If your home was built before 1970, there is a good chance your main sewer line is made of vitrified clay (VCP). For decades, clay was the gold standard. It was inert, cheap, and resistant to chemical corrosion.
The crew digs a "launch pit" near your house foundation and a "receiving pit" near the property line or city tap. This is minimal disruption compared to a full trench. replacing clay sewer pipe without digging
A hydraulic machine pulls the rod back toward the house. The bursting head shatters the clay pipe outward. As the head moves, the new pipe glides into the exact path of the old one. If your home was built before 1970, there
However, clay is also brittle. Over 50–100 years, roots invade the joints, the pipes crack from ground shifting, and the bottom half of the pipe often erodes away. The crew digs a "launch pit" near your
The old solution was horrific: rent a jackhammer, tear up your driveway, destroy your landscaping, and dig a 6-foot-deep trench through your yard. The new solution?
A plumber sends a sewer camera down your cleanout. They confirm the clay is cracked and locate the exact start and end points.