Most homeowners hear “trenchless” and assume it is the cheaper, less destructive option that every contractor should offer. It is often both of those things. It is also not always possible, and some contractors quote a dig-and-replace because that is what they own equipment for. Here is how the three methods actually compare.
Cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP)
A resin-saturated felt or fiberglass liner is pulled or inverted into the existing pipe, inflated, and cured with hot water, steam, or UV light. The result is a new jointless pipe inside the old one. The line loses a small amount of diameter.
Qualifies when the old pipe still holds its shape. Cracks, roots, scale, and minor offsets are fine. Bellies are not, because the liner follows the sag. Collapsed sections are not. Orangeburg that has gone oval usually is not.
Cost. $80 to $250 per foot; $6,000 to $15,000 for a typical residential run. Access pits may still be needed at the house and near the main.
Lifespan. Manufacturers rate liners at 50 years. Real-world data supports 30 to 50.
Watch for. Lining over a belly. Lining over heavy channeling in cast iron. Lining without first descaling. Any quote that skips a post-lining camera inspection.
Pipe bursting
A bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, shattering it outward while dragging a new HDPE pipe behind it. You get a brand-new full-diameter pipe with only two pits dug.
Qualifies when there is a clear path from an entry pit to an exit pit, no severe bellies, and no other utilities within a few feet of the line. Collapsed, undersized, and Orangeburg lines are good candidates because the old pipe does not need to be intact.
Cost. $60 to $200 per foot; $6,000 to $18,000 typical. Deeper lines and long runs push the top end.
Lifespan. HDPE is rated at 100 years.
Watch for. Bursting near gas lines, shallow water lines, or under a slab where the shattered pipe can heave the floor. Bursting cannot fix a belly either; the new pipe follows the old path.
Dig-and-replace
Excavate a trench along the line, remove the old pipe, lay new PVC on proper bedding at the right slope, backfill, and restore the surface.
Qualifies for everything. It is the only method that fixes a belly, because the pipe is re-laid at a new grade. It is the default when the line is shallow and under grass, and the only option when the line runs under a slab and lining is not viable.
Cost. $50 to $250 per foot; $5,000 to $25,000 typical. The wide range is surface restoration: grass is cheap, a driveway or a slab floor is not.
Lifespan. New PVC, 100 years.
Watch for. Quotes that do not itemize restoration. Quotes that skip the permit and locate. Contractors who dig when lining was clearly possible, because the trench is more billable.
Quick decision table
| Finding on camera | Usual fix |
|---|---|
| Cracks, roots, scale in a pipe that holds shape | Lining |
| Single offset joint or one break | Spot repair, then line if the rest is weak |
| Belly or sag | Dig and re-lay that section |
| Collapse, Orangeburg deformation, undersized pipe | Pipe bursting if the path is clear, else dig |
| Channeled cast iron under a slab | Full replacement; get two opinions on lining |
The questions that expose a bad quote
Ask which method they recommend and why the others do not apply to your line. Ask for the camera footage, not just the report. Ask what the per-foot rate is and how many feet they measured. Ask whether the price includes the permit, the locate, a post-job camera inspection, and surface restoration. A contractor who can answer all of that in plain language is usually the right one.
Upload your report and we will tell you which method your findings point to before you sit down with a quote.