Sewer Line Replacement
When repairs keep failing, replace the line.
Full replacement makes sense when a lateral has failed in several places, has collapsed, or has a belly that holds waste. It is a large decision, so it should be based on recorded camera evidence and a clear scope you can compare between contractors.
Signs
When this applies to you
- Camera footage showing collapse, heavy offsets or repeated cracking
- Backups that return quickly after cleaning
- Sinkholes or depressions along the sewer path
- Very old pipe material near the end of its service life
First steps
What to do before anyone arrives
- 01Get the camera recording and a written scope.
- 02Ask where the line will be excavated and what will be restored.
- 03Ask who pulls permits and schedules inspections.
- 04Compare at least two scopes, not just two prices.
Methods
How the work is typically done
Open-cut
A trench is dug along the line and new pipe is laid at correct grade. Best for bellies and collapses.
Trenchless
Pipe bursting or lining may replace the line with small pits when the path qualifies.
Hybrid
Excavate the worst section and line the rest — common when one area has failed.
Cost depends on scope
What moves the price
- Length and depth of the line
- What sits on top: driveway, porch, trees, sidewalk
- Open-cut vs. trenchless method
- Connection work at the city main or right-of-way
- Permits, inspections and surface restoration
This site does not publish fixed prices. Any estimate should be based on an inspection of your line and confirmed in writing by the contractor.
Replacement is a grading and access project
A new pipe needs appropriate slope, bedding, support and connections, not simply a different material. Ask the contractor to identify the measured defect, line depth and route to the public connection. A sag or repeated structural failures can justify replacement, but one obstructed joint does not automatically establish that the whole lateral must go.
Open excavation allows direct correction of the affected section, while suitable bursting may reduce surface disturbance. Both require planning for utilities, access and the approved connection. Clarify whether the work is a short replacement, the entire private run or a different scope at the main; those proposals are not directly comparable.
Include restoration and the final inspection
Ask who handles spoil removal, cleanout installation, backfill and compaction. Sidewalks, drives, basement slabs and landscaping should have explicit restoration terms. A deep short repair can exceed a longer shallow repair because access and surface work dominate the price.
Confirm local plumbing and any right-of-way approvals before starting. Keep the permit and inspection records, final camera video and written warranty. Separate pipe repair from sewage cleanup and insurance claims. A replacement corrects the contracted defects; it does not by itself eliminate public-system surcharge, groundwater or every possible future drain problem.
Budget planning
Published planning ranges
These are published planning ranges, not Michigan Sewer Pros quotes. Actual local quotes vary with line length, depth, access, permits and restoration.
- Basic sewer snakingAngi's Detroit method-specific planning range. Complex roots, access or structural repairs cost more.
- $95–$240
- Hydro jettingAngi's Detroit cleaning-method range; inspection and pipe repair may be additional.
- $340–$580
- Camera inspectionAngi's Detroit inspection reference; route length, access and scope affect price.
- $195–$1,275+
- Line replacementHomeGuide national planning range for about 40 linear feet, not a local fixed quote. Longer, deeper or obstructed projects can exceed this.
- $2,000–$10,000
- Cured-in-place liningHomeGuide national range. Suitability, preparation, access and minimum job charges affect total cost.
- $90–$250 / foot
- Pipe burstingHomeGuide national range; utility conflicts, pits, connections and restoration must be scoped.
- $60–$200 / foot
Sources: Angi: Detroit sewer-clog and inspection cost data (updated August 2026) · HomeGuide: national sewer repair and replacement cost guide
Good to know: If only one joint or a short section is bad, a spot repair may be enough. Ask for the evidence that replacement is necessary.
Sewer Line Replacement: common questions
Who owns the sewer line?
Do I need a permit?
How long does replacement take?
Request help
Request help with sewer line replacement
Two minutes, no sales script. Describe the problem and you get a reference number for your request. Prefer to talk it through?
Call 248-331-7754- No obligation to book anything
- Ask for camera footage before any big repair
- Pricing depends on scope and is confirmed by the contractor