Which no-dig method matches which pipe problem
Match the damage on the footage to the method. A sales pitch that skips this step is a warning sign.
| What the camera shows | Method that usually fits | Honest limit |
|---|---|---|
| Hairline cracks, open joints, small root entry | Cured-in-place liner | Roots must be cut out first or they return through the seams |
| Pipe is old, rough inside, but still round and in line | Liner after hydro jetting | A heavily scaled pipe may need extra cleaning before lining |
| Pipe is collapsed or badly out of round | Pipe bursting or a short dig | A liner cannot hold a shape the host pipe no longer has |
| Belly that holds standing water | Dig and regrade that section | Lining follows the dip and the dip stays |
| Separated joint or offset pipe | Spot excavation | A liner can bridge a small gap but not a large shift |
| Pipe runs under a slab or a deck | Lining or bursting from a cleanout | Access points and cost depend on where the line can be reached |
Final method depends on footage, pipe size, and how many bends the line has.
What the camera has to show before anyone quotes lining
A sewer camera is a small waterproof lens on a flexible rod. It goes in through a cleanout, and a good inspection records the whole run from the house to the connection point. You want to see the footage, not just hear a summary of it.
Ask the plumber to note the distance of each defect from the cleanout. That number tells you whether a repair is one short section or the whole line. It also tells the crew where to dig if a trench turns out to be the better answer.
A locator on the surface can mark the pipe path and depth. Depth matters because pipe bursting needs pits at both ends, and a very deep run changes the plan.
Lining versus bursting in plain terms
Cured-in-place lining
A resin-soaked tube is pulled into the cleaned pipe, inflated, and hardened so it forms a new pipe inside the old one. It reduces the inside diameter slightly, but a smooth wall usually flows better than a rough, root-chewed one. It suits pipe that is sound enough to act as a mold.
Pipe bursting
A cone-shaped head is pulled through the old line, cracks it outward, and drags a new plastic pipe in behind it. This can restore the full diameter and even upsize the pipe. It needs entry and exit pits, and it is a poor fit when other utilities cross the path closely.
What you can do before the plumber arrives
These steps cost nothing and protect your floors, your insurance claim, and the footage quality.
- Stop sending water down the drains.
Hold off on laundry, dishwashing, and long showers. Every gallon has to go somewhere, and a blocked line sends it to the lowest fixture.
- Find the cleanout.
It is a capped pipe, often near the foundation, in a basement floor, or in a crawlspace. Do not open it if sewage is already rising, because the cap can release a surge.
- Photograph everything.
Take pictures of standing water, damaged belongings, and the date. Your policy decides what is covered, and photos make the conversation easier.
- Keep people and pets out of wet areas.
Backup water carries bacteria. Wear gloves and boots if you must go in, and wash well afterward.
- Note where the sewer gas smell is strongest.
A smell near one drain can point to a dry trap or a vent problem. A smell everywhere points toward the main line. Tell the plumber which one you have.
How a lining job unfolds
- 1
Clear the pipe.
A cable or a hydro jet removes roots and scale so the liner can seat against bare pipe wall.
- 2
Re-inspect with the camera.
The crew confirms the run is open and rechecks for collapses that the first pass missed behind the roots.
- 3
Install and cure the liner.
The tube is positioned, inflated, and hardened with steam, hot water, or light, depending on the product.
- 4
Reopen side connections and take final footage.
Branch lines are cut open from inside, and a closing video shows the finished pipe from end to end.
What moves the price of a no-dig repair
We are not quoting dollar figures here, because the footage drives the number. Length of the damaged run is the first factor, then pipe diameter and depth. The number of bends, cleanouts, and side connections also changes the labor.
Surface restoration matters too. A repair that needs two small pits costs differently from one that crosses a driveway or a retaining wall. Ask for a written scope that names the method, the footage covered, and what is included for cleanup.
Permits are part of the picture. If your insurance or a city program contributes, ask what paperwork they require before work begins. Call our 24/7 line and we will walk through the footage and give a clear price before work starts.
Wildwood sewers: what to know locally
The City of Wildwood says sewer service is provided by MSD Project Clear, and that the city does not manage utility records, so ask MSD about the main on your street. The city's Master Plan says the soils in much of the city are unsuitable for individual septic systems and that some subdivisions use package treatment plants. If your home is not on a public sewer, lining a lateral will not apply, so confirm your arrangement first.
City code section 510.080 says buildings with plumbing must connect to a public sewer when one is available, and it counts a sanitary sewer line within 200 feet as available. That matters if you are on an older private system and a main runs nearby.
An April 2023 city memo studied whether Wildwood would join the St. Louis County Sewer Lateral Repair Program. It cited a county fee of $28 to $50 per year and an average county repair cost of $3,330. We could not confirm that Wildwood joined, so ask the city before assuming any program help.
Neighboring cities run their own rules. Ellisville states that the homeowner is responsible for a leaking lateral, and Ballwin reimburses repairs up to a set cap through an application. Neither rule is Wildwood's, but both show why to ask before you sign a contract. See our pages for Ellisville and Ballwin for those programs.
Sources: City of Wildwood FAQ, City of Wildwood Master Plan, Wildwood city code 510.080, City of Wildwood April 2023 sewer lateral memo, City of Ellisville and City of Ballwin lateral program pages
When to stop and call a licensed plumber
Call as soon as you see sewage in a floor drain, repeated slow drains across the house, or a gurgle in a toilet when another fixture drains. Those signs point to the main line, and a blocked main can flood a basement fast. Our sewer line repair crews and our camera inspection service can start with a recording of the line, so you decide with the facts in front of you.
Think the main line is failing?
Get the footage first, then decide between lining, bursting, or a short dig.
Questions we hear in Wildwood, MO
Often yes, if the line can be reached from a cleanout and the pipe is sound enough to hold a liner. Lining and bursting both work from access points rather than from the surface. A camera inspection shows whether the run is clear and whether an offset or collapse rules it out.
A cured liner has no seams, so roots lose the cracks and joints they enter through. Roots can still push at connection points and at the ends of the liner. Many homeowners add a periodic hydro jetting visit if large trees stand near the line.
A collapsed section, a deep belly, or an open offset joint usually calls for a short dig. The camera footage and the locator reading settle it. If a company quotes a method without showing you footage, ask for the recording before you agree.
Plumbing work in Wildwood is governed by the St. Louis County Plumbing Code as adopted in city code 500.060, and city code 500.080 says no plumbing work happens in the city without a permit. Ask the building department how your specific repair is handled before work begins.
The city says sewer service is MSD Project Clear, but its Master Plan also says many properties outside MSD boundaries rely on private treatment, especially west of Highway 109. Lining applies to a lateral that connects to a public main. If you have a septic tank, ask MSD and the city to confirm your arrangement, because the repair path is different.
The cleaning, camera work, and curing usually fit into a single working day for a short run, while a trench adds excavation, backfill, and restoration. Length, pipe size, and cure method change the timing, so the plumber should state it in the scope before work starts.
Run water in rarely used drains to refill dry traps, since a dry trap is a common cause. If the smell stays strong or you also see slow drains, call a plumber. If you smell natural gas instead, leave the building and call Spire at 800-887-4173 or 911 before calling a plumber.
Have a question this page did not answer? Call (855) 575-2890 at any hour and a dispatcher will talk it through.