I've been quoted about $2,300 to repair the line running from my house to the sewer. It's between 50-60 feet, with a clean-out pipe near the house. The depth is probably about 4 feet at the shallowest point and around 8 or 9 feet or so at the deepest. It does not appear that the water line runs in the same ditch as the sewer line, even though the house was built at a time when that was a common practice, from what I'm told.

The existing pipe (such as it is) is 6" concrete and will be replaced with PVC.

The problem, apparently, is that a portion of the existing pipe has separated and collapsed such that it no longer lines up with the rest of the pipe. It has caused 3 backups into our downstairs shower in the last week and a half or so.

The plumber also says the whole job should take about 4-6 hours. I imagine he's going to have help (he did when he came out today).

The plumber seems knowledgeable, from what little I can tell, and I don't feel in my gut like I'm being taken. But I was also quoted about $2,800 from a larger outfit just to replace the clean-out and an accompanying 4' section of pipe.

I'm a plumbing novice (if that isn't obvious), so any help/advice/observations would be appreciated.

Does this at all sound reasonable? Or am I setting myself up for a big headache?

I don't know where you live but go to HOME DEPOT with a pencil and paper and the correct measurements (house to sewer) to find out what the cost of materials will be to compare what they are replacing, double that for a ballpark figure to include the labor -digging the trench to expose the piping and sweating in the hot sun for a day or so. Yes how long they take should figure in the equation.3 estimates from good companies should be enough to make a decision and compare. YOUR brother in law can do it cheaper but he' drink all your beer and make you do all the work. DO not cut corners to save a bunch of money though because you may have to do this again. REMEMBER you will get what you pay for so stick with professionals who are licensed and bonded

That doesn't sound like a bad price for all the back-breaking work involved. Most likely you will never have to do this again to this house nor worry too much about this line breaking in spots. Might be a selling point if and when you decide to sell.

I agree with the above. Unless you feel confident with a backhoe - and that you can easily get the slope of the new line right, I'd get another couple estimates. A couple grand for that sort of work is not out of line.

Also, because of pricing, we use Excavating companies for this sort of job rather than plumbers. Plumbers typically don't own backhoes, so will rent one at a couple hundred bucks - which, of course, you pay for.