Plumber Delaware County | Drain & Sewer

Pipe Bursting in Delaware County, PA

Pipe bursting is a trenchless method to replace a failed sewer lateral without excavating the full pipe run. Advanced Drains and Underground Solutions uses pipe bursting throughout Delaware County when a line is too damaged to rehabilitate with a liner — collapsed sections, severely bellied runs, or pipes made from materials that can no longer hold a structural lining.

Most sewer laterals in Delaware County were installed between 1920 and 1970. Homes built before 1950 typically have clay tile pipe with bell-and-spigot joints, and homes built between 1950 and 1965 often have Orangeburg — a tar-impregnated fiber pipe that deforms and collapses over time. Both materials eventually fail in ways that make CIPP lining impractical: the pipe geometry is too irregular, the walls too degraded, or the collapse too complete to hold a liner under pressure.

When camera inspection confirms that a section of pipe cannot be lined, pipe bursting becomes the appropriate repair. A hydraulic bursting head is pulled through the old pipe, fracturing it outward into the surrounding soil while simultaneously pulling a new HDPE pipe into position. The old pipe is displaced rather than removed; the new pipe runs in the same path with no full-length trench required.

When Pipe Bursting Is the Right Call

The decision between CIPP lining and pipe bursting comes down to what the camera shows. If the existing pipe has intact structure but failing joints or root intrusion, lining is usually the better option. If the camera shows sections that have collapsed, severe belly, or Orangeburg delamination, pipe bursting replaces the full run and eliminates the problem permanently.

Delaware County’s shared lateral situation adds complexity. In twin homes and row houses — common throughout Upper Darby, Lansdowne, Darby Borough, and Sharon Hill — two or more properties may share a single lateral before it connects to the municipal main. Pipe bursting can address a single party’s portion of that lateral when the failure is localized, though work near a shared tap requires coordination with adjacent property owners and the municipality.

In Delaware County, the private lateral runs from the house foundation to the connection point at the municipal main. The homeowner is responsible for the full length of that lateral. DELCORA (Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority) owns the collection mains and treatment infrastructure — private laterals are not their responsibility. This means pipe bursting work on a private lateral does not require DELCORA permits, though most municipalities require a local plumbing permit before excavating access pits.

The Pipe Bursting Process

A typical residential pipe bursting job in Delaware County requires two small access excavations: one at the house cleanout or foundation entry, and one at or near the property line where the lateral meets the municipal tap. Access pits are usually two to four feet square. Between those two points, no trench is opened.

The bursting head threads into the old pipe from the access pit, connected to the new HDPE pipe trailing behind it. A hydraulic pulling unit draws the head through the pipe run, fracturing the old material as it moves. After the pull is complete, the HDPE pipe connects to the building drain at one end and the existing tap fitting at the other. The access pits are backfilled and compacted, and the surface is restored.

HDPE is the preferred replacement material because it is continuous — no joints in the buried run — and resistant to root intrusion. A properly installed HDPE lateral should perform for 50 or more years under normal residential loading.

Service Area

Advanced Drains performs pipe bursting throughout Delaware County, including Springfield Township, Haverford Township, Upper Darby Township, Radnor Township, Newtown Township, and all of the county boroughs. We work in Chester County communities along the county boundary on a case-by-case basis depending on permit jurisdiction.

Already Have a Quote? Get a Second Opinion.

Trenchless equipment is easy to buy. A trailer and a liner kit do not make someone a sewer contractor. If you have been told the whole line has to be replaced, or handed a price that does not add up, bring us the written estimate and the video. The site visit is free. We will tell you plainly what we see, including when the answer is that you do not need the work.

Underground Is All We Do

• Craig Devakow has done trenchless sewer work since 2014, five years before he founded this company. Well over 2,000 sewer lines in that time.
• More than 12,000 service visits on record since 2020.
• Owned and run by a licensed master plumber. Pennsylvania HIC #PA151129.
• We own our lining and pipe bursting equipment, and we line pipe from 2 inches to 6 inches.
• You get a camera video of the finished line, yours to keep.
• Everything in writing. We beat any written estimate.

What to Ask Any Trenchless Contractor

1. How long have you done trenchless work, and is it your main trade?
2. Is a licensed master plumber on the job?
3. Do you own the equipment, and what pipe sizes can you line?
4. Will I get video before and after?
5. Who makes the liner, and what does the written warranty say?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns the sewer lateral — me or the borough?

In most Delaware County municipalities, the homeowner is responsible for the lateral from the house foundation to the connection at the municipal main. The authority owns the main itself. If your lateral has a confirmed failure, the repair cost is the homeowner’s. A camera inspection report with a location map will clarify exactly where the problem is relative to that ownership boundary.

Can pipe bursting damage nearby utility lines?

Before any bursting work, we perform a utility locate through Pennsylvania One Call (PA 811). The locate identifies gas, electric, water, and communications lines in the work zone. If a utility runs too close to the burst path, we adjust the approach or substitute a conventional excavation for that section.

Is pipe bursting less expensive than digging up the full line?

The comparison depends on pipe depth, run length, and what surface material covers the pipe. Pipe bursting eliminates the cost of excavating and restoring a full-length trench — often avoiding damage to driveways, sidewalks, or mature landscaping. On a typical suburban lateral in Delaware County, the trenchless approach is usually comparable or less expensive when surface restoration is factored in. A camera inspection and written estimate will give you the actual numbers for your property.

Get a Sewer Camera Inspection

The first step is a sewer camera inspection to confirm what the pipe looks like and whether pipe bursting is the right repair for your situation. Call Advanced Drains at 1-855-DONT-DIG. We serve all of Delaware County and typically schedule within one business day.