When trenchless is worth asking about
- The line is cracked or leaking but still holds its shape
- Roots keep entering at joints
- The line runs under a driveway, patio, mature tree or other thing you would rather not dig up
- A camera has shown the line is repairable from inside
- The problem is along a long run instead of one short spot
If the line is not yet diagnosed, start with a sewer camera inspection. The method depends on what the camera shows.
The two main methods
Pipe lining. The plumber cleans the old pipe, then pulls a resin-soaked liner through it. The liner is inflated against the pipe wall and hardens, forming a new pipe inside the old one. It seals cracks and joints, so roots lose their way in. Lining needs a pipe that is still round and can carry flow. It does not straighten a crushed or sagging pipe.
Pipe bursting. A bursting head is pulled through the old line. It breaks the old pipe outward into the soil and pulls a new pipe in behind it. This replaces the line and can work when the old pipe is too damaged to line, with small pits at each end.
What the job involves
- Inspect. A camera confirms the pipe's condition and path.
- Call 811. Tennessee requires a locate request before digging, and that covers the small access pits too.
- Open access points. One at the house end and one near the street or the other end of the run.
- Clean the line. Roots and buildup are removed so the liner bonds or the burst head can pass.
- Line or burst. The liner is installed and cured, or the new pipe is pulled in.
- Reconnect and test. Side connections are reopened, and a final camera shows the result.
- Restore. The small excavations are backfilled and repaired.
When trenchless is not an option
- The pipe is collapsed, crushed or has a bad sag that would hold water inside a liner
- Large offsets, missing sections or broken joints that a liner cannot span
- A line that has been dug into and shows several shape changes
- Branch connections or bends that a liner or burst head cannot pass
- A plan that needs the pipe to change route or slope
In those cases, a dug repair or replacement is the answer. The sewer line repair page covers it.
What affects the price
No number here is a quote. The price depends on the method, the length and diameter of the line, how many side connections must be reopened, how deep the pipe is, how much cleaning comes first, the access pits and the restoration, and permit and inspection costs. Trenchless often saves landscape and hardscape repair, but the total cost can be similar to digging. Compare complete quotes, not one line item.
After the work
Ask for the final camera footage, so you can see the new pipe or liner yourself. Ask for the scope in writing: the length repaired, the method, and what was restored. Keep the paperwork with your house records. A future buyer or inspector may want to see it, and the city's permit and inspection record is part of that file.
Johnson City and East Tennessee specifics
- Call 811 first. Tennessee's Underground Utility Damage Prevention Act requires notice at least three working days before digging, and the notice can be placed up to ten working days ahead. A ticket is valid for 15 calendar days after its start date. Tennessee 811 says boring and augering count as excavation as well.
- Permits and inspection. Johnson City's code requires a written permit from the building inspector to connect to or disturb a public sewer, and building sewers are inspected before the underground part is covered. Ask your plumber which permits apply.
- Your side of the line. The code makes the property owner responsible for maintaining the building sewer on private property, including repair or replacement. Streets disturbed by the work must be restored to the city's satisfaction.
Before you call
- Get the camera footage if you already have it.
- Note any past repairs to the line.
- Ask the plumber to put the method, what is included and what restoration to expect in the quote.