Pipe Bursting for Sewer Line Replacement: How It Works

The basic idea

In pipe bursting, a cone-shaped bursting head is pulled through the old sewer line by a cable or rods. As it moves, it breaks the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil. New pipe, usually a continuous length of plastic, is attached behind the head and pulled into the space the old pipe occupied.

Unlike lining, bursting does not depend on the old pipe being intact; it is a full replacement. That makes it an option for clay or cast-iron lines that are too cracked or broken to line, provided there is room to dig an entry pit and an exit pit at the two ends.

A typical bursting job from start to finish

Before the job: Camera inspection, locating, utility marking and checking permit requirements.
Pit digging: An entry pit is dug at one end, often near the house, and an exit pit near the other end.
Setup: The pulling machine is set in one pit and the cable is threaded through the old line.
The pull: The bursting head breaks the old pipe as new pipe follows it through.
Connections: The new pipe is joined to the house drain and to the connection at the street end.
Finish: A camera run checks the new pipe, any inspection is completed and the pits are backfilled.

Bursting compared with lining

Pipe bursting

Full replacement with new pipe
Works on badly cracked or broken pipe
Needs an entry pit and an exit pit
Can sometimes upsize the pipe slightly
Follows the old path, including its slope

Pipe lining

New pipe formed inside the old one
Needs the old pipe to hold its shape
Often works from a cleanout or small pit
Slightly reduces the inside diameter
Also follows the old path and slope

Things that can limit pipe bursting

Other utilities running close to the sewer line that could be disturbed as the old pipe breaks outward.
Not enough room near the house or the street to dig the pits.
A belly or sharp bends along the line that the new pipe would follow or cannot pass.
Very hard or rocky soil, or nearby foundations and structures.
Sections under the house slab, which may need a different approach.

Questions to ask about pipe bursting

Where exactly will the two pits be, and how large will they be?
What else is buried near the line, and how will it be protected?
What pipe will be pulled in, and what size?
How will the new pipe connect at the house and at the street end?
Who restores the areas around the pits?

Common questions

Does pipe bursting fix a sagging line?

Not by itself. The new pipe follows the path of the old one, so a significant belly may need to be re-laid by excavation.

Is pipe bursting noisy or disruptive?

There is equipment noise and two excavations, but usually far less disruption than a trench along the whole run. Ask how long the work and the drain outage will last.

Can bursting go under a driveway?

Often, since the new pipe follows the old one underground. The pits need to be somewhere accessible, which may or may not be clear of the driveway.

General information for Fullerton, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.