Frequently asked questions

Most residential laterals are completed in one to two days once the line has been cleaned and inspected. Permitting and scheduling usually add more calendar time than the work itself.

No. On short, shallow, easily accessed runs an open cut can cost less. Trenchless generally wins when the line runs under a driveway, a finished surface, or mature landscaping, because it avoids the restoration cost.

Lining requires a continuous host pipe, so a fully collapsed section usually rules it out. Pipe bursting can often still be used. A camera inspection is what settles the question.

In most Tennessee jurisdictions yes, and the work is inspected. A licensed contractor pulls it as part of the job. Verify licensing before signing anything.

In most municipalities the property owner is responsible for the lateral from the house to the main, including the portion under the street. Confirm the boundary with your local utility, because it varies.

Manufacturers typically rate liners at a 50-year design life. That figure comes from the material manufacturers rather than independent field studies, so treat it as a design target rather than a guarantee.

No. The host pipe has to be continuous and reasonably round. Collapsed sections, severe offsets, and Orangeburg generally rule lining out.

It can if they are not located first. The old pipe fractures outward, so gas, water, and electrical lines in the same corridor must be located and marked before work begins. Tennessee 811 locates are required.

For an older home it is one of the cheapest pieces of information you can buy. A lateral replacement can run five figures and is not usually covered by a standard inspection.

Many contractors credit it if you proceed with them. Ask before scheduling, and get the answer in writing.

It can. Fragile clay, deteriorated Orangeburg, and thin-walled cast iron may not tolerate full pressure. A camera inspection first tells the technician what pressure the line will take.