Key takeaways
- Every number on this page is a national average, not a quote. Each names its publisher and date.
- Nationally, two sources put the average at $3,320 and $6,000. That gap is a reason to be careful with any single number.
- Length, depth and what sits on top of the pipe set most of the price. A short line under open lawn costs far less than a long one under a driveway.
- A camera inspection comes first. It shows what is wrong and where, so the quote is for the real job.
- The pipe from the house to the street main is usually yours to maintain. The main in the street is the city's.
- Your plumber sets the actual price. Get it in writing.
How to read these numbers
We don't set prices and we don't do the work. Each figure below is labelled "national average, not a quote." They show the market in general. They don't say what a plumber will charge you, and we have no data that says Johnson City is higher or lower. Cost guides use different data and definitions, so where two reputable sources differ, we show both.
Dig and replace, or trenchless?
There are two broad ways to replace a failed sewer line.
Dig and replace means digging a trench along the pipe, removing the old line and laying a new one. It is the traditional way. It lets the crew see the whole pipe and fix grade problems. It also tears up whatever is above the line: lawn, shrubs, a walkway or a driveway.
Trenchless methods avoid a long trench. There are two common kinds. In pipe bursting, a tool is pulled through the old pipe to break it apart while a new pipe is pulled in behind it. In lining, a resin-coated liner is pulled into the old pipe and cured in place to form a new pipe inside it. Each method needs access points at the ends, and not every pipe is a candidate. A pipe that has collapsed or sagged badly may need to be dug. A camera shows which method can work. The trenchless sewer repair page explains how each works.
Neither method is always better. The right choice depends on what's wrong with the pipe and what is above it.
What sewer line replacement costs nationally
Total.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) puts the average sewer line replacement at $3,320, with most homeowners paying $1,390 to $5,320 (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists replacement at $2,000 to $10,000 for 40 linear feet, with a national average of $6,000 (national average, not a quote).
The two averages are $2,680 apart. Different data and different definitions of "replacement" are likely reasons, and neither source is wrong for its own data. Use both as a rough band.
By the foot.
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists replacement at $50 to $250 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) lists distance and depth at $50 to $250 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
By method.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) lists trenchless replacement at $60 to $250 per linear foot and traditional excavation at $50 to $200 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists pipe bursting at $60 to $200 per linear foot and cured-in-place lining at $90 to $250 per linear foot (national average, not a quote).
Trenchless costs more per foot in these guides, but it can cost less overall if it spares a driveway or a mature yard. That depends on the site.
Pieces of the bill.
- Nationally, This Old House (updated March 30, 2026) lists camera inspections at $100 to $500, permits at $100 to $1,000, and excavation and access at $400 to $1,200 or more (national average, not a quote).
- Nationally, HomeGuide's 2026 sewer line guide lists a camera inspection at $125 to $500 (national average, not a quote).
What changes the price
- Length. The more feet, the more cost. Where the pipe runs from the house to the street matters.
- Depth. A deep line needs a bigger trench and more safety measures.
- What's on top. A driveway, patio, deck, tree roots, utilities or a retaining wall make the job harder and the restoration larger.
- Method. Digging, bursting and lining each price differently.
- The cleanout. A cleanout is a capped pipe with access to the line. If your line has none, one may be added so the line can be cleared and inspected later.
- Permits and inspections. Some work needs a permit. Ask who pulls it.
- Pipe and fittings. The material, and any connection to the city main, change the materials bill.
- What the camera finds. A single break costs less than a line that is failing along its length.
- Timing. A backup on a holiday weekend costs more than a planned job.
Who owns the pipe
A sewer system has two parts. The public main runs under the street and belongs to the city. The building sewer is the pipe from your house to that main. Johnson City's code makes the property owner responsible for maintaining the building sewer on private property. If every house on the street is backing up, call Johnson City Water & Sewer Services, whose customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If it's only your home, the problem is probably in your line. Sewer backup in the basement walks through what to do first.
Start with a camera
Before anyone digs, a plumber can run a camera through the line to see the break, the roots, the sag or the collapse. See sewer camera inspection. It's the best way to turn "my sewer is bad" into "this 20-foot section is cracked." Nationally, This Old House lists camera inspections at $100 to $500 and HomeGuide at $125 to $500, which is small next to the cost of replacing the wrong section.
Ask the plumber to show you the video and tell you where the damage is. If the problem is a clog and not a broken pipe, main sewer line clog and sewer line repair cover cheaper options.
Replace or repair?
A spot repair makes sense when the camera shows one broken section and the rest of the pipe is sound. Replacement makes sense when the line is cracked or collapsed in many places, root damage keeps coming back, or the pipe is sagging so waste can't flow. Ask the plumber to explain why one fits your pipe and not the other.
How to get a fair quote
- Get the camera video first. Give every company the same information.
- Ask for a written estimate with the length, the method, the restoration and the permit.
- Ask what is included: yard or driveway restoration, hauling, and the connection to the main.
- Ask who pulls the permit, and what other permits apply.
- Compare more than one quote. For a job this size, it's reasonable to ask two or three companies.
- Check the license and insurance, and keep the paperwork and any warranty.
What to expect during the job
The details depend on the method and the site, but a replacement generally runs in this order. The crew confirms the line's path and its start and end points, and the camera video shows where to work. For a dig, they open a trench along the pipe, remove the old line, lay new pipe at the right slope and reconnect it at the house end and the main. For a trenchless job, they dig only access pits at the ends and pull in a new pipe or a liner. Then the line is tested, the trench or pits are filled, and the surface is restored.
During the work you may be without sewer service for part of a day or longer, so ask how long and what to do about toilets and laundry. Ask what restoration is included, such as grass seed, gravel or a patch of driveway, and what is not. Ask whether an inspector needs to see the work before it is covered. Keep the video, the invoice, the permit paperwork and any warranty.
Safety
Sewage backing into a house carries germs. Stay out of it, keep children and pets away, and wear boots and gloves if you must go in. Never go into a deep trench or a manhole. Trench walls can collapse, and sewer gas can build up. Leave digging to the people hired for it.
Where our line fits
We don't set prices or do the work; the plumber sets the price. Any price, fee or schedule is agreed directly between you and the plumber. Use the figures here to judge whether a quote is in a believable range. For other jobs, see what plumbing jobs cost.
The short version
Sewer line replacement has a wide national range: $3,320 on average in one guide, $6,000 in another. Length, depth, what sits on top of the pipe and the method you use all move the price. Start with a camera, find out who owns the pipe, and get a written estimate. Your plumber sets the actual price.