Is $4,200 cash a fair deal for 80 feet of ABS sewer replacement?

That price sounds dangerously low for 80 feet of trench work and cast iron replacement. In most parts of the country, you're looking at $100 to $200 per linear foot for a full excavation and replacement. At $4,200, he’s basially charging you about $52 a foot. That might cover the **ABS pipe** and some gravel, but it doesn't leave much for labor, heavy equipment rentals, or the overhead of a legitimate business. It smells like someone working without a license or insurance. The fact that he claims to have a camera but "didn't take photos" is the biggest red flag here. Nobody in this industry runs a camera, finds a major root intrusion, and then doesn't record it to show the customer why they need to spend thousands of dollars. It’s the primary tool we use to prove the scope of work. If he can't show you the footage, there's a high chance that 80-foot measurement is an estimate he pulled out of thin air, or he's just guessing where the line runs.

And you really need to verify if **ABS** is even code-compliant for burial in your specific zip code. While it's common in some areas, many jurisdictions require PVC Schedule 40 or even SDR 35 for residential sewer laterals. If he puts in the wrong material and doesn't pull a permit—wich he probly isn't at that price point—you’ll be the one paying to dig it all back up when you try to sell the house later. Don't let him pressure you becasue he "lives too far away." That's a classic excuse to avoid accountability. Spend a few hundred bucks to get a second, reputable plumbing company out there to do a proper camera inspection and give you a written estimate with a site map. It’s better to lose a little money now on a second oppinion than to get stuck with a botched job from a guy who might vanish the moment the trench starts caving in.

That warranty sounds like a total gamble. If the guy is allready saying he lives too far away to even walk you trough the layout, what happens if the pipe sinks or leaks next year? I doubt he’s driving back for a free fix if he can't even be bothered to show up now. I'm also curious—how do you actually verify the 80 feet yourself before anyone starts digging? Is there a tool like a rolling measuring wheel I coud get at a hardware store to double-check the distance to the street? I’d be worried about paying for extra footage that doesn't exist.

To answer the question about verifying the 80 feet—any legit plumber uses a locator. They tip the camera with a sonde (a transmitter) and track it from above ground with a handheld receiver to mark the line with paint or flags. If this guy isn't marking the path and depth before he digs, he's flying blind. Also, for 80 feet, you better make sure he's calling 811 to mark utilities. If he nicks a gas line becuase he's "too far away" to do a proper walkthrough, that cheap quote becomes a nightmare. This whole deal sounds like a "tailgate warranty"—it expires as soon as his truck leaves your driveway.

That cash discount is a massive red flag that he’s skipping the permit process. No way is he calling the city inspector out to sign off on 80 feet of new line for $4,200. If you don't have a permit on file, you’re basially on the hook if that pipe fails and floods your yard. Also, think about the mess. 80 feet of trenching creates a huge mountain of dirt. A real pro will include backfilling and compacting it down properly. At that price, he’s likely just tossing the soil back in loose and disappearing before the ground settles into a ditch the first time it rains.

Check the pipe diameter too. You mentioned 3-inch cast iron, but most main laterals are 4-inch once they head out to the street. If he sizes it down to 3-inch ABS just because it's cheaper or easier to handle, you're asking for constant clogs.

Also, ask about the grade. If he’s just eyeballing 80 feet without a transit or a laser level, any slight dip in that long of a run creates a 'belly' where solids will settle. A $4k quote defintely doesn't include the proper crushed stone bedding needed to keep that line from shifting over time. Without a permit, nobody is checking that slope or the bedding before it's covered up.