At Gold Seal, lining a sewer with LightRay UV starts from $6,426 for up to 50 feet, and bursting in a new pipe starts from $12,691 for up to 50 feet. Open trench work is priced after a free estimate. Lining usually takes a day and bursting one to two, and Quality Service Club members pay 10% less.
What does sewer line replacement cost?
It depends on the method and the length of the line. These are starting prices from our flat-rate book for a home’s sewer line, from the house to the city or county main. Your estimate is free and lists every line of the price before any work starts.
| Length of line | LightRay UV lining | Pipe bursting |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 feet | From $6,426 | From $12,691 |
| Up to 100 feet | From $8,775 | From $13,454 |
| Up to 150 feet | From $11,182 | From $14,389 |
| Up to 200 feet | From $13,588 | From $15,564 |
Gold Seal flat-rate book, 2026. Quality Service Club members pay 10% less: lining up to 50 feet is $5,783 for members. Open trench repair has no book price because every dig is different. It is priced on site after a free estimate.
Lining, bursting or open trench: which one do I need?
The camera decides. We clean and film the line before we quote, because the right method depends on what the pipe looks like inside.
| LightRay UV lining | Pipe bursting | Open trench | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | A resin liner is cured with UV light inside the old pipe, forming a new seamless pipe | A bursting head splits the old pipe and pulls a new seamless pipe in behind it | An excavator digs along the line and the pipe is replaced in the open |
| Digging | Sometimes none. We work through existing access where we can | 1 to 4 small pits, usually 2 | A trench along the damaged run |
| Typical time | Usually one day | One to two days | A day for a spot repair, two to four for a full line |
| Best for | Cracks, roots and leaking joints in a pipe that still holds its shape | Collapsed, crushed or Orangeburg pipe, or a line that needs to be bigger | Bellies, severe offsets and lines that cannot be lined or burst |
| Starting price | From $6,426 | From $12,691 | Free estimate |
Why is lining cheaper than bursting?
Lining uses the old pipe as the form for the new one, so there is less digging and less equipment on site. Bursting replaces the pipe completely: it needs a pit at each end and a full length of new pipe. When the old pipe is still round enough to hold a liner, lining is the lower price.
Why would a sewer need bursting or digging instead?
A liner needs a pipe to line. If the old pipe has collapsed, is badly crushed or out of line, or is Orangeburg, a tar-soaked fiber pipe that deforms in the ground, it cannot hold a liner and bursting replaces it. Neither lining nor bursting can fix a belly, a low spot where the pipe has settled and holds water, because both follow the old path. A belly has to be dug up and the pipe re-laid at the right slope.
What can add to the price?
- Descaling an old cast iron pipe before it can be lined: $619
- Reopening each branch line that joins the sewer after it is lined: $495 per branch
- A required 4- or 6-inch city or county cleanout: $322
- A county sewer repair or replacement permit: $230
- A Spokane right-of-way obstruction permit, when the work is in the public right-of-way: $225
- Protection pads where equipment crosses a lawn: $663
- Hauling off soil and debris from an excavation: $431
Each of these is its own line on your estimate, so you see what you are paying for before you say yes.
Is there a cheaper fix for one bad spot?
Sometimes. When the camera finds one cracked or separated section and the rest of the line is sound, a LightRay patch can seal up to 5 feet in place, from $4,116. A patch is for a single problem, not for a line that is failing end to end.
How long does sewer replacement take?
Most sewer jobs take one to four days. Lining is usually done in a day, bursting in one to two days and an open trench replacement in two to four, plus the permit and the inspection. While a liner cures you are asked not to run water in the house, and we tell you when in advance.
Can I finance a sewer line?
Yes. Most of our sewer customers finance with the Wells Fargo Home Projects credit card, which has special promotional offers where available. Credit is subject to approval by Wells Fargo. Ask when we give you your estimate.
How can I pay less for a sewer replacement?
- Get the camera inspection before you decide. A line that only needs roots cut or one spot patched costs far less than a new pipe.
- Ask about the current $500 off any trenchless repair with LightRay UV lining.
- Join the Quality Service Club. Members pay 10% less on sewer work, which is $643 off a 50-foot lining.
Offers are not valid with other specials or coupons. Ask us which saving is larger on your job.
Written by the Gold Seal teamLicensed plumbing contractor · WA L&I GOLDSSM799MG · ID DOPL PLB-C-8717 · updated October 28, 2026
