For decades, if your main sewer line collapsed, the solution was a nightmare: excavators in your front yard, piles of dirt on the sidewalk, destroyed flower beds, and a cracked driveway that never matched perfectly again.
Fortunately, plumbing technology has evolved. At Western Rooter, we specialize in Trenchless Sewer Repair—a method that fixes your pipes underground without turning your property into a construction zone.
What is Trenchless Repair?
Trenchless technology allows us to replace or reline a sewer pipe using just one or two small access holes. Instead of digging a trench the entire length of the pipe (often 50+ feet), we work from the inside out.
We primarily use two methods:
1. Pipe Lining (CIPP – Cured In Place Pipe)
We insert a flexible epoxy-saturated tube into your existing damaged pipe. We inflate it like a balloon and let it cure (harden). Once it sets, you have a brand-new, seamless, rock-hard pipe *inside* the old one.
- Best for: Pipes with cracks, roots, or minor gaps but that haven’t fully collapsed.
- Lifespan: 50+ years. Effectively a new pipe.
2. Pipe Bursting
We pull a steel bursting head through the old pipe. This head breaks the old clay or cast iron pipe outward while simultaneously pulling a new, flexible HDPE pipe into place behind it.
- Best for: Severely collapsed pipes or when you need to increase the pipe size.
The Benefits for SGV Homeowners
Save Your Landscaping
Many homes in Arcadia and Pasadena have mature trees, custom hardscaping, and manicured lawns. Traditional digging destroys this instantly. Trenchless repair leaves your trees and driveway untouched.
Save Time
A traditional dig-and-repalce can take 3-5 days. Trenchless repair is usually completed in one day. You get your water and sewer back faster.
Cost-Effective
While the materials for trenchless are more specialized, you save money on the “restoration” costs. You don’t have to pay a landscaper to replant your grass or a concrete contractor to pour a new driveway.
Is It Right for You?
Not every pipe can be lined. If the pipe has completely lost its slope (belly) or is crushed flat, we may still need to dig. The only way to know is with a video camera inspection.
If you are facing a sewer replacement, ask about our trenchless options. Contact Western Rooter to see if we can save your sewer *and* your lawn.
