Drain Repair

Varied factors influence the repair costs of a drainage system. Repairs can be cheap or very expensive, in part determined by the type of system you have, how bad the damage is, and where it's located (and how easy it is to get to!). On average, it seems minor repairs cost 100 to 500 dollars, and more extensive work could set you back anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 dollars or more. There are mentions of ten-thousand-plus dollars for really big or complicated drainage problems. Getting multiple quotes from professionals likely yields the best picture of what your repair situation might actually cost.

Determining who pays for drain repairs can be tricky. It all depends on where the drain is located and who owns the drainage system. Most of the time, if a drain is within your property lines, it's your responsibility to repair it—because it legally falls under the category of "infrastructure." If the drain is part of a public system, located outside your property, or shared with your neighbors, pay close attention: Your local water company or municipal might actually be responsible for the maintenance and repairs—meaning you could be off the hook for a significant portion of the cost.

The price to unstop a drain line can be influenced by many things, including how tough the clog is, where the drain is located, and whether special tools need to be used. If you go with a pro, as most of us probably would, expect to pay, on average, $100 to $300 for the complete service. But in high-drama situations, either in the drain or the surrounding area, your plumbing concern could price out significantly higher. Always get several quotes before proceeding; pricing can vary widely from place to place.

Begin by using the plunger to try to dislodge the blockage and create suction. If that doesn't work, pour a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar down the drain and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, flush with very hot water. If the drain is seriously clogged, the plumbing snake or auger may be needed. If that fails, remove the trap and clean it out. If your drain is still clogged after that, it's time to call a professional plumber.

Whether drainage problems are insured often depends on the precise terms of the insurance policy. Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover problems stemming from poor maintenance, slow wear and tear, or excessive water from rivers and streams that rise above their normal levels. But it may pay for sudden and disastrous erosion or land subsidence caused by a storm, high winds, or a tornado. The best course of action is to read the insurance coverage much like the average person would read a novel—binge for a few hours, then spread the remaining reading over several days or weeks.

Indeed, it is occasionally possible to mend a drain without resorting to excavation, and this is done using trenchless repair methods. One of the principal methods is relining the pipe, where a new liner is inserted into the existing pipe, effectively creating a new drain within the old one. Another method is bursting the pipe, where a new pipe is pulled through the old one while breaking it apart. These methods are less invasive and often quicker and more cost-effective than conventional excavation.

Usually, insurance policies do not pay for plumbing problems that are deemed the result of ordinary maintenance, routine wear and tear, or neglect. They also don't cover the slow, almost undetectable kinds of plumbing problems that can go on for months or even years before doing significant damage and that you might not consider to be plumbing emergencies. Corroding pipes, for example, can go on for a long time looking pretty good on the outside. Your insurance policy probably doesn't cover the replacement of such pipes, which a competent plumber would find and replace before they cost you far more than their modest fee.

Homeowners insurance may or may not cover broken drain pipes. It depends on what caused the pipes to break. Most policies cover damage that occurs suddenly and accidentally. If a pipe breaks because the system has not been properly maintained, because it is old and worn out, or because it has had a gradual problem that was not detected, the pipe and the damage caused by it are generally not covered. You need to read your policy or talk to your agent to know for certain.

The typical lifespan of a sewer line is from 50 to 100 years, but many factors—material, environmental conditions, and maintenance—decide where a line falls within that range or whether it exceeds it or falls short.

The extent to which home insurance covers plumbing fixes hinges on the particulars of your policy and the nature of the plumbing problem. In most cases, home insurance policies protect against unexpected water damage (like that caused by a ruptured pipe), but they typically do not cover the kinds of disasters that befall your plumbing when it's on the downhill slide (which, as many homeowners know, is a slide worth taking if it gets you out of the hole!). Understand one way or another your coverage, or lack thereof, before the plumbing trouble gauge hits the red zone.