Cast Iron Drain Line Replacement in Richardson, TX
Responsible Master Plumber Bradley Earp, M-43562 · $97 diagnostic · under-slab tunneling at $425/ft · financing available · 15% off same-day approval
Richardson grew fast in the 1950s and 1960s, and the drains under most of those slabs are cast iron. Sixty-plus years in, a lot of that pipe is scaled shut or rotting out along the bottom. We replace it with PVC by tunneling under the foundation from outside, so your floors, tile and cabinets stay put.
- Licensed & Insured (TSBPE M-43562, Responsible Master Plumber Bradley Earp)
- $97 Diagnostic
- Upfront Pricing
- Certified Price Review
- ★ 4.8 on Google
Richardson neighborhoods most likely to have cast iron
Richardson's first postwar subdivisions went in before most of Collin County was built. That means its cast iron is some of the oldest in our service area.
- Northern Hills. Richardson's first postwar development. Expect original cast iron under the slab unless it has already been replaced.
- Richardson Heights (from 1954) and the Terrace Addition. 1950s ranches, almost always cast iron drains.
- The Reservation / Estates North (1962) and Canyon Creek (mid-1960s). Cast iron under the slab is the norm, and many of these homes are now on their second or third owner without a drain replacement.
- 1980s and newer homes in north Richardson. Usually PVC or ABS. A camera inspection settles it.
Construction dates are from the City of Richardson and local historical sources; pipe material by era is general trade history, so the camera is what decides.
What you own in Richardson
The City of Richardson says the homeowner is responsible for the sewer line from the house to the City’s two-way cleanout. If your house doesn’t have one, the property owner owns the line all the way to the City main. Everything under the slab is yours either way. When we replace a Richardson drain system, we can add the two-way cleanout so the next stoppage is easy to reach.
Signs your cast iron is failing
The same drain clogs again a few weeks after it's cleared.
Tubs and showers drain slowly even after cleaning.
Sewer smell inside, or gurgling when a toilet flushes.
New cracks in tile or drywall, or doors that stick, together with any of the above. A leaking drain under a slab softens the clay below it.
A hydrostatic (drain) test that won't hold water.
Spot repair or full replacement?
We camera every branch and show you the video. One break in otherwise sound pipe can be a spot repair through a single access hole. Scale and channeling along most of the run means the next failure is already on its way, and repeated access holes at $1,150 each add up quickly. We price it both ways so you can decide.
How the work goes
- Camera and locate every branch, and mark where each bathroom group and the kitchen tie in.
- Tunnel from outside under the foundation to reach the lines being replaced. Floors and cabinets stay in place.
- Replace with PVC , reconnect every fixture group and add an outside two-way cleanout.
- Test, then City inspection. We pull the City of Richardson permit, meet the inspector, then backfill and compact the tunnels in lifts.
We replace failing cast iron by tunneling under the slab, so floors stay intact. Where a yard section is still round and the route is open, trenchless pipe bursting can replace it without a full-length trench.
Cast iron pipe replacement cost in Richardson
Example (illustration only): a 1960s Richardson Heights three-bedroom with two bathroom groups. Say 45 feet of tunnel, 2 access holes and 15 feet of yard trench to the cleanout: 45 × $425 + 2 × $1,150 + 15 × $180 = $24,125, or $20,506.25 approved the same day.
The sewer line cost calculator prices the layout closest to your floor plan.
Start with a $97 diagnostic
Every job starts with a $97 diagnostic, a camera inspection or walk-through as needed, and a written quote before work begins. We’re open Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.
Already have another quote? Send it to us.
Certified Price Review: We’ll match or beat apples-to-apples plumbing scopes. Send us a written, itemized cast iron replacement estimate from another licensed plumber. We compare scope, installation method, materials, access/excavation, warranty and diagnostics. If the work is directly comparable, we may adjust our price. Verbal or incomplete estimates may not qualify, and a review doesn’t obligate us to match. See program terms →
Financing: Larger jobs like sewer replacement and repipes can be split into monthly payments, subject to credit approval. See financing options →
Save 15% when you approve the same day. Approve your written quote the day we give it to you and we take 15% off.
Richardson cast iron pipe replacement FAQs
How much does cast iron drain replacement cost in Richardson?
Our prices are $425 per foot to tunnel under the slab, $180 per foot to trench in the yard and $1,150 per access hole. Your camera inspection sets the footage, and you save 15% if you approve the same day.
Who is responsible for the sewer line in Richardson?
The homeowner owns the line from the house to the City's two-way cleanout. If there isn't one, the owner is responsible up to the City main. All drain pipe under the house belongs to the homeowner.
My house is in Richardson Heights. Does it have cast iron?
Very likely, unless it has been replaced. Homes there date from 1954 onward. A camera inspection shows the pipe and its condition.
Will you have to break up my floors?
Usually not. We tunnel under the foundation from outside so the inside of the house stays intact.
How long does it take?
Most whole-house under-slab replacements take several days, depending on how much tunnel is needed. You'll have the schedule with the written quote.
Can I finance it?
Yes, subject to credit approval. See our financing page.