced by the foot, open-cut replacement tends to land around 50 to 150 dollars, cured-in-place lining around 80 to 250, and pipe bursting somewhere between. A camera inspection to establish what you are dealing with is usually 200 to 500 and should come first. The variables that move the number most are depth, whether the run passes under a driveway, patio or mature trees, and whether any of it falls in the public right of way, which brings separate permitting and restoration costs.
Typical Ranges
| Work | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Camera inspection | $200–$500 | Should come first; often credited against the work |
| Spot repair, one section | $3,000–$6,000 | Where the rest of the pipe is sound |
| Full lateral replacement | $6,000–$20,000+ | Varies hugely with length, depth and surface |
| Open-cut, per foot | $50–$150 | Before surface restoration |
| Cured-in-place lining, per foot | $80–$250 | Plus access pits at each end |
| Cleanout installation | $600–$2,000+ | Often the thing that makes future work cheaper |
Industry-typical figures, not a quote from us. For a real number on your property we scope the line first and then price the work flat, which you can see set out on the sewer line repair page, or call (970) 499-0516.
The Four Things That Move the Number
- Depth. This drives everything. A lateral at four feet is a different job from one at ten: more spoil, more shoring, more reinstatement, and a materially higher safety requirement.
- What is above it. Lawn is cheap to put back. A driveway, a patio, a mature tree or a finished basement slab is not, and restoration can exceed the plumbing.
- Length and access. Whether machinery can reach the run at all, and whether there is an existing cleanout to work from.
- Where the fault sits. A fault on your side of the property line is yours. One in the public right of way brings separate permitting, traffic control and restoration standards, and sometimes shifts responsibility — which is worth establishing before you authorise anything.
What to Ask Before Authorising Work
Sewer quotes are unusually hard to compare because the same words cover different scopes. These cut through most of it:
- Can I see the camera footage? You are being asked to spend thousands on a pipe you cannot see. Any competent contractor will show you the recording and explain what the defect is.
- Is a spot repair viable, and if not, why not? The honest answer is sometimes no. It should be a reasoned no, not a reflex.
- Does the price include surface restoration? Concrete, asphalt and landscaping are frequently quoted separately or excluded.
- Who pulls the permit, and is inspection included? See whether you need a permit — you almost certainly do.
If the blockage turns out to be debris rather than a fault, the work is cleaning rather than repair, which is a different order of cost entirely — see what drain cleaning costs.
Talk to a Licensed Colorado Plumber
Think Your Sewer Line Is the Problem? Scope It First
We camera the line before we quote it. Roots at a joint, a cracked section, a belly holding water and a collapsed pipe all produce similar symptoms and call for completely different work — and often for a spot repair rather than a full replacement.
Trenchless lining, pipe bursting and open-cut replacement, with flat pricing, across Fort Collins, Loveland, Wellington, Windsor, Berthoud, Laporte, Greeley and Estes Park.
Visit our Sewer Line Repair page to review the full scope of work and request service.