How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Broken Drain Pipe?

A broken drain pipe is one of the worst possible things to break in any plumbing situation. The wrong break can cause wastewater to leak all over your home, resulting in significant water damage. The leaking wastewater also leads to you dealing with the spread of bacteria, eventually leading to mold if not addressed quickly.

One of the issues that might cause you to hesitate leads back to cost. So how much does it cost to fix a broken pipe drain?

Depending on the drain breaks, it can cost anywhere from $400 to $2000. Costs can be as high as $5000 if that break is closer to a mains sewer line.

Below, we will be going through some variables that might impact your costs.

What Impacts the Cost of Drain Repair?

The Pipe Material

The cost of drain repair varies heavily depending on the construction material. The most inexpensive materials are PVC and polypropylene, costing as little as $1 per linear foot. Copper is in the middle, while the most expensive pipe material is cast iron.

Cast iron is limited to homes built around and before the 1950s, so you aren’t likely to have this old pipe style.

The Location of the Drain Pipe

Drain pipes around the sink, behind the wall, and under the floor are the cheapest pipes to handle. That’s because they take a limited amount of effort. It’s pretty easy to tear up a wall or floor to get to something just on the other side.

The most expensive pipes are under the house. Expect the cost to be exponentially higher if your property is on a concrete foundation. Tearing up pipes under the foundation will require specialized tools.

Replacement vs. Relining

Relining an internal pipe is typically more cost-effective than total replacement. Epoxy mix can enter inside the lining of an existing line to seal any cracks.

Because you won’t have to get a completely new pipe, the material amount used is typically more inexpensive. However, PVC pipes are more comparable in cost, so it might be best to replace those regardless.

Tips to Avoid Paying for Drain Pipe Replacement

If you want to avoid costly repairs of drain pipe replacement, here are some quick tips you can follow:

• Avoid planting trees over pipes, so you don’t have to pay for the expensive removal of tree roots
• If the sewer line breaks, its location may indicate that this repair is the city’s responsibility. Check property lines for details.  
• Make sure your house is insulated well to avoid freezing of wall pipes
• Avoid turning this into a DIY project, so you don’t have to pay for extra repairs. Replacing drain pipes requires the skill of experienced plumbers

Final Thoughts

Fixing a broken drain pipe could feasibly be about $200 in the best-case scenarios. However, good maintenance and regular checkups will ensure that you don’t have to pay for the most expensive problems.

 Our team specializes in drain repair, which includes camera inspections to find out where the crack is. Contact Reliable Drain & Plumbing for your drain repair needs.