How Much Does Trenchless Sewer Line Repair Cost?

By Shelley Frost

June 23, 2025

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Dealing with sewer issues stinks — there's no way around it. Getting the repairs you need quickly is essential for restoring balance in your plumbing system (and preventing major damage in your yard).

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What you might not know is that you have options: traditional or trenchless repairs. How much does trenchless sewer line repair cost, and is it worth it?

What Is Trenchless Sewer Line Repair?

Traditionally, repairing a sewer line involves digging a trench through your yard to access the pipe. This method requires a lot of heavy machinery, and it leaves your yard with a gaping hole that has to be filled. You'll need to repair the lawn and landscaping along the path as well. Traditional trenching is also typically a longer process.

Trenchless sewer line repair is a less invasive approach that uses smaller access holes to reach the sewer line. You may have small areas to patch, but it's less substantial than traditional digging. The trenchless approach usually starts with a camera inspection of the sewer line to assess the situation. While it's not available for all sewer line work, it can be used in many situations.

Two types of trenchless repair are pipe bursting and pipe lining. Pipe bursting is a method of replacing an old line. The special equipment moves the new sewer line in place at the same time it bursts or breaks apart the old one. With pipe lining, a thin resin liner is inserted into a cracked or damaged line. As it hardens, it seals any cracks or damage, creating a watertight line.

How Much Does Trenchless Sewer Line Repair Cost?

The average cost of trenchless pipe repair depends on the type you need. Pipe bursting typically ranges from $60 to $200 (CAD 82 to CAD 274) per linear foot. If you need cured-in-place pipe lining, you can expect to pay between $90 and $250 (CAD 123 to CAD 342) per linear foot.

The length of the section that needs to be repaired has a major impact on your total cost. Labor rates are another significant indicator of how much you'll pay for the repairs. You'll also have to pay for permits to complete the work, the cost of which can vary significantly depending on where you live.

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How Does the Cost Compare to Traditional Sewer Line Repair?

Specific sewer repair costs can vary significantly depending on what's wrong and what kind of repairs you need. When you compare the price of the actual digging, traditional digging tends to cost less at an average of $5 to $12 (CAD 6.84 to CAD 16) per linear foot compared to $10 to $30 (CAD 14 to CAD 41) per linear foot for trenchless digging.

However, traditional sewer repairs come with additional expenses after the digging is done, including landscaping costs of $4 to $12 (CAD 5.47 to CAD 16) per square foot. You might need to pay $1 to $2 (CAD 1.37 to CAD 2.74) per square foot for sod installation over the area that's excavated. If your driveway has to be dug up, the cost could range from $100 to $400 (CAD 137 to CAD 547) on the low end or $600 to $3,000 (CAD 821 to CAD 4,104) on the high end. Those restoration costs could add up significantly depending on how much area is disturbed by the digging.

Which Option Is Better?

Choosing between traditional and trenchless sewer line repair often comes down to the details. Some repairs can't be completed using trenchless digging, so you might not have a choice. Calling a professional plumber or sewer service helps you understand all of your options. You can also get detailed quotes for the different types of repairs.

When it comes to the costs, the actual digging is typically cheaper using traditional methods. However, the overall cost to completely restore your yard could be similar or even more expensive going the traditional route. Plus, the work takes longer, and your yard might not look quite the same after being dug up completely.

All CAD conversions are based on the exchange rate on the date of publication.

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