On Mar 6, 4:26 am, "DHD" wrote:
I own a 1920s house in Columbia SC and have recently developed sewer
line problems. Two months ago, following a rain, sewage backed up
into the basement through a floor drain. It happened again last week,
again after a huge rain storm. I'm assuming there is a break in the
line, that it might be terra cotta pipe or cast iron (as it is inside
the basement). The sewer must be 10-12 feet below grade. It connects
to the city line some 50 feet from the house.

I'm hiring someone to snake a camera down the line and pinpoint the
nature and location of the problem. I call it a sewer colonoscopy.
I'm told this is money well spent if it can clearly locate the
problem.

What am I in for here in terms of expense? I'm assuming the worst,
that the pipe is old, terra cotta, and that it will need to be
completely replaced. 50 ft x 12 feet deep

I trust the plumbing company that I've been working with, but I want
to know their bid is competitive and fair.

I welcome your advice.
--Don

I recently went through the same process, after increasing rates of
snaking out the line. I opted not to video the line becuase we knew
the line was bad and repalcin it in sections was merely prolonging the
inevitable. If you dig the trench yourself, you'll save much of the $
$. Get a few bids from reputable firms and proceed sooner than
later . I waited, and had to go with the first bid I got!