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Sewer Line Replacement advice?

(26 posts)

Started 1 year ago by Koshka
Latest reply from OingoBoingo

Koshka

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We get to replace our sewer line--what joy. Does anyone have any contractor recommendations? The line will have to be "burst" since there is a huge tree on top of the line, so I'm not certain that the smaller one-man operations would have the equipment to do that. We got one bid from Jim Dandy that seemed very expensive. (over $9,000) I sure appreciate any tips that you might have to offer.

Posted 1 year ago #
Oly

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Trench less sewer replacement/repair is the way to go. Research online. Fischer plumbing and Gene Johnson do this type of work. It can be $60-$90 a foot compare to $200 a foot for the dig a trench method.

Whoever you decide to have quote check them out on yelp and angies list first. Jim Dandy has mostly one star reviews on yelp.

Posted 1 year ago #
joelsey

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You can check out Aces Four or Metropolitan. We used Metropolitan to replace a section of our side sewer. They were great to work with and had someone out the same day to start the work. We chose them over Acers Four because Aces couldn't be there for a day or two, and we needed the work done immediately.

Posted 1 year ago #
RichY

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Here is the city info
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/permits/side_sewer_program/Overview/

and the Registered Side Sewer Contractor list, if they need to connect or leave your yard

http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/rssc/

Also a permit is required for this work

Posted 1 year ago #
angeline

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We were very happy with Metropolitan. Their bid was much lower than Fisher. At the time trenchless wasn't widely available so we didn't look at it -- I think it is well worth exploring. This sort of repair is a PITA and very expensive. And no one comes to your house and says "ooh, nice new side sewer! That must have set you back!"

Posted 1 year ago #
great idea

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is trenchless where they re-line your existing pipes with some new material?

Posted 1 year ago #
Big D

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Budget Sewer are also great. Will you have to go all the way under the street to the main?

Posted 1 year ago #
clamster

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I had mine done my Metropolitan many years ago. They were the most reasonable bid and able to do what the other companies told me they couldn't do which was to dig a narrow trench down the driveway and tunnel the lines underneath the concrete driveway in a few places. Everyone else was trying to sell me on the pipe-bursting method which really wasn't very possible for my lines, I just wanted it done the traditional way, which Metropolitan did. The only thing I was not too happy about was that they had to remove the concrete in two areas and they didn't do a very good job with the new concrete replacement in one area which sank and cracked after the first year or two. And, they underbid the job so that cost me another $500 more than the original bid because they had to spend an extra day digging under the foundation of the house in order to connect the PVC to the cast iron outlet/stump. But, they were still less than everyone else, I thought they were the most straight-forward of the 5 contractors I got bids from, the estimator was very nice and informative and they did it the way I wanted them to. So, I'd recommend them also.

Posted 1 year ago #
c2

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I highly recommend Metropolitan Sewer. They have replaced two lines for me at different properties and did a great job. Call Parnell 786.5511.

Posted 1 year ago #
iPlod

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clamster & c2, you da mans. Or da womans or er, um da persons. For all the reasons you just stated.

Posted 1 year ago #
Oly

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GI they either line the existing pipe or pull new pipe through the old (the bursting method).

Posted 1 year ago #
RichY

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Clamster, those are reasons I would not hire Metropolitan Sewer.

The only thing I was not too happy about was that they had to remove the concrete in two areas and they didn't do a very good job with the new concrete replacement in one area which sank and cracked after the first year or two. And, they underbid the job so that cost me another $500 more than the original bid because they had to spend an extra day digging under the foundation of the house in order to connect the PVC to the cast iron outlet/stump

underscoping, underbidding and poor workmanship should not make you happy - just makes you wonder what else is wrong that can not be seen -

but thanks - it is hard to find good plumbers and candid comments like this are great

Posted 1 year ago #
clamster

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I would like to retract what I said about the concrete. It is actually the old section next to the new one that has sunken. (hard to see with all the moss and dirt) Whether that had anything to do with the excavation is unknown so please disregard my previous remark about the concrete. The line was tested and inspected by someone from the Seattle city land use/code department before any dirt was filled in over the line so I'm quite confident that it was all done correctly.

Posted 1 year ago #
RichY

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I am sure they did a good job, they do have a good rep. And that is why the city requires a permit and inspection

Posted 1 year ago #
Anonymous

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Might want to get a bid from Sewer Friendly.

Posted 1 year ago #
Ballardemician

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I'm sure you've already got this worked through, but if your line merges together with a neighbor's before it gets to the main (which is fairly common), and if the part after the merge also need replacing, your neighbor is on the hook for part of the payment for the job, and they can't tell you not to do it. It's your choice whether or not you want to call this marker in of course, but if these conditions exist you can.

Posted 1 year ago #
greenwoodjon

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Metropolitan did a pipe burst under our rockery several years ago. They were prompt, professional and had a very reasonable price. A couple other contractors (including Fischer) insisted the only way to do the job was to take down the rockery and put it back together. I was skeptical and good thing because Metropolitan did exactly the job they said they would do; and very efficiently!

I would avoid Jim Dandy like the plague. Had some work done by them and they did not complete, literally not showing up to finish. Their dispatcher had some lame excuse about the owner closing the business which proved to be untrue.

Posted 1 year ago #
great idea

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"I would avoid Jim Dandy like the plague. Had some work done by them and they did not complete, literally not showing up to finish. Their dispatcher had some lame excuse about the owner closing the business which proved to be untrue. "

maybe it was harvest time on the beet farm?

Posted 1 year ago #
lakreitz

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Jim Dandy confuses me. Is it just me? Clearly, they have moved from their caravan site under 15th. Their website mostly lists the address on 46th, but a N 128th address is listed too. So misleading web presence, negative Yelp reviews, their bid is high, the horrid paint job on the vans just before they moved/closed. Best to avoid.

Posted 1 year ago #
BallardP

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Great idea--I get it. Good answer.

Posted 1 year ago #
billvb

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We had to have this done on the Sunset Hill home we bought and moved into in 2010. Raymark did a great job with it - they did the liner/bursting method and didn't have to tear up the yard at all - just had to replace a square of the sidewalk. I'd recommend them highly.

Posted 1 year ago #
Rudy

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billvb, would you mind sharing what the ballpark cost was for your job?

Posted 1 year ago #
billvb

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hey Rudy - it was a looooong line and so it was a big job ; it came to about <cough> $20K. We split the expense with the seller.

Posted 1 year ago #
Oly

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Really, I was quoted 4K for the burst method at my house, 20K? How long did it take them to complete? Do you remember how many workers there were?

Posted 1 year ago #
billvb

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Hi Oly, we hadn't yet closed on our purchase of the property when they did this, so I can't tell you how many workers, but our property is about 3/4 of an acre and the house is a pretty long ways from the street, so your mileage may vary...

It took them 4 or 5 days to complete, I think.

Posted 1 year ago #
OingoBoingo

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Jim Dandy did side sewer on either side of our house, wyed a sewer connection from the basement and wyed the two side sewers to a single. Pipe burst to the sidewalk and sleeved from the sidewalk to the city collar. Three deep holes (money's in the hole!)for wye accesses and a landing reconstruction including a grate cover. Got four bids with one of the companies, ticked off the list, willing to 'beat anyone else's bid by 5%'. Concrete job looks great so far and the landscaping basically undisturbed.
I recommend Jim Dandy.

Posted 1 year ago #