The crew digs a "launch pit" near your house foundation and a "receiving pit" near the property line or city tap. This is minimal disruption compared to a full trench.
The old solution was horrific: rent a jackhammer, tear up your driveway, destroy your landscaping, and dig a 6-foot-deep trench through your yard. The new solution? replacing clay sewer pipe without digging
However, clay is also brittle. Over 50–100 years, roots invade the joints, the pipes crack from ground shifting, and the bottom half of the pipe often erodes away. The crew digs a "launch pit" near your
The steel bursting head is attached to the rod at the receiving pit. The new HDPE pipe is attached behind the bursting head. The new solution
| Method | Average Cost | Time | Landscape Damage | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | $5,000 – $15,000 | 2-3 days | Severe (trench through yard) | | CIPP Lining | $4,000 – $10,000 | 4-6 hours | None (if cleanout exists) | | Pipe Bursting | $6,000 – $12,000 | 1 day | Minimal (two small pits) |
If your home was built before 1970, there is a good chance your main sewer line is made of vitrified clay (VCP). For decades, clay was the gold standard. It was inert, cheap, and resistant to chemical corrosion.