Water Line Installation

[serendipity418]

Yes, it was a factor in the negotiations, and there was a seller concession.

[tribechamy]

We had our main line replaced this year and yes, you want an excavation company. Ballpark $2000, give or take. If your town's building/engineering dept won't recommend any contractors, call around in neighboring towns, somebody will (we got our contractor that way, via a list of approved contractors who could work with the town, we got a few recommendations off of that list but it was on the down low)

[Parsec]

$2000 sounds cheap, but I guess it depends on how many linear feet they need to excavate. I paid $1600 last year just to fix a leak in my main water line. They dug up about 25 feet of my line until they found the leak. They re-tightened the PVC and dumped the soil back into the ground. I felt what I paid was on the high end, but I called 4 different guys and only 1 of them could come out within the next month. Meanwhile, I had water spurting out of my front yard like a bubbler so I picked the first guy who could come to my house. My town's water department gave me the list of 4 local companies; otherwise, I wouldn't have known who to call.

[serendipity418]

Thank you, tribechamy!

By the way -- I tried increasing everyone's rep, but I guess I've done that before, so it won't let me! Thanks for being so helpful.

[tribechamy]

Originally Posted by Parsec

$2000 sounds cheap, but I guess it depends on how many linear feet they need to excavate. I paid $1600 last year just to fix a leak in my main water line. They dug up about 25 feet of my line until they found the leak. They re-tightened the PVC and dumped the soil back into the ground. I felt what I paid was on the high end, but I called 4 different guys and only 1 of them could come out within the next month. Meanwhile, I had water spurting out of my front yard like a bubbler so I picked the first guy who could come to my house. My town's water department gave me the list of 4 local companies; otherwise, I wouldn't have known who to call.

Parsec, you're right that would be a YMMV quote - we maybe have 25 feet to the curb at most, if I remember correctly you have a really big lot! So $2000 is still ballpark but depending upon the distance of the house to the sewer the ballpark could be little league or Fenway. I would however expect to see a lot of zeros in the bill for this work, it probably would not be <$1000.

I can understand that the town would not want to recommend a particular contractor but I'm surprised that they wouldn't provide a list of contractors authorized to work with the town sewer lines.

Also this goes with out saying but it still has to be said, MAKE SURE SOMEONE CALLS DIG SAFE!!!
(Yes, I shouted, but trust me that you do not want to experience an excavator mishap.)

[wolfgang239]

Originally Posted by tribechamy

Also this goes with out saying but it still has to be said, MAKE SURE SOMEONE CALLS DIG SAFE!!!
(Yes, I shouted, but trust me that you do not want to experience an excavator mishap.)

+100000000!

I work for the electric (and gas) company. Besides the possibility of damage to property or serious injury, you are on the hook for any damages caused as a result of digging in an unmarked/located area. As long as you call ahead and get it marked out, you will not be held responsible.

An additional note would be make sure you use a licensed, bonded and insured contractor. The city is usually happy to offer up a list of people who perform work as they require a surety bond in many cases.