No Dig Sewer Repair: What to Expect in Fort Worth

Open trench repair used to be the most common type of sewer line repairs in Tarrant County. As new technology emerges, our DFW area plumbing customers request trenchless, no dig sewer repair options for faster, cheaper and less invasive sewer line repair. 

We combined 3 years of internal service data with insights from our expert local plumbers to create this comprehensive guide to trenchless sewer line repair in Tarrant County, TX.

Most Dallas-Fort Worth area homeowners ask questions about these 5 aspects of trenchless sewer line repair:

• What type of trenchless sewer repair is best for you? The most frequent trenchless sewer repair project in Tarrant County is trenchless pipe bursting. Slip lining and trenchless pipe lining jobs are secondary options.
• No dig sewer repair is cheaper, but can’t be used in every situation. Trenchless projects cost less than conventional repairs due to faster, less-invasive plumbing labor. 
• Trenchless sewer repairs are faster than traditional repairs. The lack of extensive digging allows most trenchless plumbing repairs to be completed 1-4 days faster.
• Inspections. Always request a sewer camera inspection to locate your damaged pipe issue. If your plumbing company doesn't offer video and photo inspection services, call another plumbing company.
• Understand your responsibility. In Tarrant County, you’re responsible for sewer line maintenance on your property until the line connects to the city’s main sewer line.

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The 4 Most Common Types of Trenchless Sewer Repair

These are the 4 most common types of trenchless sewer line repair projects in Tarrant County, Texas:

1. Trenchless pipe bursting (most popular in DFW)
2. Slip lining
3. Trenchless pipe lining
4. Pipe coating

Let’s look at how each type of trenchless sewer line repair works, and the pros and cons of each repair method.

Trenchless pipe bursting

Trenchless pipe bursting is the most popular sewer line repair option in Tarrant County, TX. Its blend of speed and minimal intrusiveness is ideal for most homeowners.

A bursting head is pulled through your damaged sewer pipe. This bursting head is designed with a cone shape, which breaks apart the existing pipe while setting a new pipe in its place. 

Homeowners value pipe bursting for its speed and efficiency. It’s one of the fastest forms of trenchless sewer repair and is accomplished with minimal surface disruption. However, it’s more difficult to achieve if there are sharp or unexpected bends in your line, especially 45 degree and 90 degree turns.

Tarrant County residents should take note of their property’s soil before hiring a plumber for pipe bursting. The expansive clay soil in many DFW areas can put pressure on your new pipes during installation.

Slip lining

Slip lining is like pipe bursting, except the old pipe isn’t destroyed. Instead, a new pipe is slipped inside the existing damaged pipe. The space between the old and new pipes is filled with grout, and the ends of the pipe are sealed off.

Homeowners who choose slip lining want as little disruption as possible during their sewer line repairs. There’s only one entry point that’s disturbed during the process. This option is most effective when you have large breaks in the pipe.

Slip lining is extremely effective when fixing damaged sewer rising mains. However, you should expect a slightly reduced overall capacity — the new pipe is smaller than your existing one.

Trenchless pipe lining 

Also known as cured-in-place piping (CIPP), this method inserts a flexible liner into your new pipe. This pipe liner is a felt substrate coated with a thermoplastic polymer that expands and cures to your existing pipe. 

The liner is applied to the inside of your damaged sewer pipe, then treated with a curing agent to harden it. The resulting “patch” repairs holes and leaks in your sewer line without replacing any sections of pipe. Pipe lining is best for pipes with pinhole leaks.

CIPP requires no excavation and is generally cost-effective. However, it does take a bit more time than other options — it takes a day for the liner to cure, and 2-3 days to complete.

Pipe coating

An epoxy resin is applied to the inside of your damaged sewer pipe. This is usually accomplished with a machine that pumps the epoxy into your sewer line through a flexible tube.

A series of rotating brushes evenly applies the resin to damaged areas of your tube. The resin has anti-corrosive properties.

The downside? Pipe coating is not common in residential plumbing repairs, as the equipment is expensive. It’s used far more in commercial plumbing projects, and isn’t frequently seen in Dallas-Fort Worth sewer repair jobs. It’s also not the best trenchless option for large cracks or tree root intrusions.

How Much Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Cost in Fort Worth?

Trenchless pipe repair costs between $75-$250 per linear foot in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. This price range takes 3 key factors into account:

1. Size of repairs: How long is the section of damaged underground piping? The longer the pipe, the greater the cost.
2. Complexity of damage: Simple wear-and-tear and pinhole leaks are less expensive to repair. Labor and material costs rise for complex repairs and extensive damage.
3. Ease of access: No dig repairs avoid costly excavation — but you may still find barriers to repairs, like pesky tree roots and large underground boulders.

Epoxy pipe coating and small repair jobs trend towards the lower end of the average cost scale. Full sewer line replacement and trenchless pipe bursting are on the high end.

Trenchless sewer repair is cheaper than excavation

Trenchless sewer repair is usually cheaper than traditional excavation repair in Tarrant County — and far less invasive.

Conventional sewer line repair with open trenching and excavation almost always costs more than no dig sewer repair.

Trenchless solutions allow homeowners to avoid 4 costly parts of open trench repair work:

1. Excavation
2. Damage to existing hardscaping and driveway areas
3. Replacement of damaged yard space
4. Replacement of damaged landscaping

How Long Does No Dig Sewer Repair Take?

Trenchless pipe repair takes 1-4 days less than traditional sewer repair methods, depending on the specific type of repairs required. This minimally-invasive approach involves less physical work and virtually no excavation, saving time and labor costs. 

The specific timeline associated with your trenchless sewer project depends on the precise scope of work. Here's how long you should expect some of the most frequent trenchless pipe repair projects to take:

• Trenchless pipe bursting: 1-2 days
• Slip lining: 1-2 days
• Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP): 1 day (add 1 day for curing time)
• Pipe coating: 2-3 days

By comparison, the average open trench sewer repair project takes 2-5 days to complete.

How DFW’s clay soil impacts trenchless repair projects

Dallas-Fort Worth has a large quantity of expansive clay soil. This soil type expands and contracts quickly based on moisture — think about how muddy your yard gets when it rains, and how cracked it looks during a dry spell.

If your yard has a high clay soil content (which most DFW homes do), this can directly affect your pipe damage issues. This usually has a greater impact on open trench sewer line repairs that require moving and replacing large quantities of soil.

Tell your plumber about any clay soil concerns before your trenchless repair job starts. Our licensed journeyman and master plumbers live and work in Tarrant County, and they know how to conduct sewer line repairs in our region’s soil.

Always Request a Sewer Camera Inspection With Trenchless Repairs

A trustworthy plumbing company provides a thorough sewer camera inspection before and after your trenchless repairs. It’s your property — you should be able to clearly see where your underground pipe leak is located

A camera inspection also allows homeowners to document repair work in the event any issues arise. Ask your plumbers to keep photo or video proof of repairs on file.

Our Tarrant County plumbing experts provide video camera footage of every trenchless pipe repair job. You get the peace of mind that comes with visual proof that we found your leak and fixed it for good.

Fort Worth Residents Asked: No Dig Sewer Repair FAQs

Here are the questions about trenchless sewer repair our Tarrant County plumbing clients ask most often:

Am I responsible for my own sewer line repairs in Tarrant County?

Yes, Tarrant County homeowners and property owners are responsible for sewer line repairs inside their property lines.

Do I need a utility permit for trenchless sewer line repair in Tarrant County?

Yes, you need a utility permit to conduct sewer line repairs — but don't worry, the permit is free. These repairs are considered within the public right-of-way. Your plumber should handle all permitting needed for the job.

Visit the Tarrant County website to download your utility permit form. Submit the form, and obtain your permit at no cost.

How long does trenchless pipe replacement last?

Barring any unforeseen environmental or human damage, your new underground pipe can last up to 50 years.

Can i get reimbursed for my sewer line leak repairs?

No, we have not seen any Tarrant County customers get reimbursed for their trenchless pipe repair services by their town, municipality or the county. 

There is a much better chance of getting potable water plumbing issues reimbursed. Check out our recently updated guide to water bill reimbursement for every city in Tarrant County.

What’s a good warranty for trenchless pipe repair?

You won’t find a better plumbing warranty for water line breaks and pipe repair than ours! Our 6-year bumper-to-bumper warranty covers all facets of your repair, including parts and labor.

Conclusion

Trenchless sewer repair is a minimally invasive approach that requires little to no digging, far less labor and a shorter project timeline. 

The average Tarrant County no dig sewer repair job takes 1-4 days less than traditional sewer repair, and typically saves homeowners between 10-15 hours of labor expenses.

Remember to request a sewer camera inspection before and after every trenchless repair, and always get a free utility permit from your local municipality. 

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