Trenchless Sewer Repair in Fort Collins & Loveland

Pipe lining and pipe bursting that replace a failing sewer line with little or no digging.

Camera inspection first
Written, itemized quotes
Serving Larimer County

Trenchless repair fixes a sewer line from the inside, or replaces it by pulling new pipe through the old one, without digging a trench across your yard. For homes with mature trees, finished landscaping, a driveway over the line or a connection under the street, it can save days of work and thousands in restoration. It does not work on every line, so we always run a camera first and tell you honestly whether it will work on yours.

Call (970) 999-1365 to find out whether your line is a candidate.

Call now

Choose your area

Local rules on who owns the line, permits and inspections differ by town. Pick yours:

Fort Collins Loveland Windsor Timnath Wellington Berthoud Johnstown Severance

Two trenchless methods

Pipe lining (cured-in-place pipe, CIPP). After the line is cleaned with a hydro jetter, a flexible liner soaked in resin is pulled or inverted into the old pipe and inflated against its walls. The resin cures, usually with hot water, steam or UV light, and leaves a smooth, jointless pipe inside the old one. Connections from the house are reopened with a robotic cutter. Lining usually needs only the existing cleanout, or one small access pit.

Lining is the right tool for pipe that is cracked, leaking or full of root entry points but still round and continuous. It seals the joints roots get in through, and the smooth interior is less likely to catch waste.

Pipe bursting. A cone-shaped bursting head is pulled through the old line, breaking it outward into the surrounding soil while a new seamless HDPE pipe follows right behind it. It needs a pit at each end of the run. Bursting replaces the pipe completely, so it works even where the old pipe is badly broken, as long as the head can get through it.

When trenchless will not work

Trenchless is not a fix for every problem, and a contractor who quotes it without a camera inspection is guessing. It is usually ruled out when:

The pipe has collapsed and nothing can pass through the section.
There is a significant sag (belly). A liner follows the shape of the old pipe, so it cannot fix a low spot where waste collects. This is one of the most common questions we get, and the answer is no.
The slope is wrong along the line.
Joints are badly offset, or the line has several sharp bends.
The line needs re-routing, or additional connections have to be added.

In those cases, the fix is usually a spot repair or an excavated replacement of the problem section, sometimes combined with lining the rest. Sewer line replacement options.

Stack of PVC pipe at a job site

Trenchless versus digging

	Trenchless	Excavation
Digging	Cleanout or one to two small pits	Trench along the damaged run
Restoration	Minimal	Lawn, sprinklers, hardscape, sometimes street
Typical time	Often one day	One to three days or more
Fixes sags and slope	No	Yes
Price per foot	About the same or higher	Often lower per foot, plus restoration

National cost guides put trenchless sewer work at about $60 to $250 per foot, against $50 to $200 per foot for excavated replacement (This Old House, 2026, based on Angi data). Trenchless is not automatically cheaper. It usually wins when there is something expensive on top of the line: a driveway, a patio, mature trees, finished landscaping or the street. See the cost guide.

Why it suits Fort Collins and Loveland homes

Fort Collins and Loveland have a lot of mature street trees and established yards, and their older neighborhoods have a lot of clay and cast iron pipe. About 31% of Fort Collins homes and 34% of Loveland homes were built before 1980 (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 5-year estimates). That combination, old pipe with roots in the joints under landscaping you would rather not dig up, is exactly where lining and bursting earn their keep.

Questions to ask any trenchless contractor

Did you run a camera through the whole line, and can I see the video?
Which method, which liner or pipe, and how long is the warranty? Get the warranty in writing with your quote.
How will the line be cleaned before lining? A liner over roots or scale fails early.
How will the house connections be reopened?
Is restoration included, and what does it cover?
Will I get a final video of the finished pipe?

The process

Camera inspection to confirm the line is a trenchless candidate and to measure it.
Written quote with the method, length, warranty and any pits.
Permits and 811 locates, where required.
Cleaning. Hydro jetting removes roots, grease and scale.
Lining or bursting. Most residential lines are finished in a day.
Final camera video of the new pipe, and backfill of any pits.

Trenchless sewer repair FAQ

Is trenchless sewer repair cheaper than digging?

Not always per foot. It often costs less in total because it avoids rebuilding driveways, patios and landscaping, and it is faster.

Can trenchless repair fix a belly in my sewer line?

No. A liner follows the shape of the existing pipe, so a sag stays a sag. Bellies are fixed by excavating and re-laying that section at the right slope.

How long does a sewer liner last?

Cured-in-place liners are designed to last for decades. Ask for the manufacturer’s rating and the installer’s warranty in writing.

Does lining reduce the size of my pipe?

Slightly, by the thickness of the liner, but the smooth interior usually flows as well as or better than the rough old pipe.

Is trenchless repair worth it?

When there is a driveway, patio, mature tree or the street over the damaged section, it usually is. When the line runs under open lawn, a short excavation can be just as good and sometimes cheaper. Your quote shows both.