Sewer Line Repair Columbia MD
Sewer Line Repair near Columbia MD
The following are plumbing companies that offer sewer line repair near Columbia, MD.
Options for Sewer Line Repair
Sewer Line Maintenance
Begin with non-structural maintenance to clear obstructions and determine whether a true structural repair is actually necessary.
- Hydro-jetting / mechanical rodding: Clears grease, scale, roots. Good as a first step or for routine maintenance.
- Root control (foaming herbicides): Slows regrowth after cleaning. Not a structural repair.
Excavation and Replacement of Sewer Line
Open-cut excavation replaces the damaged pipe directly, restoring proper slope and integrity at the cost of surface disruption.
- Spot repair (localized dig): Replace only the failed section (crack, break, coupling). Lowest cost if failure is isolated and accessible.
- Full replacement (trench): Replace from house to tap with new PVC/HDPE, correct slope, add cleanouts. Best if pipe is old, Orangeburg, severely collapsed, or has long “bellies.”
Trenchless Sewer Line Repair & Replacement
Trenchless options, such as CIPP lining, sectional patches, and pipe bursting, rehabilitate or replace the line through small access pits, minimizing digging while sealing leaks and preventing root intrusion.
- CIPP lining (cured-in-place pipe): A resin-saturated liner is installed inside the old pipe and cured (steam/hot-water/UV). Restores structure, seals joints/root intrusions. Needs a mostly intact host (no major collapses or long bellies). Slightly reduces diameter.
- Sectional (“point”) liners: CIPP patches for isolated defects (e.g., a cracked joint under a driveway).
- Pipe bursting: Pulls a bursting head through the old pipe while towing new HDPE—replaces the line along its length with full internal diameter. Great for offset joints and brittle clay; requires entry/exit pits and clear path.
- Sliplining / fold-and-form / spray-in-place epoxy: Niche options. Sliplining reduces diameter more; fold-and-form is less common residentially; spray epoxy is minimally invasive but code acceptance and longevity vary—usually not for collapsed sections.
Under Slab Sewer Line Repair
For defects beneath the house, use in-place lining/epoxy to avoid interior demolition when the pipe still maintains its shape, or tunnel/reroute if sections are collapsed or out of grade.
- Under-slab CIPP or epoxy coating to avoid interior demo (works if pipe still holds shape).
- Tunneling or rerouting around the slab (common when corrosion or bellies are extensive).
Cost of Sewer Line Repair & Replacement in Columbia, MD
Quick ranges homeowners actually see
- Clog clearing / hydro-jetting: typically $350–$600 per service locally; simple cable snaking can be less, heavy jetting more.
- Sewer camera inspection: usually $270–$1,700 (most land around ~$1,000) depending on access and line length.
- Install a two-way cleanout: commonly $1,400–$3,500 (depth and surface restoration drive variance).
- Spot repairs (dig & replace a short section): often $1,500–$6,000+ (depth, surface, utilities). Benchmarked from national per-foot numbers below.
- Full replacement (open-cut): about $50–$200 per linear foot (not including big hardscape restoration).
- Trenchless (pipe bursting or CIPP lining): about $60–$250 per foot; total jobs commonly $4,000–$15,000+ depending on length and access.
- Under-slab adders: budget an extra ~$300–$350 per foot when concrete demo/replacement is required.
What drives cost in Columbia
- Length & depth of the lateral (many Columbia lots have ~40–80 feet to the main; deeper = pricier). Per-foot labor is the big lever.
- Surface restoration: sidewalks, driveways, patios, and mature landscaping raise totals even if the per-foot price looks low.
- Method: trenchless (bursting/lining) can avoid restoration and offset higher per-foot costs.
- Access: having an exterior two-way cleanout reduces labor on jetting, scoping, and future maintenance.
Permits & local rules that affect price
- Howard County plumbing permit fees (effective July 1, 2025):
Filing fee $50; technology fee 10% on permits; sanitary piping: $100 for the first 200 ft, then $25 per additional 100 ft; sewer connection: $50. (These are permit fees only—contractors still charge for labor/materials.) - Right-of-way work: If the tie-in requires opening County ROW (e.g., at/under the street), a Right-of-Way Utility Construction permit and review apply—fees are assessed during review. Your contractor handles this.
- Who’s responsible: Howard County marks public lines to the property line only; everything on your side (your lateral & cleanout) is private and your responsibility to maintain/repair.
- Before you dig: Submit a free Miss Utility 811 locate request at least 48 hours before work.
- If you have a backup: Call the County first; they can confirm whether the blockage is on the public side before you pay a plumber.
Examples of Common Sewer Line Costs in Columbia
- Example A — 60-ft trenchless lining (yard, no slab): mid-range $150/ft × 60 ft ≈ $9,000, camera $300–$1,000, County plumbing permit ~$200–$250 (filing $50 + piping $100 + connection $50 + 10% tech fee). Working total: ~$9.5k–$10.5k, plus any minor restoration.
- Example B — 70-ft open-cut replacement under driveway: $100/ft × 70 ft ≈ $7,000 plus concrete demo/repour (often several thousand), camera $300–$1,000, permit ~$200–$250, possible ROW review if the tie-in is in the street. Working total: ~$9k–$14k+ depending on restoration.
Where to start (so you don’t overspend)
- Scope it first. Get a recorded camera inspection with distance markers. It’s the most cost-effective way to determine if you need cleaning, a spot repair, trenchless repair, or full replacement.
- Call the County if you’re backed up to rule out a public-side issue. Howard County
- Ask for apples-to-apples bids that separate: cleaning/descale, method (open-cut vs. CIPP vs. bursting), footage, pits/cleanouts, restoration, permits, and warranty. (Use the fee items linked above for permit expectations.)