Can I fix a broken sewer pipe myself?
You can dig up and replace a short, accessible section of broken pipe in a basement yourself to avoid plumbing quotes of $10,000 or more. However, fixing breaks located deep underground or beneath backyard patios requires massive excavation, such as digging 15-foot trenches and removing AC units. Because of this extreme digging, major outdoor repairs cannot be done on a DIY budget and force people into expensive professional replacements or trenchless lining.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Cutting out the damaged section and replacing it with PVC using rubber Fernco couplings or shielded no-hub couplingsDid this help you?
- 2Encasing the broken section in concreteDid this help you?
- 3Requesting the landlord to repair the pipeDid this help you?
- 4Digging the trench manually yourself to save on exorbitant excavation costsDid this help you?
- 5Getting multiple quotes to compare excavation vs. trenchless lining pricesDid this help you?
- 6Requesting quotes for pipe bursting as an alternative to CIPP liningDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I absolutely cannot afford a plumber. Is there anything I can do to remedy this?”source ↗
“Water was backing up from our floor drains the other evening. Company came out to jet line, halted because of a break.”source ↗
“Recommended tearing up our backyard and patio to repair. Second company recommended trenchless pipe lining but want to line the entire line to the main sewer. Looking for advice and second thoughts from objective observers before i commit to a major construction process.”source ↗
“I’m renting to own this home, and there’s no warranty id hate to lose my home over an expensive repair I can’t afford!”source ↗
“Yes it’s right underneath our back patio. We’d need the patio dug up and one or both AC units wound down and removed.”source ↗
“Just dug up some vct in my dad's basement. The pipe was encapsulated in roots. Took up about 2 feet and replaced it. Plumber quoted 10k to do it”source ↗
“I paid 13.5k for a transition line replacement. 15 foot down trench dig, 30ish foot replacement due to a break and a puncture. It's gonna cost you but you'll be set for life.”source ↗