Negs
Very professional and arrived fast. Would recommend to everyone. If I could give them 10 stars I would!
PIPE BURSTING
Pipe bursting replaces a damaged sewer line without digging a trench. A bursting head fractures the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil while pulling a new HDPE pipe into the same path behind it. Trenchless sewer replacement - new pipe, no open trench.
What you are seeing
Pipe Bursting
The sewer line needs replacement - not repair, not lining, not another cleaning. The camera shows damage too widespread or too advanced for a patch or a liner to solve. But the line runs under a driveway, a patio, mature landscaping, or a yard you do not want trenched from building to street.
Pipe bursting is the trenchless method that replaces the pipe entirely without opening a full trench above it. The old pipe is destroyed from the inside. A new pipe takes its place in the same path. The surface stays intact.
When bursting applies
The Line Needs Replacement, Not Just Repair
Pipe bursting applies when the sewer line has failed beyond what lining can rehabilitate - the pipe is too deteriorated, too damaged at too many points, or too far gone for a liner to bond to. Bursting does not repair the old pipe. It destroys it and installs a completely new one.
The method requires the old pipe path to be navigable - clear enough for the bursting head to travel through, with no sharp bends or obstructions that would block its progress. The camera inspection determines whether the line qualifies.
What you walk away with
A Brand New Pipe In The Same Path
You walk away with a new HDPE sewer line - fused joints, no seams, corrosion-resistant - installed in the exact path of the old pipe. The old pipe is gone, fractured into the surrounding soil. The surface above the line is intact except for two small access pits at each end of the run. Camera footage verifies the new pipe from end to end before the pits are backfilled.
Problem
When The Line Needs A New Pipe But The Surface Needs To Stay
Replacement is the right scope. The camera has confirmed it - damage at multiple points, material failing systemically, a pipe that is not a candidate for lining. The question is not whether to replace the line. The question is whether the replacement has to involve trenching the full length of the yard.
Conventional sewer replacement means opening a trench from the building to the street, removing the old pipe, installing new pipe at grade, backfilling, compacting, and restoring the surface. On a line under open yard, that process is straightforward - disruptive but manageable. On a line under a concrete driveway, a paver patio, a sidewalk, or established landscaping with mature root systems, the trenching and restoration can cost as much as the pipe work. Sometimes more. Pipe bursting eliminates the trench. Instead of digging down to the old pipe from above, the method works through the pipe path itself. A bursting head - a cone-shaped tool slightly larger in diameter than the existing pipe - is pulled through the old line from one end to the other. As it travels, it fractures the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil, displacing the fragments. Attached behind the bursting head is the new pipe - typically HDPE high-density polyethylene - which is pulled into position in the same path as the old pipe exits it. By the time the bursting head reaches the far end, the old pipe is gone and the new pipe is in place. The only excavation required is two access pits - one at the launch end and one at the receiving end of the run. These pits are typically 3 to 4 feet square and deep enough to access the pipe at each connection point. The bursting equipment enters at one pit and exits at the other. Everything between the pits happens underground, through the existing pipe path, with no surface disturbance above.
Solution
Fracture The Old Pipe, Pull New Pipe Through, Verify On Camera
Sewer pipe bursting starts with a camera inspection after jetting. The camera documents the pipe's internal condition, the path alignment, and every factor that determines bursting viability: pipe material, diameter, joint conditions, presence of bends or offsets, and whether the path is clear enough for the bursting head to travel the full run.
If the line qualifies, the crew digs two access pits - one at the building end typically near the cleanout and one at the receiving end near the city connection or property line. A pulling cable is threaded through the old pipe from one pit to the other. The bursting head is attached to the cable along with the new HDPE pipe fused behind it. As the cable pulls the bursting head through the old pipe, the head fractures the old pipe outward and the new pipe slides into position in the cleared path. The pull is continuous - old pipe out, new pipe in, same path, single operation.
After the new pipe is in place, the connections are made at each end - to the building's cleanout on one side and the city main or lateral tie-in on the other. The camera runs the full length of the new pipe to verify grade, joint integrity HDPE fused joints have no seams, and overall installation quality. The access pits are backfilled and the surface is restored at those two points only. The rest of the surface - the driveway, the patio, the yard between the pits - was never touched.
Fit and situation bullets
- The pipe is too deteriorated for CIPP lining - collapsed, deformed, or damaged beyond what a liner can rehabilitate against the existing walls
- The line needs full replacement and the pipe path is straight and clear enough for the bursting head to travel without obstruction
- The surface above the line is high-value - driveway, patio, established landscaping - and avoiding trenching saves significant restoration cost
- The property owner wants new pipe, not a rehabilitated old pipe, but does not want the timeline, disruption, or restoration cost of a full open trench
Problem bullets
- The pipe material has failed systemically - clay cracking at every joint, cast iron corroded through the walls, Orangeburg collapsing under soil weight - and lining cannot bond to what is left
- Damage exists at multiple points along the run, making section repairs cost-ineffective and lining unfeasible because the host pipe is not structurally viable
- The sewer line runs under a concrete driveway or patio where conventional replacement would require cutting and rebuilding the entire surface
- Previous spot repairs have held at their locations but the adjacent pipe keeps failing - the pattern has moved beyond isolated repair into full-line replacement territory
- The old pipe diameter is adequate or needs upsizing - pipe bursting can install a same-size or larger-diameter replacement pipe by using a bursting head sized to the new pipe
Customer Feedback
Google Reviews From Local Trenchless And Sewer Calls
5.0 on Google · 22 reviews
See what customers say after pipe bursting — from the trenchless evaluation and structural replacement recommendation to the clear communication on property impact, timeline, and verified condition of the new line.
Leave a Review!Isaiah Medina II
These guys are great! I run a plumbing company but don’t do drains. I often sub contract them to service my customers sewer lines. They don’t only make me happy, but they keep my customers happy and that’s what matters to me most. Thanks guys!
Justine James
Amazing experience! They are knowledgeable, kind, courteous and very thorough. Our clogged kitchen pipe was a bit of a challenge but they kept going and did everything they could to get it unclogged and they did it! They were very upfront with what caused the clog, gave us video recording of our pipes so we can see exactly what was done, double checked to make sure the pipes were clean and free of clogs and gave us steps on how to maintain the pipes moving forward. Highly recommend!!
ColoTexMex
This company is Awesome!!! Highly recommend that you call them for your drain cleaning and power washing needs! A++ in service, cost, and quality of work. Alex and Jacob completed drain work, patio cleaning, and filled in cracks in cement. The patio looks brand new! Thank you Alex and Jacob!!!
Hope G
Alex was very good to work with. They were professional and punctual, working around my schedule. They were able to show me exactly before and after, even showing footage inside my pipes, which I have never seen before. I would recommend them.
Anthony Medina
Awesome experience! AJ was super professional and got us back in service. They offered us a few solutions and cleared our clogged sewer line for an excellent price
Negs
Very professional and arrived fast. Would recommend to everyone. If I could give them 10 stars I would!
Izabell Walker Gonzales
Very pleased by my wonderful experience with this company and their service. They were very efficient and fast with their time. I appreciate their professionalism and commitment to the work they did for me!
Why Mountain West
What We Bring To The Job
Camera rated to 200 feet
Documents the full sewer line to assess bursting viability - pipe path alignment, material, diameter, joint conditions, and any bends or obstructions that would block the bursting head. Post-installation camera pass verifies the new HDPE pipe from end to end.
Jetting and camera on every call
Hydro jetting equipment deploys on every service call. The line must be cleared before the camera can accurately assess whether the path supports the bursting head - root mass, debris, or buildup can obscure the conditions that determine viability. Jetting and camera happen in the same visit.
3,850 PSI jetting capability
Clears lines 2 to 12 inches in diameter at 3,850 PSI and 8 GPM with 300 feet of reach. Even on a line headed for bursting, the pre-replacement camera inspection needs clean pipe walls to evaluate path alignment and identify any conditions that would block the pull.
20+ years combined field experience
Two decades evaluating sewer lines for trenchless viability - the judgment to know when bursting fits, when lining is sufficient, when neither method works, and when the honest recommendation is conventional excavation regardless of the homeowner's surface preservation preference.
Licensed and insured
Licensed for sewer, drain, and drainage system work covering trenchless replacement, access pit excavation, backfill, connection work, and conventional dig-and-replace if the line does not qualify for bursting.
How Pipe Bursting Works On Site
A pipe bursting job is a full sewer line replacement completed through the existing pipe path. Here is what happens from camera assessment to new pipe in the ground.
- Jet the existing line and camera the full run to assess bursting viability - documenting pipe material, path alignment, joint conditions, diameter, and any bends, offsets, or obstructions that would prevent the bursting head from completing the pull.
- Dig access pits at each end of the run, thread the pulling cable through the old pipe, attach the bursting head and new HDPE pipe, and execute the pull - fracturing the old pipe outward while the new pipe follows the bursting head into the cleared path in a single continuous operation.
- Make connections at both ends - building cleanout and city main or lateral tie-in - then camera the full length of the new HDPE pipe to verify grade, fused joint integrity, and overall installation quality before backfilling the access pits and restoring the surface at those two points.
You leave the job with a brand new HDPE sewer line in the exact path of the old pipe, camera footage verifying the installation end to end, connections confirmed at both the building and the downstream tie-in, and the surface between the access pits completely untouched.
Related Services Worth Reviewing
Pipe bursting is one trenchless method - specifically the replacement method. If the line might qualify for lining instead, or if bursting turns out not to be viable, these services cover the alternatives.
Evidence
Next Service RouteSewer Camera InspectionIf no camera has been run yet, start here. Sewer camera inspection documents the pipe condition and path alignment that determine whether bursting, lining, or conventional excavation is the right method - the assessment that has to happen before any trenchless decision is made.
Next Service RoutePipe LiningCIPP sewer repair covers cured-in-place pipe lining - the trenchless method that repairs the existing pipe from the inside instead of replacing it. If the pipe is damaged but still structurally viable as a host, lining may be sufficient and bursting may not be necessary.
Next Service RouteSewer ExcavationSewer excavation for sewer line replacement when the pipe path does not support bursting - sharp bends, severe offset obstructions, or conditions where the bursting head cannot complete the pull and conventional trenching is the only path to new pipe.What Changes Price And Timing On A Pipe Bursting Job
Scope and timing
- Length of the run being replaced - pipe bursting is priced by linear footage, and longer runs carry proportionally higher material and pull costs
- Diameter of the new pipe - standard residential bursting typically installs 4-inch HDPE, but upsizing to a larger diameter increases the bursting head size and material cost
- Whether the bursting covers the full run or a partial section - full-run replacement from building to city connection versus bursting only the failed portion with tie-ins to existing pipe at each end
- Access pit preparation - depth of the pipe at each end, what covers the surface at the pit locations soil, concrete, pavers, and how much excavation is needed to reach the pipe at the connection points
- Length and complexity of the pull - a straight 60-foot residential run on a standard-depth line is a faster pull than a longer run with slight alignment changes or deeper pipe at one end
- Connection work at each end - tying the new HDPE into the building's cleanout and the city main or lateral connection, which depends on the existing fittings and the depth at each tie-in point
Cost
- Linear footage of new pipe being installed - the primary cost variable
- Access pit excavation and restoration - the only surface work required, but the cost depends on what sits above the pipe at each end open soil, concrete, hardscape and how deep the pits need to be
- Whether bursting eliminates significant surface restoration compared to conventional replacement - the total cost advantage of bursting is largest on lines under driveways, patios, and established landscaping where conventional trenching would require full-surface demolition and rebuild
Support
What To Have Ready Before The Visit
Details that help us assess bursting viability faster
- Any previous camera footage or inspection reports showing the pipe condition, material, and path alignment - the most useful information for assessing whether the bursting head can complete the pull before the crew arrives.
- What surface sits above the sewer line between the building and the street - driveway, sidewalk, patio, open yard, or landscaping - so the crew understands both the surface preservation value and the access pit locations.
- Whether you have received other estimates - dig-and-replace quotes, lining proposals, or conflicting trenchless recommendations. Knowing what other contractors proposed helps explain where our assessment aligns or differs.
- The approximate age of the building and whether the pipe material is known - clay, cast iron, and Orangeburg each burst differently, and knowing the material helps the crew select the right bursting head size and pulling equipment.
Quick Answers About Pipe Bursting
These are the quick answers most people want before they call, book, or decide on the next step.
What is pipe bursting?
Pipe bursting is a trenchless sewer replacement method that replaces a damaged sewer line without digging an open trench. A cone-shaped bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, fracturing it outward into the surrounding soil, while a new HDPE high-density polyethylene pipe is pulled into the cleared path behind it. The only excavation required is two small access pits at each end of the run.
How do I know if my sewer line qualifies for pipe bursting?
A sewer camera inspection after jetting determines whether the pipe qualifies for sewer pipe bursting. The old pipe path must be clear enough for the bursting head to travel through - no sharp bends, no obstructions that would block the pull, and no conditions at the access points that prevent the equipment from entering. Lines that are collapsed in a way that blocks the path or have severe directional changes may not qualify. The camera footage shows the conditions and determines viability before any commitment.
How does pipe bursting work?
The crew digs access pits at each end of the sewer line, threads a pulling cable through the old pipe, and attaches the bursting head and new HDPE pipe. As the cable pulls the bursting head through the old pipe, it fractures the pipe outward and the new pipe follows into the cleared path. Once the pull is complete, the new pipe is connected at the building cleanout and the city main, and a camera verifies the installation end to end.
How much does pipe bursting cost?
Pipe bursting cost depends on the linear footage being replaced, the pipe diameter, the depth at the access pits, and the connection work at each end. Bursting typically costs more per foot than conventional section repair but eliminates full-trench excavation and surface restoration costs - making it the less expensive total option on lines under driveways, patios, or established landscaping. Mountain West provides a scope and estimate after the camera inspection confirms bursting viability.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pipe Bursting
Related Reading
Questions People Usually Read Next
These follow-up reads stay close to this service and answer the pricing, warning-sign, process, and comparison questions that usually come next.
Cost Question
How Much Does Sewer Line Repair Cost?
Covers the cost variables across sewer repair and replacement methods - including how pipe bursting compares to conventional excavation when surface restoration costs are factored into the total.
Compare Options
Sewer Line Repair vs Sewer Line Replacement: How Do You Decide?
Breaks down the tradeoffs between trenchless methods lining, bursting and conventional dig-and-replace - when each method fits and what usually drives the decision.
Service Explainer
Trenchless Sewer Repair vs. Sewer Excavation: Which Method Fits Your Line
Explains the conditions that move a sewer replacement from trenchless to conventional excavation - what the camera has to show before digging becomes the only viable path.