Question, Installing a new sewer pipe in the front yard.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by PacificFlights

A lot of folks are assuming the cost is to trench and thats it, so i got to ask, is the cost just for a plumber to dig a trench or is it for an entire job which may include permits fees, other fees to the municipality, removingt he old pipe, laying new pipe, making all connections, filling in the trench, grading and smoothing, and all the work involved from A-Z to CIDE and safety regulations?

I know i can have a trench dug for $X, but if a sewer line is involved, that cost goes up because at some point there is a pipe that has to be exposed by hand so that cost money. I wouldn't compare a standard dig a trench cost with an expose a sewer line cost.

The material cost is near nil on this job because they use plastic pipe. I'd be very surprised if the materials cost even $100. Most cities in mi don't require a permit for this, but they do require a licensed contractor make the connection to the main. As for "grading & smoothing", that isn't what happens in practice, the plumber leaves a mess & the homeowner gets to "grade & smooth". As for exposing the old pipe, they aren't trying to preserve anything except the last couple of feet @ the main. Everything else is coming out, so there's very little hand digging involved.

[mok78]

Is there a danger when laying a sewer pipe, that ground water will follow the trench back toward the house if it is not properly filed in? What is the best way to keep this from happening?