Trenchless Replacement
Trenchless Replacement | Main Line Issues | Plumbing | La Follette
When the drains in your La Follette home start gurgling or sewage backs up without warning, you’re likely facing main line issues. HEP’s trenchless replacement plumbing lets you solve the problem without turning your yard into an excavation site. Using advanced camera inspections and pipe-bursting or cured-in-place lining, our certified technicians replace failing sewer mains through just a couple of small access holes, preserving your landscaping, driveway, and peace of mind.
Most projects are finished in a single day, come with long-term warranties, and meet all local codes, so you can get back to normal life fast. Add in transparent pricing and 24/7 emergency response, and it’s easy to see why La Follette homeowners trust HEP to handle their toughest underground challenges—quickly, cleanly, and permanently.
FAQs
What is trenchless main line replacement and how does it work?
Trenchless main line replacement is a modern plumbing technique that allows us to repair or replace your home’s main sewer or water line without digging a large, open trench through your yard, driveway, or landscaping. In La Follette, we typically use either pipe bursting or pipe lining: pipe bursting involves pulling a new HDPE pipe through the existing line while simultaneously fracturing the old pipe outward, whereas pipe lining (also called CIPP—cured-in-place pipe) inserts a flexible epoxy-soaked liner that hardens into a seamless new pipe within the old one. Both methods rely on small access pits, specialized equipment, and video inspection to ensure an accurate, permanent repair.
How long does a trenchless replacement project usually take in La Follette?
Most residential trenchless main line replacements can be completed in one working day once permits and utility locates are secured. A typical timeline looks like this: (1) pre-job video inspection and utility marking (1–2 hours), (2) digging the small entry and exit pits (1–2 hours), (3) performing the pipe bursting or lining (2–4 hours), and (4) final inspection, backfilling, and site clean-up (1–2 hours). For larger or more complex properties the job may extend into a second day, but compared with traditional excavation—which can take a week or more—trenchless service is dramatically faster.
Will trenchless replacement damage my lawn, trees, or driveway?
Because trenchless methods require only two small access points—usually 3 × 4 ft each—damage to lawns, flower beds, trees, patios, and driveways is minimal. We position the pits strategically to avoid tree root zones and hardscaping whenever possible. After the new line is installed, we backfill and compact the soil, replace removed turf, and haul away any debris. Customers in La Follette often find that the only visible sign of work is two neatly restored patches of soil that re-green within a few weeks.
How much does trenchless main line replacement cost compared with traditional digging?
In La Follette, trenchless replacement for a typical 50–80 ft residential sewer line ranges from $90 to $150 per linear foot, or roughly $4,500–$12,000 total depending on depth, pipe diameter, and access. Traditional open-cut replacement may appear cheaper on the base bid ($60–$100 per foot), but once you add restoration costs for landscaping, driveway concrete, sidewalks, or retaining walls—the total commonly exceeds the trenchless price. For many homeowners, trenchless provides the best overall value when all collateral repairs are considered.
How long will a trenchless-installed pipe last?
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipes installed through pipe bursting and the epoxy-saturated liners used in CIPP both carry life expectancies of 50–100 years. They are joint-free, resistant to root intrusion, corrosion, and chemical degradation, and meet ASTM and NSF standards. We provide a 10-year transferable workmanship warranty on trenchless replacements in La Follette, and manufacturers back the materials for 50 years or more.
When should I consider trenchless replacement instead of spot repairs?
You should think about full trenchless replacement if you have any of these conditions: (1) multiple backups caused by collapsed or heavily root-intruded clay or cast-iron piping, (2) offset joints or bellies visible on camera inspection, (3) pipes older than 40 years showing widespread corrosion, (4) repeated patch repairs that fail within a year or two, or (5) a main line running beneath mature landscaping, a driveway, or a slab that you want to preserve. Our technicians provide a free video inspection in La Follette to confirm whether spot repair, lining, or full replacement is the most cost-effective long-term solution.