Got a big sewer or water line quote? Get a second look first.

Send us the quote, the camera video or plumber's report, and a few photos. We check whether the method fits the pipe, whether the dig fits the surface above it, and whether the scope and the restoration are written out. Free.

Call 862-268-2510 Send us the quote

Before you sign, send three things: the written quote, the camera video or plumber's report, and photos of the work area and the surface above the line. We check two things. First, whether the method fits the pipe: a repair or a full replacement, and an open trench, pipe bursting or directional boring for the dig. Second, whether the scope and the restoration are complete in writing. Call 862-268-2510 first. We will tell you what to send and when we can look. The review is free.

What to send

The quote

The full written version, not a verbal number. We want the method, the length of the run, the materials, and what restoration is included.

The camera video or plumber's report

A sewer camera scope or the written report from the plumber who ran it. If the company that quoted you did not run one, ask them for the footage they based the price on.

Photos

The cleanout or access point, the surface above the line (lawn, driveway, patio, walkway), and for water work, the curb stop or meter if you can find them.

Your address or town

Who owns the pipe under the street is set by your town or water utility, and it varies, so the location matters to the read.

What we check

Does the method fit the pipe?

Repair or replace. A spot repair fits one bad section with the rest of the pipe sound. A full run is the right call for a belly or sag, a collapsed section, deforming material such as Orangeburg, or a pipe too small or too far gone to repair. The camera footage decides which one applies, and a quote that picks a method before anyone has watched the footage is guessing.

Is it the right kind of dig?

Open trench, pipe bursting, or directional boring (HDD). Open trench is often the simpler choice over open lawn, and the lawn goes back down with seed. Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe along the existing path with access pits at each end. Directional boring goes under driveways, walkways and patios instead of cutting them. We offer pipe lining too. Where a job needs specialized equipment we do not run ourselves, we bring in trusted industry partners. If lining is right for your pipe, we will say so and you can compare it with the replacement number.

Is the scope complete?

Access pits, reconnecting every branch, permits, the 811 utility markout, backfill compacted in lifts, and what is left when the crew leaves. A low number often means one of these was left out, and the gap shows up later as an extra invoice.

Is the restoration written down?

Driveway, walkway, lawn, grade, and any landscaping that has to come out. If the quote says "surface restored" without saying what that means for your yard, ask what it covers before you compare the price.

How fast you hear back

Calling is the fastest route. We can take the basics on the phone, tell you what the footage needs to show, and say when we can get to the job. Estimate visits are usually within a few days, and emergencies are same day, 24/7. When we have reviewed what you sent, you get a plain read on which of three things applies: leave the line alone, fix the bad section, or replace the run.

Where to read more

Our full set of sewer and water line pages is on the sewer and water line hub. The job pages:

Water service line replacement

The water line from the main at the street to your house: the dig, the pipe pulled through or bored, and the yard put back.

Sewer lateral repair and replacement

The sewer line from your house to the main: a spot repair, or the whole run when the pipe is past repair.

Water main work

Water main and valve work, extensions, and service connections for water systems, authorities and municipalities.

Sewer main work

Sanitary sewer main installation and extensions, manholes and structures, and the state approvals that set the schedule.

Emergency excavation

A broken water or sewer line dug out fast: the dig, the repair, the backfill and the surface put back.

If the quote is for a sewer line and the pipe may be Orangeburg, read our Orangeburg sewer pipe replacement page.

If the quote covers a water service, read our lead and galvanized service line page before you decide.

Common questions

Do you charge for a second opinion?

No. Reviewing a quote you already have is free, and so is the on-site estimate if we need to come look at the job. Call 862-268-2510 first and we can tell you what we need from you on the phone.

What if I only have the quote and no camera video?

Send the quote anyway. Without footage we can check the method and the scope, but we cannot tell whether the pipe is a candidate for repair, and we will say so rather than guess. Ask whoever quoted you for the footage. If they did not run one, we can run a sewer camera inspection ourselves.

What do you check first?

The footage, because it decides the method. After that we look at whether the method fits the dig, meaning open trench, pipe bursting or directional boring, and whether the quote covers the access, the reconnections and the restoration in writing.

Will you tell me if the other quote is fair?

Yes. If the price and the method look right, we will tell you that too. The point is a number you can trust, not a reason to switch contractors.

Do you do trenchless work?

Yes. We pull and burst sewer and water lines along the existing path, and we use directional boring (HDD) to get under driveways, walkways and patios. Trenchless is the right answer when the surface above the line is expensive to open. Over open lawn it often is not.

Do you do pipe lining?

Yes, where the pipe qualifies. Lining needs a pipe that still holds its round shape and has enough slope. It cannot fix a belly or a collapsed section, because the liner takes the shape of the pipe it cures in, and we will say so when that is the case. Where a job needs specialized equipment we do not run ourselves, we bring in trusted industry partners. Weigh any lining quote against the replacement quote.

What if my water service might be lead or galvanized?

Then the quote should be read against New Jersey's lead service line program, which covers the water system's side and the customer's side. Your water system, named on your water bill, runs that program. Ask them how costs are assessed before you pay any contractor. Our lead service line page explains how to identify the pipe and what the program requires.

How fast will I hear back?

Call first. Reviewing a quote is the quickest path, and we will tell you on the call when we can look at it. Estimate visits are usually within a few days, and emergencies are same day, around the clock.

How it works