Trenchless methods
Pipe Bursting in Houston
A bursting head splits the old pipe while pulling new HDPE pipe in behind it, through two small pits.
How pipe bursting works
A steel cable is threaded through the old sewer line from a pit at one end to a pit at the other. A cone-shaped bursting head, with new high-density polyethylene pipe fused to it, is pulled through by a hydraulic unit. The head splits the old clay or cast iron outward into the soil and the new pipe follows in the same alignment at the same depth. The result is a single fused length of pipe with no joints for roots to find.
When bursting is the right call
- Collapsed sections — a liner needs a host pipe to hold its shape; a collapsed run has none.
- Bellies — a low spot that holds water stays a low spot after lining. Bursting lays new pipe on a fresh bed.
- Undersized lines — bursting can upsize a 3-inch lateral to 4 inches; lining slightly reduces diameter.
- Badly deformed pipe — Orangeburg that has flattened, or cast iron with most of its bottom gone.
What the job looks like
One pit at the house or cleanout, one at the property line or the street connection, each a few feet square. Utilities that cross within a foot or two of the sewer path are located and potholed first. The pull takes an hour or two; the whole job, including fusing, connections, inspection and backfill, is usually one day.
Permits and the street
If the downstream pit is in the sidewalk, parkway or street, a right-of-way permit and restoration to city standards are required in addition to the plumbing permit. If the connection at the main is replaced, the city inspects it before the pit closes. Confirm who is handling this before work starts.
Estimates are free. Call now: (346) 644-6780.
Pipe Bursting by city in Harris County
Local conditions, the ZIP codes covered and how to reach the contractor for each city.
- Pipe Bursting Houston
- Pipe Bursting Baytown
- Pipe Bursting Aldine
- Pipe Bursting Atascocita
- Pipe Bursting Barrett
- Pipe Bursting Channelview
- Pipe Bursting Cinco Ranch
- Pipe Bursting Cloverleaf
- Pipe Bursting Crosby
- Pipe Bursting Highlands
- Pipe Bursting Mission Bend
- Pipe Bursting Sheldon
- Pipe Bursting Spring
- Pipe Bursting The Woodlands
- Pipe Bursting Bellaire
- Pipe Bursting Bunker Hill Village
- Pipe Bursting Deer Park
- Pipe Bursting El Lago
- Pipe Bursting Friendswood
- Pipe Bursting Galena Park
- Pipe Bursting Hedwig Village
- Pipe Bursting Hilshire Village
- Pipe Bursting Humble
- Pipe Bursting Hunters Creek Village
- Pipe Bursting Jacinto City
- Pipe Bursting Jersey Village
- Pipe Bursting Katy
- Pipe Bursting La Porte
- Pipe Bursting League City
- Pipe Bursting Missouri City
- Pipe Bursting Morgan's Point
- Pipe Bursting Nassau Bay
- Pipe Bursting Pasadena
- Pipe Bursting Pearland
- Pipe Bursting Piney Point Village
- Pipe Bursting Seabrook
- Pipe Bursting Shoreacres
- Pipe Bursting South Houston
- Pipe Bursting Southside Place
- Pipe Bursting Spring Valley Village
- Pipe Bursting Stafford
- Pipe Bursting Taylor Lake Village
- Pipe Bursting Tomball
- Pipe Bursting Waller
- Pipe Bursting Webster
- Pipe Bursting West University Place