Trenchless Sewer Repair
Trenchless Sewer Repair | Plumbing | Knoxville
Imagine restoring your Knoxville home’s sewer line without tearing up the lawn you love. HEP’s trenchless technology slides a durable new pipe through the existing line, fixing cracks, roots, and leaks in hours—not days—while sparing your landscaping, driveway, and peace of mind. Our certified crew pinpoints problems with high-definition cameras, then uses cured-in-place lining or pipe bursting to create a smooth, corrosion-resistant channel that can last 50 years or more.
Backed by 24/7 emergency service and decades of local experience, we treat every job like it’s happening beneath our own homes—clean, fast, and guaranteed. Forget the mess and guesswork of traditional digs; choose HEP for trenchless sewer repair that keeps life moving and your plumbing stronger than ever.
FAQs
What is trenchless sewer repair and how does it work?
Trenchless sewer repair is a minimally invasive method of fixing damaged sewer lines without excavating long trenches through your yard, driveway, or landscaping. In Knoxville, we commonly use two techniques: 1. Pipe Lining (CIPP): A flexible resin-soaked liner is inserted into the existing pipe, inflated, and cured in place to form a smooth, joint-free new pipe inside the old one. 2. Pipe Bursting: A bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, breaking it apart while simultaneously pulling a new HDPE pipe into the same path. Both methods restore full function, increase flow capacity, and typically have life expectancies of 50+ years.
How do I know if trenchless sewer repair is right for my Knoxville home or business?
Trenchless methods are suitable for most clay, cast iron, Orangeburg, and PVC sewer lines up to about 150 feet long and 2"–12" in diameter. We perform a video camera inspection to confirm: • The pipe has stable alignment (no major sags) and enough structural integrity to guide the liner or bursting head. • There are no severe collapses that would block equipment passage. • Access points (clean-outs or small entry pits) can be established. If issues like heavy root intrusion, cracks, or corrosion are present but the pipe is still mostly intact, trenchless repair is usually ideal. Completely collapsed or severely offset pipes may require a short spot-dig for replacement.
What are the advantages of trenchless sewer repair over traditional dig-and-replace methods?
• Minimal disruption: Your lawn, hardscaping, and mature trees stay largely untouched. • Faster completion: Most Knoxville residential jobs finish in one day vs. several days for open trenching. • Lower overall cost: You avoid large restoration expenses for driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping. • Long-term durability: The seamless cured-in-place liner or HDPE pipe resists roots, chemicals, and Knoxville’s clay soils. • Environmentally friendly: Reduced excavation means less soil disposal and fewer carbon emissions from heavy machinery.
How much does trenchless sewer repair cost in Knoxville?
Pricing depends on pipe length, diameter, depth, access, and the chosen method (lining vs. bursting). For a typical Knoxville single-family home with a 4" pipe, expect: • 0–30 feet: $3,000–$4,500 • 30–60 feet: $4,500–$7,500 • 60–100 feet: $7,500–$11,000 These numbers include inspection, cleaning, lining or bursting, and final camera verification but exclude any needed permits or minor spot-digs. Commercial or larger-diameter lines run higher. We provide a precise written quote after a free video assessment.
Is trenchless sewer repair approved by local codes and will I need permits?
Yes. Both cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) and pipe bursting are approved by the City of Knoxville and Knox County plumbing codes. Our licensed master plumbers handle all permitting and inspections for you. Typical requirements include: • Plumbing permit from the City of Knoxville or Knox County depending on location. • Post-repair CCTV inspection submitted to the municipal inspector. • For pipe bursting, Tennessee One Call utility marking is mandatory before any pit excavation. Average permit turnaround is 1–2 business days, and fees are included in our estimates.
How long will a trenchless sewer repair last and what warranties do you provide?
The epoxy-saturated liners used in CIPP and the HDPE pipes used in bursting are rated for 50–100 years of service life. They are resistant to root intrusion, abrasion, and Knoxville’s alkaline clay soil conditions. We back our work with: • 10-year transferable workmanship warranty. • Manufacturer’s 50-year material warranty on liners and HDPE pipe. • Free annual camera inspection for the first two years to ensure everything is performing as expected. With proper usage (avoiding grease dumping, flushable wipes, etc.), your rehabilitated line should serve trouble-free for decades.