If you’ve been researching sewer line repairs in Denver, you’ve probably seen ads for “trenchless pipe lining” or “CIPP lining” promising to fix your sewer problems without digging up your yard. No mess, no landscaping damage, done in a day. Sounds perfect, right?
Here’s the thing: we don’t offer pipe lining at Ed’s Sewer and Water Repair. Not because we can’t learn how to do it, but because after 28 years of doing underground work, I’ve seen too many lined pipes fail to put my name on that work.
I’m going to explain exactly what pipe lining is, why it’s not the miracle fix it’s marketed as, and why we believe excavation and replacement is the right way to fix a broken sewer line. This isn’t about bashing other contractors—it’s about being honest with homeowners about what actually works long-term.
What Is Trenchless Pipe Lining (CIPP)?
Trenchless pipe lining, also called Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP), is a method where contractors insert a flexible resin-soaked tube into your existing damaged pipe. They inflate it like a balloon, let the resin harden, and you’ve got a new pipe inside your old pipe. All done through small access points without digging up your yard.
The appeal is obvious: no digging means no destroyed landscaping, no torn-up driveways, and typically lower labor costs. The marketing makes it sound like a no-brainer. But here’s what they’re not telling you.
The Problems with Pipe Lining Nobody Talks About
It Doesn’t Fix Structural Problems
This is the big one. Pipe lining creates a new pipe inside your old pipe, but it doesn’t fix what caused the damage in the first place.
If your pipe has settled or shifted (what we call a “belly” in the line), the lining follows that same sag. Water still pools there. Grease still accumulates. You haven’t fixed anything—you’ve just made it slightly harder to see the problem on a camera inspection.
If tree roots crushed your clay pipe and pushed it out of alignment, the liner goes into that misaligned pipe. The structural problem is still there. The ground around it is still moving. Eventually, that liner will crack or separate at the same weak points.
We’ve been called out to excavate and replace lined pipes that failed within 3-5 years. The homeowner spent $8,000-$12,000 on the lining, then had to pay for full replacement anyway. That’s not saving money—that’s paying twice.
It Can’t Handle Multiple Failure Points
Pipe lining works best on a single section of pipe with minimal damage. But most sewer lines that need repair have multiple problems:
- Several sections with root intrusion
- Cracks or breaks in different areas
- Joints that have separated
- Both bellies and offsets in the same line
When you have multiple failure points, you’re asking a flexible liner to fix every problem spot at once. It might hold for a while, but it’s not addressing the underlying issues that caused those failures.
Joint Problems and Connection Issues
Most sewer line failures happen at the joints—where two pipe sections connect. Clay pipes especially fail at these connection points because the mortar deteriorates or tree roots find their way in.
Pipe lining doesn’t eliminate those joints. It covers them, but it doesn’t restore structural integrity at the connection. Over time, ground movement continues to stress those joints, and the liner can pull apart or wrinkle at exactly those weak spots.
We’ve also seen problems where the liner doesn’t properly connect to existing pipes—your house connection or the city main. If there’s any gap or misalignment, you get leaking, root intrusion, or eventually another backup.
It Reduces Your Pipe Diameter
When you put a new pipe inside an old pipe, you lose diameter. A 4-inch sewer line might become a 3.5-inch or 3.75-inch line after lining. For main sewer lines, this usually isn’t a huge problem, but it does reduce flow capacity.
More importantly, any future blockages or root intrusions have less room to develop before you’ve got a complete stoppage. That margin for error gets smaller.
When Pipe Lining Actually Makes Sense (Rare Cases)
Look, I’m not saying pipe lining is never the right choice. There are specific situations where it can work:
- Single localized damage in an otherwise good pipe that’s in a terrible location to excavate (under a concrete patio, for example)
- Commercial high-rise buildings where replacing vertical stacks would be enormously disruptive
- Minimal damage with confirmed good structural integrity where the pipe has settled correctly and you’re just sealing minor cracks
But these situations are the exception, not the rule. For typical residential sewer line problems in Denver—broken clay pipes, root-invaded cast iron, settled or shifted lines—excavation and replacement is the better solution.
Why Excavation and Replacement Is the Right Way
You Fix the Actual Problem
When we excavate and replace your sewer line, we’re not just covering up damage—we’re eliminating it. We remove the broken clay or corroded cast iron pipe and install new Schedule 40 PVC pipe that’s properly bedded and supported.
If the line has settled and created a belly, we correct the grade. If tree roots caused the damage, we reroute the line away from the tree or install root-resistant pipe. We address the cause, not just the symptom.
Modern Materials Last Longer
PVC sewer pipe, when properly installed, should last 75-100 years or more. It won’t corrode like cast iron. Tree roots can’t penetrate the joints like they did with clay pipe. It’s smooth inside, so waste flows better and doesn’t accumulate.
Pipe lining manufacturers claim their product lasts 50 years, but that assumes perfect installation conditions and no continued ground movement. We don’t have 50 years of real-world data yet because the technology is relatively new for residential applications.
What we do have is 28 years of seeing what actually holds up underground. Properly installed PVC holds up. Liners over structurally compromised pipes? Not so much.
You Get Proper Support and Bedding
When we replace a sewer line, we don’t just drop new pipe in a hole. We properly bed the pipe in clean gravel, ensure correct slope for drainage, compact the backfill in lifts, and make sure nothing’s going to shift or settle.
Pipe lining doesn’t give you any of that. Your new liner is sitting in the same failed pipe, in the same unsupported soil conditions that caused the original failure. Nothing has changed structurally.
Warranties Actually Mean Something
We warranty our excavation and replacement work because we know it’s done right. The pipe is supported correctly, graded properly, and installed to code. If something goes wrong, it’s on us to fix it.
Pipe lining warranties often have more exclusions than coverage. They might not cover problems caused by continued ground settlement, root intrusion, or connection failures—which are exactly the problems most likely to occur.
The Honest Cost Comparison
Yes, excavation costs more upfront than pipe lining. Typically 20-40% more depending on the situation. But let’s look at the real numbers over time:
Scenario 1: Pipe Lining
Initial cost: $8,000
Liner fails in 5 years due to structural issues
Full replacement now required: $10,000 (prices increased)
Total cost: $18,000
Scenario 2: Excavation and Replacement
Initial cost: $11,000
Properly installed pipe lasts 75+ years
Total cost: $11,000
The math is pretty simple. If there’s even a 30% chance the lining will fail and need replacement within 10 years, you’re better off doing it right the first time.
Our Philosophy: Do It Right or Don’t Do It
Ed’s Sewer and Water Repair isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. We’re not a one-stop shop for every possible plumbing service. What we are good at—what we’ve been doing since 1997—is underground sewer and water line work done right.
When you call us, we’re not going to sell you the quick fix that makes us money today but creates problems for you tomorrow. If your sewer line needs repair, we’re going to recommend the solution that actually solves the problem: excavation and replacement with proper materials and proper installation.
Is it messier? Yes, for a few days. Does it cost more upfront? Usually, yes. Will it actually fix your problem and last for decades? Absolutely.
We’ve turned down work because a homeowner wanted pipe lining and we couldn’t ethically recommend it for their situation. That’s fine. We’d rather lose a job than put our name on work we don’t believe in.
Questions to Ask Before Choosing Pipe Lining
If you’re getting quotes from contractors who offer pipe lining, here are questions you should ask:
- What caused my pipe to fail? (If they don’t know or don’t care, that’s a red flag)
- Will lining fix the underlying structural issue? (If they say yes, be skeptical)
- What happens if the liner fails in 5 years? (Who pays for replacement?)
- What’s not covered by your warranty? (Read the exclusions carefully)
- Can I see examples of lined pipes you’ve installed that are still working after 10+ years? (This tech is newer than many realize)
A good contractor will answer these questions honestly. If they’re evasive or defensive, that tells you something.
What We Recommend Instead
Before anyone does any work on your sewer line, get an independent camera inspection. Not from the contractor who’s bidding the job—from an independent inspector who has no financial interest in what gets recommended.
A proper inspection will show you:
- The exact location and extent of damage
- What caused the failure (roots, settlement, corrosion, etc.)
- Whether the problem is isolated or widespread
- The overall condition of your entire sewer line
Once you have that inspection video and report, you can make an informed decision. If you’ve got a single small section of damage in an otherwise good pipe, maybe spot repair makes sense. If you’ve got multiple problem areas, old pipe material, or structural issues, replacement is the answer.
We’ll review your inspection report with you, explain what we’re seeing, and give you an honest quote for doing the work right. No pressure, no gimmicks, just straight talk about what your sewer line needs.
The Bottom Line
Pipe lining isn’t the miracle solution it’s marketed as. For most residential sewer problems in Denver—especially those involving older clay or cast iron pipes, root damage, or structural issues—excavation and replacement is the better long-term solution.
We don’t offer pipe lining because we’ve seen too many fail. We’re not willing to put our name on work that we know won’t hold up. Instead, we do what we’ve been doing since 1997: quality underground work that actually solves the problem.
Is our approach for everyone? No. If you’re looking for the absolute cheapest option or the quickest fix, we’re probably not your contractor. But if you want your sewer line repaired once, correctly, and you want it to last for decades, that’s what we do.
Ready to Fix Your Sewer Line Right?
Start with an independent camera inspection so you know exactly what you’re dealing with. Once you have that inspection report, contact us for an honest quote. We’ll review the inspection with you, explain what needs to be done, and give you a fair price for quality work.
No gimmicks. No pressure. Just honest advice from someone who’s been doing underground work in Denver since 1997.
Call us at (303) 513-1233 or get a free quote online.