Learn the trenchless methods plumbers use to repair pipes without digging up your garden. Clear steps, timelines, tools, and when each method works best.
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You don’t need a backhoe to fix a broken drain anymore. This Is How Plumbers Fix Pipes Without Digging Up Your Yard: they use trenchless repair. It’s fast, clean, and often done in a day. We’ll explain what it is, when it works, and how the job runs. You’ll see the tools, the steps, and the common mistakes to avoid. We’ll also cover how to price and present the work so clients say yes.
Trenchless repair fixes pipes through small access points, not long trenches. Plumbers clean the line, install a liner or burst in a new pipe, and reinstate junctions. Most domestic jobs take 1 day, use 1–2 small pits (about 0.6–1.2 m), and handle 50–300 mm pipes.
Trenchless means you fix pipes through openings at each end. No long trenches. You use the existing pipe path. The two main methods are lining and bursting. Lining creates a new pipe inside the old one. Bursting pulls in a new pipe as the old one breaks apart.
On most jobs, you only dig a small entry pit and maybe an exit pit. Each pit is usually 0.6–1.2 metres wide. Depth matches the pipe depth, often 0.8–2.5 metres. You protect lawns, patios, and tree roots. That’s why clients like it.
Different problems need different fixes. Here are the common ones you’ll use.
Before any repair, prove the problem.
Send a camera through the line. Record every joint, branch, and defect. Note distances at 1 metre intervals. Mark intrusions, cracks, sags, and materials (clay, cast iron, PVC). Save stills and video for the client.
Roots and scale hide defects. Use a jetter (200–275 bar) or chain flail until the pipe is clean. Confirm with a second camera pass. If water backs up, consider a temporary bypass pump.
Use a sonde in the camera head. Trace the line at surface with a locator. Mark depth and route with spray paint. This keeps pits small. It also avoids hidden services. On most sites, accurate locating saves 1–2 hours.
Here is a simple workflow many crews follow.
Tip: Keep a small generator, compressor, and wet vac on the truck. That reduces delays and call-backs.
Trenchless isn’t magic. It just fits more jobs than people expect.
In general, trenchless jobs cost less than full excavation, especially with deep pipes or hard surfaces. You also avoid reinstating 10–20 metres of paving. That alone saves time, mess, and noise.
If you’re also looking to streamline professional proposals, our guide covers what to include, how to price clarity, and how to avoid scope creep. Pair this with advice on project timelines and invoice templates that save time.
Homeowners worry about mess and time. Keep it simple.
Many contractors win faster when they issue clear, branded proposals with photos. Tools like Donizo help you capture site notes by voice, add images, generate a proposal, send it for e‑signature, and convert it to an invoice in one click. Less admin, more billable hours.
Yes. CIPP liners bond and create a smooth inner pipe in clay, cast iron, and PVC. For heavy corrosion or missing sections, pipe bursting may be the better choice.
Most domestic jobs complete in one day. Survey and cleaning take 1–3 hours. Liner cure is commonly 2–4 hours. Add 30–60 minutes for reinstating laterals and final testing.
A liner reduces internal diameter by a few millimetres. The smooth epoxy surface often improves flow, so performance usually stays the same or gets better.
If the pipe is fully collapsed with no bore, lining can’t pass. Extreme sags holding water, sharp bends beyond the liner spec, or crushed sections may require local excavation.
In general, modern liners are designed to last for decades. Contractors often report long-term reliability when cleaning, curing, and reinstatements are done correctly.
This Is How Plumbers Fix Pipes Without Digging Up Your Yard: diagnose with CCTV, clean properly, choose the right trenchless method, and deliver clear proof. Most homes get a clean, same‑day fix with 1–2 small pits. Next steps:
For faster admin, platforms such as Donizo let you go from voice notes to proposals, e‑sign, and invoices without back‑and‑forth. Use this approach, and you’ll protect gardens, save time, and win more work.
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