If you need sewer repair or pipe replacement and have been doing your research, you’ve probably already learned about trenchless sewer repair. This technique first became available to residential owners around 10 or 15 years ago, and avoids excavating along the entire length of the pipe, leaving your yard intact. How? Essentially, trenchless sewer repairs work by inserting a flexible liner into the existing pipe and then curing it in place so that it hardens and rehabilitates the pipe (this is called CIPP, or cured in place pipe). The process can be done from only a single access point, meaning no trenches are necessary.

You might be thinking either that this sounds like a stopgap measure or that it’s cost prohibitive — and you aren’t alone in that assumption. But you shouldn’t make any decisions before we’ve busted those common myths:

• Myth #1: It Won’t Last Long

  Contrary to some lay assumptions, trenchless repairs using cured in place pipe don’t set you up for any sewer or piping work in the near future. Trenchless methods create a durable product that last just as long as traditional pipe (about 50 years). In fact, these systems sometimes function better than their predecessors, setting you up for even fewer concerns in the decades to come.

• Myth #2: It’s Too Expensive

  If you look only at the cost per linear foot, you might think traditional pipe replacement costs less than trenchless repair methods. But that’s only a superficial estimate of the true costs involved in a sewer repair project. Trenchless repairs can be done much more quickly than traditional ones, meaning you’ll only be paying a few days’ worth of labor costs, rather than a few weeks’ worth. Plus, you won’t need to worry about replacing expensive landscaping or hardscaping after the project has been completed. Together, those advantages can often offset the cost of going the trenchless route.

Are you more likely to call a trenchless sewer repair contractor, now that you know trenchless repairs are both durable and affordable? Join the discussion in the comments.