Limit water use
If the line is damaged or backing up, reduce water use until it is repaired.
Sewer line damaged but excavation is a concern?
Trenchless methods such as pipe lining and pipe bursting repair or replace sewer lines with small access pits instead of a full trench, saving landscaping and driveways. Call 833-877-1717. RepairNowUSA connects the request. An independent provider does the work.
Am I in the right place?Yes for damaged sewer lines under driveways, landscaping, slabs or streets.
Is this urgent?Urgent only if backing up now.
What do I do next?Call 833-877-1717.
Need inspection first: camera inspection.
RepairNowUSA editorial review · Last substantively reviewed October 14, 2026 · Review standards
What to do now
Get a camera inspection
Trenchless options depend on the pipe’s condition. A camera inspection comes first.
Call 811 before digging
Any excavation, even small access pits, requires locating buried utilities. Call 811 before anyone digs.
Not every line qualifies
Collapsed, severely bellied or some pipe types may still need excavation. Providers decide after inspection. Call 811 before any digging.
Common situations
Pipe lining (CIPP)
A resin-soaked liner is inserted and cured inside the old pipe, forming a new pipe within it.
Pipe bursting
A new pipe is pulled through the old one while a bursting head breaks the old pipe apart.
Spot repairs
Short sections with cracks or root entry can sometimes get a sectional liner.
When digging is still needed
Collapsed lines, severe sags (bellies) and some connections may still need excavation. See sewer line repair.
What to have ready when you call
- Property ZIP code and whether it is a home, rental or business
- Results of any camera inspection
- Where the line runs: under driveway, yard, slab or street
- Pipe material and age, if known
- Whether the line is backing up now
How trenchless sewer repair usually works
- Inspect and measure. A camera shows the damage, the pipe size and the length to repair.
- Clean the line. Roots and debris are removed, often by hydro jetting.
- Install. A liner is cured in place, or a new pipe is pulled through by bursting.
- Reinstate and verify. Branch connections are reopened and a final camera pass checks the work.
Permits may be required for sewer work. Ask the plumber who pulls permits and whether the work includes the connection to the city main.
What happens when you call RepairNowUSA
- Describe what is happening in plain words and give the property ZIP code. You do not need to know which trade to ask for.
- RepairNowUSA checks for a participating independent provider who handles trenchless sewer repair in that area.
- If one is available, you are connected. The provider confirms timing, access, scope and price with you before any work.
- The provider, not RepairNowUSA, diagnoses and performs the repair.
RepairNowUSA is a referral and connection service. Provider availability and response times vary by location, time and demand, and are not guaranteed. Before you approve work, ask what was found, the price, the timing and what is not included.
Call 833-877-1717Sewer line damaged but excavation is a concern questions
How long does trenchless repair last?
Manufacturers and installers often rate liners and new pipe for decades, but results depend on the product and installation. Ask for the warranty in writing.
Is trenchless cheaper than digging?
Often, when you include restoring driveways, landscaping and hardscape. It depends on the job.
Can every sewer line be lined?
No. Collapsed pipe, severe sags and some layouts may need excavation.
Will I lose sewer service during the work?
Usually for part of a day while the line is cleaned and the liner cures or the new pipe is installed.
Can I call at night or on a weekend?
Yes. You can call 833-877-1717 at any time, including nights, weekends and holidays. Whether an independent provider can come out right away depends on your ZIP code, the time and provider capacity, so availability is not guaranteed.
Authoritative references
These public sources give general safety context. They do not replace an on-site evaluation, and RepairNowUSA does not perform the work.