If you're lucky, you may only have to pay $55 to repair a broken drain line. However, the worst drain line problems can cost as much as $2,500 to repair. The reason there is such a variation is because a drain line can be as old as the home itself. The drain line can wear out over time as a result of freeze and thaw cycles. The drain lines can also rust. There are several other factors that can affect the cost of a drain line repair.
Diagnosis
One of the first expenses that come from a drain line repair is finding out what is wrong with your home in the first place. For example, if you often suffer from a clogged toilet, you might not realize that this is the result of a damaged drain line.
Location of the Damage
Repair technicians will need to find out the location of the drain line where it needs to be repaired. If you have a lot of trees or a driveway in the way, this might hamper the ability of the drain line repair technicians to locate and repair the drain line. The reason why the drain line is damaged can also affect the cost of having your drain line repaired. For example, if the drain line is damaged as a result of tree roots infiltrating the drain line, you may need to have the tree removed to repair the drain line.
Repair Methods Used
In some cases, there might be a clog that has formed as a result of rust. If this is the case, the drain line repair technician might be able to repair it. However, if the clog cannot be removed, you might need to have sections of your pipe removed so that you can fix the drain line.
The Cleanup
After the drain line has been repaired, you will need to have the area cleaned up. This can be more expensive depending on how much your property had to be disturbed to perform the line repair. For example, if your driveway had to be torn up to perform drain line repairs, you may need to have the driveway repaired. If the problem was caused by tree roots, you may need to have new cement or asphalt laid down afterward. While a drain line repair can be expensive, it can be even more expensive to allow it to go unrepaired.