Trenchless Repair
Trenchless Repair | Main Line Issues | Plumbing | Church Hill
From century-old Victorians to newly built cottages, Church Hill homes share one thing in common: sooner or later, the underground sewer or water line can crack, clog, or collapse. When that moment arrives, HEP’s trenchless repair specialists swoop in with smart technology that restores flow without tearing up your prized lawn or original brick walkways. By threading a durable liner or pulling in a brand-new pipe through the old pathway, we solve main line issues fast—often in a single day—while saving you the mess, noise, and weeks of disruption that come with traditional excavation.
Homeowners love the results, but they also love the peace of mind. Our licensed plumbers camera-inspect every job, provide clear up-front pricing, and back the work with industry-leading warranties. Whether you’re noticing slow drains, soggy patches in the yard, or unexpected spikes in your water bill, let HEP bring trenchless peace and quiet back to your Church Hill property today.
FAQs
What is trenchless main-line repair and how does it work in Church Hill?
Trenchless repair is a no-dig (or minimal-dig) method of fixing broken or leaking sewer mains without opening a long trench through your yard or the street. After a video inspection pinpoints the damage, technicians clean the pipe with hydro-jetting and then install either (1) a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner, or (2) a pipe-bursting cable that pulls a new HDPE pipe into the old path. Only two small access pits—usually 3 ft × 3 ft—are needed. The epoxy-soaked liner is inverted or pulled into the host pipe, expanded with air or water pressure, and steam-cured in a few hours to create a smooth, joint-free pipe inside the original. The new pipe meets Richmond plumbing code and restores full flow capacity without disturbing landscaping or historic brick walkways in Church Hill.
How can I tell if trenchless repair is right for my sewer line instead of traditional excavation?
Trenchless methods work for 90 percent of the main-line issues we see in Church Hill. They are ideal when the pipe is: • 2"–12" in diameter • Structurally intact enough to hold a liner • Free of full collapses longer than about 3 ft • Located under driveways, mature trees, or historic structures that you do not want disturbed. A detailed camera inspection will reveal cracks, root intrusion, or minor offsets that trenchless technology can seal. If a section has fully caved in or is badly misaligned, a short open-cut repair may be required first, after which the remainder of the line can still be lined trenchlessly.
Will trenchless repair damage my historic Church Hill landscaping or brick sidewalks?
Very little surface disruption occurs. We excavate only two access pits—generally at the property line clean-out and near the house or city tap. Turf is removed as a single sod piece and replaced the same day. Brick walks, slate patios, and garden beds remain untouched because machinery never needs to track across them. After curing, pits are backfilled with the excavated soil and tamped to original grade. Because the new pipe is seamless and root-proof, you also avoid future tree-root damage to your prized oaks and crepe myrtles.
How long does a trenchless main-line project take, and when can I use my plumbing again?
Most residential projects—up to 100 ft of pipe—are completed in one workday. Access pits and cleaning take the morning, the liner or replacement pipe goes in after lunch, and the resin cures in 2–4 hours. We perform a final camera inspection and backfill the same afternoon. In most cases you can resume normal water use the evening of the installation, once the crew verifies full cure and flow.
How durable is a cured-in-place liner or pipe-burst replacement?
The materials meet ASTM F1216 and F1743 standards with a 50-year design life, the same rating the City of Richmond uses for new PVC mains. The liner is a felt or fiberglass tube saturated with epoxy that hardens to a structural strength of roughly 4,000 psi—stronger than the original clay or cast-iron pipe. It is seamless and joint-free, so roots cannot re-enter, and the smooth interior actually improves flow rate. Manufacturer warranties run 10–15 years, but independent studies show service lives of 60 years or more under normal conditions.
Do I need permits or inspections, and will your company handle them?
Yes. Any sewer work in Richmond—including Church Hill—requires a plumbing permit from the Department of Building & Code Enforcement and, if we tie into the public right-of-way, a Right-of-Way (ROW) permit. Our team obtains all required permits, schedules the city inspection, and provides before-and-after video for the inspector’s record. Permit fees are included in your estimate, so you have no paperwork to manage. Once the city signs off, you receive a compliance certificate for your records and for future real-estate transactions.