Digging up damaged house sewer line in basement

[Branimal]

I have a 4" CI sewer pipe running under the cellar floor. I recently snaked out the clogged up roof rainwater connection to the sewer line. But I could only get my snake out about 12' before it starts getting stuck. (Ridgid k-400 with 1/2" cable) I think I hit a 2nd elbow and I've been unable to get past it. I got the line cleaned - 20 minutes with garden hose on full blast and no water backup. There was a couple of puddles forming in the basement near the back of the house in the utility room (gas steam boiler, electric water heater). I can see small bubbles in the concrete slab that's allowing the water to pass thru.

I'd like to dig up the pipe and replace the damaged section with PVC.

I think the floor is what they call a rat slab (2-4" of concrete). I think it's closer to 2" based on some damage in a nearby area.

The house trap at the front is about 3' below the slab. The leak is about 52' toward the back. If there's 1/4" drop per foot that would make the pipe about 2' below the slab.

How should I go about digging this up? I can order a concrete saw with a water attachment. How wide a cut should I make? Should I pay for a camera inspection and locater? Or will a DIY sewer camera do the job?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[Reach4]

There may be alternatives.

1. If you have a yard that goes around the house, it could be easier to put part of the drainage thru a new back yard pipe, around the house, and join the front stuff in the front yard. If you are in a paved neighborhood, that is not going to work for you. You can use a 1/8 inch per foot slope.

2. Do you get sewer backups in your neighborhood? You might consider "overhead sewers", which can be combined with #1. You put in a pit and pump for the basement waste, and pump it up. In a power outage, the floors above the basement deliver waste via gravity.

Are you required to have a house trap?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Branimal]

There may be alternatives.

1. If you have a yard that goes around the house, it could be easier to put part of the drainage thru a new back yard pipe, around the house, and join the front stuff in the front yard. If you are in a paved neighborhood, that is not going to work for you. You can use a 1/8 inch per foot slope.

2. Do you get sewer backups in your neighborhood? You might consider "overhead sewers", which can be combined with #1. You put in a pit and pump for the basement waste, and pump it up. In a power outage, the floors above the basement deliver waste via gravity.

Are you required to have a house trap?

These are attached rowhouses in Brooklyn. So there's no access to the front without going under the building.

Yes NYC requires house traps.