Sewer Line Replacement
Full sewer line replacement, done right the first time.
When snaking it again is no longer the answer, Wes camera-inspects the line, tells you straight what you are dealing with, and replaces it clean. No mystery, no surprises on the bill.
What you are actually dealing with
Some lines cannot be patched. They have to go.
Clay and cast iron sewer lines from the 1950s through the 1980s were built to last decades, not forever. Tree roots find every joint, time cracks every section, and the ground that freezes and thaws along the Front Range shifts things out of grade over and over. When the same main line backs up every few months, you are not dealing with a clog problem. You are dealing with a pipe that is failing.
Sewer line replacement is one of the bigger plumbing decisions a homeowner makes, and it is one where having a licensed master plumber who is also a plumbing contractor makes a real difference. Wes handles the plumbing, the excavation, the backfill, and the surface restoration under one license, one contract, and one set of eyes watching the job from the camera run to the final inspection.
When replacement is the call
Camera first, then a straight answer.
Before anything comes out of the ground, Wes runs a camera down the line. That footage shows exactly where the breaks are, how bad the root intrusion is, whether there is a belly holding standing water, and how far the problem extends. You see what he sees, and then you get a straight number.
Replacement becomes the right call when the pipe has collapsed sections, when root intrusion is throughout the line rather than at one joint, when clay pipe has crumbled past the point of patch repair, or when the grade has shifted enough that the line holds water and backs up no matter how clean the pipe is. A camera check tells you which situation you are in before anyone picks up a shovel.
- Full main sewer line replacement
- Camera inspection before any dig
- Clay, cast iron, Orangeburg pipe
- Root-damaged lines
- Collapsed or offset pipe
- Lines with failed grade or belly
Trenchless where the line allows
Less digging when the pipe can handle it.
Trenchless sewer replacement pulls a new pipe through the existing one without opening the yard from one end to the other. It works well on lines that have failed but still hold their shape, and it saves the landscaping, the driveway, and the concrete that would otherwise need to be cut and replaced. For a lot of Littleton and Arapahoe County homes, it is a legitimate option.
The camera run determines whether trenchless is on the table. A collapsed or severely offset line usually cannot be sliplined or burst in place, and doing trenchless on the wrong pipe does not save money in the long run. Wes will tell you straight whether it works for your line, and if it does not, why it does not, before you spend a dollar on it.
- Pipe bursting for replaceable lines
- Sliplining where appropriate
- Trenchless assessment via camera
- Saves yard and hardscape
- Faster install than open cut
- Honest trenchless vs. open-cut guidance
Master plumber and GC in one
One license. One contract. No finger-pointing.
Most sewer line replacements require work that crosses license types: the plumbing itself, the open excavation, and often some concrete cutting or surface restoration after. When a plumbing contractor and a plumber are two separate companies, you get two separate contracts, two sets of scheduling coordination, and two people each blaming the other when something goes sideways.
Wes holds both a master plumber license and a plumbing contractor license in Colorado. That means the whole job runs under one set of eyes. The excavation is done to the specs the plumbing needs. The backfill is done right so the new pipe holds its grade. The surface gets restored. And the permit and final inspection are handled on your behalf without you having to coordinate between trades. For a job this size, that matters.
- Colorado master plumber license
- Plumbing contractor license
- Permit pulled and inspected
- Excavation supervised by the plumber
- Backfill and surface restoration
- One call covers the whole job
What the replacement covers
From the house connection to the city tap.
A full sewer line replacement typically runs from the cleanout at the foundation to the connection at the city main at the street. On older Littleton properties, that can be anywhere from 40 to 150 feet of pipe depending on lot depth and setback. The new pipe is typically PVC schedule 40 or SDR 35, properly graded so waste moves by gravity the way it is supposed to.
After the new line is in and pressure-tested, the trench is backfilled in lifts and compacted so the ground does not settle unevenly over the next few seasons. If the job required cutting concrete, driveway, or hardscape, that gets patched or restored as part of the project. Wes pulls the permit before the job starts and schedules the city inspection so you have a signed-off final before he closes out the job.
- PVC replacement pipe, proper grade
- Connection at city main
- Permit pulled before work starts
- City inspection coordinated
- Compacted backfill after install
- Concrete and surface restoration
How the job goes
No guesswork at any step.
The camera tells us what we are dealing with before anything touches your yard.
Camera inspection.
We run a camera down the line so you see exactly what is failing, where it is, and how far it extends before any work is priced.
Honest price and plan.
Trenchless or open cut, pipe material, permit scope, and surface restoration are all laid out in one clear number before we start.
Replacement and inspection.
New pipe installed, graded, backfilled, and inspected. City sign-off included. You do not have to chase anyone for the final paperwork.
What customers say
Straight talk from the people who hired us.
“Wes ran the camera first and showed us exactly what we were dealing with. The price he gave us was the price on the invoice. No extras, no surprises.”
Mark T., Littleton homeowner“We had three other plumbers look at our line. Wes was the only one who actually put a camera in it before quoting. Turned out the problem was different from what the others assumed.”
Janet R., Centennial“The main line was 60 feet of original clay. Wes had the permit pulled, the line in, the trench backfilled, and the city inspection done in two days. Yard looked fine after.”
Dave and Lynn K., Englewood“Having him as both the plumber and the GC meant I did not have to coordinate between two crews. He handled the whole thing and called me when it was done.”
Paul S., LittletonWhere we work
Littleton, Denver metro, and the Front Range.
Western Plumbing Solutions & Remodels is based in Littleton and covers most of the Front Range, from Colorado Springs north through the Denver metro and up to Boulder County. Sewer line replacement is available throughout our service area. See the full service area map, or call and we will tell you whether we reach you.
Call (303) 883-9075Straight answers
What people ask before a sewer line replacement.
How do I know if I need a full replacement versus a repair?
It comes down to what the camera shows. A single crack or root intrusion at one joint can often be repaired with a spot fix or a short section of new pipe. When the problems are throughout the line, when the pipe material has deteriorated past the point of holding a patch, or when the grade has shifted, replacement is the more cost-effective long-term answer. We show you the camera footage and explain which situation you are in before quoting either.
Can you replace my sewer line without tearing up my yard?
Sometimes, yes. Trenchless pipe bursting or sliplining works when the existing pipe still holds its basic shape and is not collapsed. We determine that from the camera run before anything is quoted. When trenchless is an option, it saves your landscaping and hardscape. When it is not an option for your line, we tell you straight and explain why, so you are not paying for an approach that will not work on your pipe.
What does a sewer line replacement cost in Littleton?
It depends on the length of the line, the depth, whether the job requires cutting concrete, and whether trenchless is an option. We give you a firm price after the camera inspection, before any work starts. That price covers the plumbing, the permit, the excavation, and the surface restoration. You will not get a bill at the end that is higher than what we quoted.
Do you pull the permit for sewer line replacement?
Yes, always. Sewer line replacements in Littleton and the surrounding municipalities require a permit and a city inspection of the new pipe before the trench is backfilled. Wes pulls the permit before the job starts, coordinates the inspection, and provides you with the signed-off final. It is included in the project, not billed separately.
How long does a sewer line replacement take?
A typical residential main line replacement takes one to two days for the plumbing and excavation work. Add a day for the city inspection scheduling, depending on the municipality’s availability. When trenchless is used, the install is usually faster than open cut. We give you a realistic timeline before we start, not an optimistic one that changes on the back half of the job.
What type of pipe do you use for the replacement?
Standard residential replacement pipe is PVC, either schedule 40 or SDR 35 depending on depth and application. PVC handles the ground movement, freeze-thaw cycles, and root resistance that the Front Range demands, and it carries a long service life when properly installed and graded. We do not use inferior material to shave cost on a job that is meant to last decades.
Do you handle the concrete or driveway if the line runs under it?
Yes. Wes holds a plumbing contractor license alongside his master plumber license, which means the concrete cutting, the excavation, and the surface restoration are all part of the same job. You do not need to hire a separate concrete contractor and coordinate them around our schedule. It is one call, one contract, and one crew through the whole project.
Main line failing?
Call Wes. Camera inspection first, honest price second, no surprises at the end.