Skip to content 
Trenchless sewer repair fixes a broken sewer line from the inside, without digging a trench across your yard. A plumber either pulls a resin liner through the old pipe or pulls a new pipe through it. Most jobs need one or two small access holes, take a day or two, and leave your lawn and driveway mostly untouched.
If you have been told your sewer line is cracked or full of roots, the first picture in your head is probably a backhoe in the front yard. That is not always the case anymore. Our sewer line repair service uses trenchless methods across High Point, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and the rest of the Triad when the pipe is a good fit. Call (336) 462-1080 and a real person will answer, any hour.
Key Takeaways
- Two main methods. Pipe lining puts a new pipe inside the old one. Pipe bursting breaks the old pipe and pulls a new one in its place.
- Less digging, not zero digging. Most trenchless jobs still need one or two small access pits.
- Long service life. Cured-in-place liners are designed to last about 50 years.
- Not every pipe qualifies. A fully collapsed pipe or a badly sagging line usually needs a traditional dig.
- A camera decides. A video inspection is the only honest way to know which repair your line needs.
What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair?
Trenchless sewer repair is any method that fixes or replaces an underground sewer pipe without opening a trench along its full length. The plumber works through an existing cleanout or a small pit at each end of the damaged section.
Your sewer lateral is the pipe that carries waste from your house to the city main. In older Triad neighborhoods, that pipe is often clay or cast iron that has been in the ground for 50 years or more. Roots, shifting red clay soil and age all crack it over time.
Pipe Lining (Cured-in-Place Pipe)
Pipe lining, also called CIPP, means a flexible tube soaked in resin is pulled or blown into the old pipe. The tube is inflated against the pipe wall and left to harden. Once cured, it forms a smooth, jointless pipe inside the old one.
Lining works best when the old pipe is cracked, leaking at the joints or has root intrusion, but still holds its round shape.
Pipe Bursting
Pipe bursting is a full replacement. A cone-shaped bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, splitting it apart and pushing the pieces into the soil. A new HDPE pipe, a tough plastic line, follows right behind it.
Bursting is the better choice when the old pipe is too damaged to line or when you want a slightly larger pipe than you had before.
How Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Work, Step by Step?
Every trenchless job follows the same basic order. Skipping the first step is how homeowners end up paying for the wrong repair.
- Camera inspection. A small camera goes down the line to find every crack, root mass, offset joint and sag. Our sewer camera inspection gives you video of what is actually down there.
- Cleaning the line. Roots, grease and scale are cleared out, often with hydro jetting, so a liner can bond or a bursting head can pass.
- Utility locate. If access pits are needed, buried lines get marked first. North Carolina 811 rules require notice at least three full working days before any digging starts.
- Access points. The crew uses a cleanout or digs one or two small pits, usually a few feet across.
- Lining or bursting. The liner is installed and cured, or the new pipe is pulled through.
- Reopening connections and final camera check. Side connections are reopened, and a second video confirms the new line is clear and sealed.
How Much Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Cost?
Trenchless sewer repair cost depends on the length of pipe, the method, how deep the line sits and how many access points are needed. The ranges below are typical national figures from published cost guides. Your actual price is quoted upfront, in writing, before any work begins.
| Repair method | Typical cost per foot | Typical total job | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe lining (CIPP) | $80 to $250 | $4,000 to $15,000+ | Cracked or root-damaged pipe that is still round |
| Pipe bursting | $60 to $200 | $4,000 to $15,000+ | Badly damaged pipe or a line that needs upsizing |
| Traditional dig and replace | $50 to $250, plus surface repair | $3,000 to $25,000+ | Collapsed pipe, severe sags or shallow, open-yard lines |
On paper, trenchless and open-trench jobs can look close in price. The difference shows up after the pipe work is done. A traditional dig under a driveway, patio or mature tree means paying to replace concrete, pavers and landscaping on top of the sewer job. For a full breakdown of the dig option, see our guide to sewer line replacement costs.
What Pushes the Price Up
- Length and depth. A long or deep line takes more material and more labor.
- Number of bends and connections. Each one adds setup time.
- Heavy root masses. Extra cleaning is needed before lining can start.
- Limited access. No cleanout means the crew has to dig an access pit.
Not sure which method your line needs? Call (336) 462-1080 to set up a camera inspection first. You will see the video and the price before you decide anything.
Is Trenchless Sewer Repair Worth It?
Trenchless sewer repair is worth it when your line sits under a driveway, patio, mature trees or finished landscaping, because you avoid paying to rebuild those surfaces. It is usually not worth it for a fully collapsed pipe or a short, shallow line in an open yard, where a simple dig costs less.
Trenchless vs Traditional Sewer Repair
| Factor | Trenchless repair | Traditional dig |
|---|---|---|
| Yard and driveway damage | One or two small pits | Full trench along the pipe |
| Typical job time | One to two days | Several days, plus surface repair |
| Expected pipe life | About 50 years for liners | 50+ years for new PVC |
| Works on collapsed pipe | Bursting sometimes, lining no | Yes |
| Fixes a sag (belly) in the line | No | Yes |
The lifespan question comes up on almost every quote. According to the Iowa State design manual, the expected service life of a cured-in-place liner is generally accepted to be 50 years, which puts it in the same range as a newly installed pipe.
Signs Your Sewer Line May Need Repair
Sewer lines rarely fail without warning. These are the signs that a camera inspection is worth booking now rather than after a backup.
- Several drains backing up at once, especially in a basement or lower floor
- Gurgling toilets when you run the washer or shower
- A sewage smell in the yard or near floor drains
- Soggy, sunken or extra-green patches of lawn over the sewer path
- Clogs that come back within weeks of being cleared
- Roots found in the line during drain cleaning
Roots are the most common culprit in the Triad, where oaks and maples grow close to older clay lines. Our post on tree roots in sewers explains how they get in and what stops them coming back.
When Is Trenchless Repair Not the Right Fit?
Trenchless sewer repair is a great tool, but it is not a fix for every pipe. An honest plumber will tell you when a dig is the better spend.
- Fully collapsed pipe. A liner needs a pipe to line. If the pipe has caved in, the section has to be dug out or burst.
- Bellied or sagging lines. A liner follows the old pipe, sag and all. Water and waste will still pool in the low spot.
- Very short, shallow repairs. A small spot repair in an open yard often costs less with a shovel.
- Severe offsets. Joints that have shifted far out of line may block a liner or bursting head.
Who Pays for Sewer Line Repair in the Triad?
In most Triad cities, the homeowner is responsible for the sewer lateral on private property. Greensboro Water Resources guidance states that the city handles lines up to the property boundary, and the service line past that point belongs to the owner.
Rules differ in High Point, Winston-Salem and the surrounding towns, so it pays to check with your city before work starts. If the damage turns out to be in the city’s section, the city should be called first. If it is on your side, a licensed plumber like our plumber in Winston-Salem team can inspect it and quote the repair.
Trenchless Sewer Repair FAQs
How long does trenchless sewer repair take?
Most residential trenchless jobs are finished in one to two days. Pipe lining needs a few hours to cure once the liner is in place. Longer lines, multiple access points or heavy root cleaning can add time.
What are the disadvantages of trenchless pipe lining?
Lining cannot fix a collapsed pipe or a sag in the line, and it slightly reduces the inside diameter of the pipe. It also depends on a clean, well-prepared pipe and a careful installer, so cutting corners on the cleaning step leads to poor results.
Is trenchless pipe repair expensive?
The pipe work itself costs about the same as or a little more than a traditional dig. The savings come from not having to replace driveways, sidewalks, patios and landscaping afterward, which can add thousands to an open-trench job.
Can trenchless repair stop tree roots?
Yes, in most cases. A cured liner has no joints for roots to push through, and joints are where roots usually enter an old clay or cast iron line.
Book a Sewer Camera Inspection Before You Choose a Repair
Trenchless sewer repair can save your yard, your driveway and a lot of rebuilding cost, but only when the pipe is a good fit. A camera inspection tells you which repair makes sense, and the price is approved by you before any work begins.
All-Star Plumbing of the Triad has been family owned in High Point since 2007, and our phone is answered 24/7 by a real person. Call (336) 462-1080 to schedule a sewer camera inspection. If we can’t fix it, you don’t pay.
All Star Plumbing
4003 North Main Street, High Point, NC 27265
Phone: (336) 462-1080
Hours: Open 24/7
NC Plumbing License #15130
