Pipe Bursting

Trenchless Pipe Replacement Without Open Trenches

When a pipe is too damaged for rehabilitation, pipe bursting offers a trenchless alternative to traditional dig-and-replace. TrenchFree uses pipe bursting to replace failed pipelines by fracturing the existing pipe outward while simultaneously pulling a new pipe into place—all through small access pits rather than continuous trenching.

How Pipe Bursting Works

A bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe, breaking it apart and pushing fragments into the surrounding soil. Immediately behind the bursting head, a new HDPE pipe is pulled into the void, creating a seamless replacement line in a single pass.

Ideal For

  • Pipes beyond repair—collapsed, severely corroded, or structurally failed
  • Upsizing pipe diameter — Replace a 6″ line with an 8″ line in the same path
  • Sewer, storm drain, and water line replacement
  • Sites where trenching would damage valuable infrastructure or landscaping

Pipe Materials Replaced

  • Clay and vitrified clay pipe (VCP)
  • Cast iron
  • Orangeburg and bituminous fiber pipe
  • Concrete pipe
  • Deteriorated PVC and ABS

Benefits

  • Minimal surface disturbance—access pits instead of continuous trenches
  • Faster than traditional dig-and-replace methods
  • Long-term structural solution with new pipe materials
  • Reduced restoration costs and community disruption
  • Environmentally responsible—less excavation, less hauling, less waste

Limitations

Pipe bursting works best in stable soil conditions and requires adequate clearance from adjacent utilities. Our team evaluates each site to determine whether bursting or another trenchless method is the best fit.