Trenchless sewer line repair fixes or replaces a damaged sewer pipe without digging a trench across the property. Two methods - pipe lining and pipe bursting - handle the work from inside the pipe or through the existing pipe path. The camera inspection determines which method your line supports.
What you are seeing
The sewer line is damaged. The camera confirmed it - or cleaning stopped holding and the symptoms point to a pipe problem rather than a buildup problem. Now you are facing a repair or replacement, and the first question is how much of the property has to be torn up to get it done.
Trenchless sewer line repair is the category of methods that answer that question with "less than you think" - when the pipe qualifies. Two methods exist. Both avoid a full open trench. Neither works on every pipe. The camera inspection is what determines the answer.
Two methods, two different situations
Pipe lining installs a resin liner inside the existing pipe - sealing cracks, bridging joint gaps, and blocking root entry from the inside. The old pipe stays in the ground as a host. Lining works when the pipe is damaged but still structurally intact.
Pipe bursting destroys the old pipe from inside and pulls a completely new HDPE pipe through the same path. Bursting works when the pipe needs full replacement but the path is still navigable. Both methods enter through existing access points and avoid trenching above the pipe.
What you walk away with
You walk away with a structurally repaired or fully replaced sewer line and the yard, driveway, patio, or landscaping above it untouched. Camera footage verifies the completed work from inside the pipe - liner seated and cured, or new pipe pulled into position - and you see the footage before the crew leaves.
Problem
Conventional sewer repair means digging down to the pipe. That works on every line - but it also means cutting through whatever sits above it: driveway, sidewalk, patio, landscaping, yard. Trenchless sewer line repair is the alternative when the pipe's condition allows the work to happen from the inside.
The appeal of trenchless is straightforward. The sewer line on most Northern Utah residential properties runs 30 to 80 feet from the building to the city connection, often passing under driveways, sidewalks, patios, or established landscaping along the way. Conventional repair means opening a trench along that entire path - and restoring every surface the trench cuts through afterward. On a line under open yard, restoration is just grading and seeding. On a line under a concrete driveway or a paver patio, restoration can cost as much as the pipe work itself. Trenchless methods avoid that trench. Pipe lining enters through the cleanout and repairs the pipe from the inside - no excavation at all. Pipe bursting requires two small access pits one at each end of the run but no trench between them. Both methods leave the surface above the pipe untouched between the access points. The limitation is real: not every pipe qualifies. Lining requires the pipe to be round, structurally intact, and capable of hosting a bonded liner. Bursting requires the pipe path to be navigable for the bursting head - no sharp bends, no obstructions that block the pull. Pipes that are fully collapsed, crushed flat, severely offset at multiple joints, or damaged in ways that prevent either method from working require conventional excavation. The camera inspection determines which category the pipe falls into - and it determines it before any method is committed to.
Solution
Every trenchless sewer line repair starts the same way: jetting the line clean, then running the camera to assess the pipe condition. The camera footage determines three things - whether trenchless is viable at all, which method fits lining or bursting, and what section of the line needs treatment.
If the pipe qualifies for lining: The existing pipe is intact enough to serve as a host. A resin-saturated liner is inserted through the cleanout, positioned inside the damaged section, inflated against the pipe walls, and cured in place. The result is a jointless structural tube bonded to the inside of the old pipe - sealing every crack, joint gap, and root entry point it covers. No excavation. No surface disturbance.
If the pipe qualifies for bursting: The pipe needs full replacement, not internal rehabilitation. Access pits are dug at each end of the run. A pulling cable is threaded through the old pipe. A bursting head - attached to new HDPE pipe - is pulled through, fracturing the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil while the new pipe follows into the cleared path. Two small pits. No trench between them. New pipe from end to end.
If the pipe qualifies for neither: The camera shows conditions that prevent both methods - full collapse, severe deformation, sharp bends, or obstructions. Mountain West explains what the camera found, why trenchless is not viable, and what conventional method fits. The crew handles excavation and replacement under the same license without referring you to a different company.
Fit and situation bullets
Problem bullets
Customer Feedback
See what customers say after trenchless sewer line repair — from the camera evaluation showing why trenchless was a fit to the honest explanation of the options, pricing, and verified line condition after the work.
Leave a Review!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!!
I had an Emergency pipe back up AJ and Jake came snaked and got it all jetted out and cleaned up quick and for a really fair price! Anyone in need I would highly recommend
Very professional, quick and efficient work definitely would recommend
Highly recommend, very quick and easy to work with crew, drain cleaned my main sewer line professionally and well done.
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!!!
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.
Why Mountain West
Camera rated to 200 feet
Documents the full sewer line to assess trenchless viability - pipe roundness, wall integrity, joint alignment, path obstructions, and every condition that determines whether lining or bursting will work. Post-repair camera pass verifies the completed work from inside the pipe.
Jetting and camera on every call
Hydro jetting equipment deploys on every service call. The pipe must be clean before the camera can accurately determine trenchless candidacy - debris and root mass can hide the pipe condition that determines the method. 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. The camera needs clean pipe walls to evaluate trenchless viability - not residue or buildup from the last backup.
20+ years combined field experience
Two decades evaluating Northern Utah sewer lines for trenchless viability - the judgment to determine when lining fits, when bursting fits, when neither fits, and when the honest recommendation is conventional excavation even though trenchless is what the homeowner prefers.
Licensed and insured
Licensed for sewer, drain, and drainage system work covering pipe lining, pipe bursting, conventional excavation, and full replacement. Every possible outcome of a trenchless assessment falls within Mountain West's scope.
Every trenchless sewer line repair visit starts with the same question: does this pipe qualify, and for which method? Here is how the assessment and repair work.
You leave the visit knowing which trenchless method was viable, with camera-verified proof of the completed work, the surface above the pipe intact, and a clear understanding of the line's condition going forward.
Trenchless is a category with two methods inside it. If you want to understand a specific method in detail, or if the pipe does not qualify for trenchless, these pages cover the next level of information.
Evidence
Next Service RoutePipe LiningPipe lining covers the trenchless repair method in full - how the liner is installed, what the pipe needs to qualify, how curing works, and what the result looks like on camera. Start here if the pipe is damaged but still structurally intact.
Next Service RoutePipe BurstingPipe bursting covers the trenchless replacement method - how the bursting head works, what HDPE pipe is, how access pits are used, and when bursting is the right method over lining. Start here if the pipe needs full replacement, not internal repair.
Next Service RouteSewer ExcavationSewer excavation for sewer lines that do not qualify for any trenchless method - collapsed, severely deformed, or damaged in ways that require physically accessing the pipe from above. Mountain West handles conventional replacement under the same license.Scope and timing
Cost
Support
These are the quick answers most people want before they call, book, or decide on the next step.
Trenchless sewer line repair is a category of sewer repair and replacement methods that fix or replace a damaged pipe without digging a trench above it. Two methods fall under this category: pipe lining, which installs a resin liner inside the existing pipe to seal cracks and joint gaps, and pipe bursting, which destroys the old pipe from inside and pulls new HDPE pipe through the same path. Both enter the pipe through existing access points and avoid surface disruption above the line.
A sewer camera inspection after jetting determines trenchless viability. Pipe lining requires the existing pipe to be round and structurally intact - damaged but not collapsed or deformed. Pipe bursting requires the pipe path to be navigable for the bursting head - no sharp bends, no obstructions. Lines that are fully collapsed, crushed, or have severe offset or directional issues may not qualify for either method. The camera footage shows the exact conditions and determines which method - if any - the pipe supports.
Cost depends on which method the pipe qualifies for lining vs. bursting, the linear footage being treated, the pipe diameter, and the prep work required. Trenchless methods often cost more per foot than conventional section repair but eliminate excavation and surface restoration - making them 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 which method applies.
Pipe lining repairs the existing pipe by installing a resin liner inside it - the old pipe stays and the liner becomes the new surface. Pipe bursting replaces the pipe by destroying the old one and pulling new pipe through the same path. Lining is for pipes that are damaged but structurally intact. Bursting is for pipes too far gone for lining. The camera inspection determines which method the line supports based on the actual pipe condition.
Related Reading
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
Covers the cost variables across repair and replacement methods - including how trenchless compares to conventional excavation when surface restoration costs are factored into the total.
Compare Options
Breaks down the tradeoffs between trenchless methods and conventional dig-and-replace - when each approach fits and what drives the decision.
Service Explainer
Explains the conditions that move a sewer repair from trenchless to excavation - what the camera has to show before digging becomes the only viable path.
