How the method works
A cable is fed through the existing lateral from one access pit to another. A cone-shaped bursting head is attached, with a length of new pipe, usually high-density polyethylene joined into one continuous piece, connected behind it. As the head is pulled through, it fractures the old pipe and pushes the fragments out into the surrounding soil while the new pipe follows into the space.
Unlike lining, bursting leaves you with a brand-new pipe rather than a liner inside an old one, and it can install pipe the same size as or sometimes larger than the original. Like lining, it follows the existing path, so it cannot easily change the route.
Pipe bursting at a glance
- Digging
- Usually one pit near the house and one near the connection
- Result
- A new continuous pipe along the old path
- Old pipe
- Broken up and left in the ground
- Best suited to
- Brittle pipe such as clay or cast iron along a fairly straight run
- Watch out for
- Bellies, nearby utilities, tight bends
Conditions that help or complicate bursting
| Condition | Effect on bursting |
|---|---|
| Straight run with few bends | Helps; the head pulls through cleanly |
| Brittle clay or cast iron | Helps; it fractures readily |
| Gas, water or electric lines close to the sewer | Complicates; they must be located and protected |
| Long belly in the old line | Complicates; the new pipe may follow the low spot |
| Collapsed sections | May need the cable to be worked through or a spot dig first |
| Pit locations under hardscape | Adds restoration at the pit sites |
Typical sequence
Camera and locate
Confirm the path, depth and condition of the old pipe, and mark other utilities before any digging.
Dig access pits
Excavate at the start and end points, commonly near the house and near the public connection.
Fuse the new pipe
Lengths of new pipe are joined into one continuous run sized for the job.
Pull through
The bursting head and new pipe are pulled along the old path.
Connect and inspect
The new pipe is connected at both ends, inspected by camera and, where required, by the city.
Backfill and restore
Pits are filled and surfaces at the pit sites are restored.
Questions for a bursting proposal
- Where will the pits go, and how large will they be?
- What size and type of new pipe will be installed?
- How will you handle any belly in the existing line?
- Who restores the surface at the pit sites?
- Does the price include the permit, connections and a final camera run?
Common questions
Is pipe bursting the same as lining?
No. Lining leaves the old pipe in place with a liner inside. Bursting breaks the old pipe and installs a new one in its path.
Can the new pipe be larger than the old one?
Often it can be the same size or sometimes larger, depending on soil and equipment. Ask what is planned.
Does the old pipe have to be removed?
No. The fragments stay in the soil around the new pipe.
General information for La Habra, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.