Main Sewer Line Replacement in Fort Collins, CO
Open-trench replacement of a collapsed, back-pitched or badly sagging sewer lateral with new PVC pipe laid to proper grade, for lines trenchless methods cannot fix.
Main Sewer Line Replacement in Fort Collins
Some sewer lines cannot be fixed from the inside. When a Fort Collins lateral has collapsed, lost its slope or sits in a deep belly that holds water, the reliable fix is to dig it up and lay new PVC pipe at the right grade. Many contractors combine methods, digging only the bad section and bursting or lining the rest.
What a full or partial replacement can cost
Using the typical $100 to $180 per foot plus setup, replacing a 60 foot lateral by open trench works out to roughly $8,500 to $15,000 before any driveway, landscape or street restoration. Digging up only a failed 10 to 15 foot section costs far less, which is why many contractors dig where the camera shows a collapse or a belly and use trenchless methods for the rest. Setup covers bringing in an excavator, hauling away spoils and supplying clean bedding material for the new pipe. Once a trench is 5 feet deep or more, federal safety rules generally require shoring, sloped walls or a trench box, which adds time and equipment.
Getting the grade right
The main reason to dig is to give the new pipe a steady slope so waste keeps moving, often about a quarter inch of fall per foot on a house sewer. The new PVC is set on compacted bedding so it does not settle into a new belly, and the trench is backfilled in layers rather than all at once. On sloped lots in west and south Fort Collins the depth can change a lot between the house and the street, which affects how the grade is set. Ask the contractor to run a camera through the new pipe once it is laid, so you can see a straight, clear line on video.
Questions to ask before you sign
Ask which sections will be dug and which, if any, will be repaired with trenchless methods, and have the contractor point to them on the camera footage. Ask whether the quote includes your sewer district's permit and inspection, any City right-of-way permit, restoring concrete, sod and sprinklers, and a new outdoor cleanout. Colorado 811 must mark buried utilities before digging, and contractors normally place that request a few business days ahead. Finally, ask how they handle backfill that settles in the months after the job, since trench soil can sink over time.
Signs you may need this
- The camera shows a collapsed section it cannot pass
- Standing water in a belly along the line
- The pipe slopes the wrong way toward the house
- Earlier trenchless attempts did not hold
How it usually works
- 1
Scope and plan
A camera inspection and locate map the problem sections and depth.
- 2
Locates and permits
Utilities are marked and any district or City permits are pulled, including right-of-way permits for street work.
- 3
Excavate
The trench is opened along the failed section, with shoring when depth requires it.
- 4
Lay new pipe
New PVC pipe is set to a consistent slope, often with a new outdoor cleanout.
- 5
Inspect and backfill
Once inspected as required, the trench is backfilled and compacted in layers.
What affects the price
Typical range: $100 - $180 / ft + setup. Your exact price is set after an on-site look.
Depth
Deeper lines need more digging and may need trench shoring.
Surface restoration
Concrete, pavers, sod and sprinklers above the line must be replaced.
Street work
A connection under the street adds a right-of-way permit, traffic control and asphalt patching.
Length dug
A spot repair of one section costs far less than trenching the whole run.
Questions homeowners ask
Do I always need to dig the whole line?
No. Often only the sagging or collapsed section is dug and the rest is repaired with trenchless methods.
Who owns the sewer line to the street?
In Fort Collins the property owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to where it meets the public main, including the part under the street.
What pipe is used?
Most open-trench replacements use PVC sewer pipe, laid at a steady slope so solids keep moving.
Where we can help with this
Fort Collins Trenchless Sewer Cost Calculator
Pick a repair method, set your approximate line length and see a typical Fort Collins price range. An on-site camera inspection sets the real price.