Trenchless pipe repair is a modern, minimally invasive method for fixing damaged sewer and water lines without the need for extensive digging. Instead of tearing up driveways, foundations, or landscaping, this technique allows us to repair pipes from a single access point, saving time and reducing costs.

In this blog post, we’ll take you through the full process of a trenchless pipe repair project in downtown San Antonio. From preparation to final inspection, you’ll see exactly how our team at Reliant Plumbing restores damaged pipes efficiently and effectively—without the mess of traditional excavation.

You can tag along with our team as we work on-site in downtown San Antonio. Our technician, Steven, will walk you through the setup for the trenchless pipe repair. Because very few companies in the area actually do this, Reliant Plumbing was able to save the customer thousands of dollars. 

In this post we’ll take you through a trenchless pipe repair our team performed for a commercial customer  in downtown San Antonio. In this job, you’ll see how we 90 feet of lining gets done. Trenchless technology allows us to repair pipes without invasive digging.

“Our customer originally received pricing for tunneling, but they found us, and Reliant was able to assess the issue and offer alternative solutions that other companies didn’t provide.”

Table of Contents
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    two plumbers coating pipe in epoxy resin during trenchless pipe repair process

    Tools and Materials

    • Buckets
    • Mop
    • Scissors
    • Internal Pipe Liner
    • Tape
    • Sewer Machine

    1. Introduction to Trenchless Pipe Repair

    You can tag along with our team as we work on-site in downtown San Antonio. Our technician, Steven, will walk you through the setup for the trenchless pipe repair. Because very few companies in the area actually do this, Reliant Plumbing was able to save the customer thousands of dollars.
    In this post we’ll take you through a trenchless pipe repair our team performed for a commercial customer in downtown San Antonio. In this job, you’ll see how we 90 feet of lining gets done. Trenchless technology allows us to repair pipes without invasive digging.

    “Our customer originally received pricing for tunneling, but they found us, and Reliant was able to assess the issue and offer alternative solutions that other companies didn’t provide.”

    This photo shows a Reliant Plumbing technician performing a trenchless sewer line replacement at an active job site. He is wearing a black Reliant Plumbing t-shirt, gray work pants, bright orange gloves, and blue protective sunglasses. He is handling a green pipe, which is likely part of a pipe bursting or lining process. The background features an open work van equipped with tools and equipment, a large pile of excavated dirt, yellow caution tape, and an urban environment with cars and buildings. The technician appears focused as he works efficiently to install or replace underground piping with minimal disruption.

    2. Preparation: Cleaning the Line

    To begin, our technicians use descaling machines, a flex shaft, and a hydro jetter to clean the pipe. This stage is crucial for ensuring the epoxy resin adheres properly.

    To shoot a liner efficiently, the most important part of the process is the prep. We use descaling machines, a flex shaft, and a hydro jetter to thoroughly clean the line. This ensures the epoxy resin hardens properly on the cast iron pipe. This stage is crucial for ensuring the epoxy resin adheres properly.

    This photo captures two plumbing technicians from Reliant Plumbing working on a trenchless pipe repair project. The worker in the foreground is feeding a red cable into a RIDGID SeeSnake sewer inspection camera system, while wearing black gloves and a black Reliant Plumbing polo shirt. The second technician, in a black Reliant Plumbing t-shirt, is positioned near a trench, holding a green hose and monitoring the process. The background features a beige brick building with a red trim, and the ground consists of dirt and gravel, indicating an active job site. Their expressions show focus and teamwork as they operate specialized equipment for diagnosing and repairing underground pipes.

    3. Measuring, Cutting, and Marking

    We then measure and mark the liner length using tape and write it down to keep track. Using bucket liners can help reduce waste and prevent burning holes in the bucket from excess product.

    Our technicians carefully measure and mark the liner as they go. You can the process of cutting and prepping the bladder and liner in detail as it is shown in our Youtube video. Our team prepares all the components in this way to ensure a precise installation.

    This photo shows a Reliant Plumbing technician performing a trenchless sewer line replacement at an active job site. He is wearing a black Reliant Plumbing t-shirt, gray work pants, bright orange gloves, and blue protective sunglasses. He is handling a green pipe, which is likely part of a pipe bursting or lining process. The background features an open work van equipped with tools and equipment, a large pile of excavated dirt, yellow caution tape, and an urban environment with cars and buildings. The technician appears focused as he works efficiently to install or replace underground piping with minimal disruption.

    4. Preparing the Retaining Sleeve and Attaching the Mule Tape

    The Next step is the is the retaining sleeve. This is going to protect this end from bubbling out. And if you stop it on a connection, it'll want to bubble out into the connection.
    This is going in the tube because then you're going to clamp down on this and it's going to restrict the airflow going into it.” This step is necessary to avoid any mistakes during the pull.

    trenchless pipe repair - plumbers performing a sewer line replacement using trenchless sewer line replacement

    5. Securing the End and Attaching the Bladder

    The technician attaches the bladder and performs critical checks to ensure the correct positioning and tightness before it’s inserted into the pipe.

    The retaining sleeve is going to protect this end from bubbling out.”

    6. Bladder Inflation and Clamping

    The crew works together to inflate the bladder, ensuring it fits tightly within the pipe. The technician explains how to handle the bladder, offering tips on getting the best result.

    “What you want to do with this is give it full pumps, full pump to where it gets tight at the bottom. Once it gets tight, do quarter ones. Because once you get it up and you can't push it back down, it kind of loses it. Once you’ve got it tight enough, it’s got to be down fully for this to bite on it.”

    7. Testing for Leaks

    The technician checks for leaks by performing a pressure test. They listen closely for any signs of a leak, ready to apply additional clamps if needed.
    “What you want to do, say this is... This bladder is going to be like 10 to 12 pounds, nothing more than 12 on this bladder, okay. When it’s testing, you want to go half of that. So we’ll go 5 or 6 pounds and let it sit there, see if anything’s dropping on the gauge.

    8. Inverting the Liner

    The camera focuses on the inversion machine, as the team preps to invert the liner into the pipe. The technician explains the importance of tape and ensuring the liner is pulled in evenly.
    Tip from the pros: “Now, the thing is, if you're outside and you're doing this, and it's all taped up and it's getting hot, get one of those old-school maps. Mop it down before you tape it.”

    Take note that if you want to tape it on the other side of that lip so that it doesn’t slide off when the air is being forced through.

    9. Final Installation and Curing Process

    In this final installation, the bladder is carefully pulled through the liner, and the epoxy begins to set. The team uses rollers to ensure the liner is correctly positioned and the epoxy is evenly distributed.
    “What’s going to happen is just going to be a waiting process. So it’s going to take five hours for this liner to cure properly. During that time, the poxy resin is going to harden and adhere to the cast iron.”

    10. Post-Curing Inspection

    During the final step, the technician inspects the liner after it has cured. After trenchless pipe repair process, Reliant checks for any issues and ensures the quality of the work.
    After the five hours are up, we come back and we go ahead and deflate the liner. We pull the bladder out with the rope as well.
    Then we follow through with the camera to inspect every inch of the sewer line, just to make sure it’s a successful job.

    Conclusion

    Trenchless pipe repair is a game-changer for property owners looking to fix damaged sewer and water lines without the hassle of major excavation. As we demonstrated in this downtown San Antonio project, our team at Reliant Plumbing specializes in delivering efficient, cost-effective solutions that preserve your property while restoring your plumbing system.

    By choosing trenchless technology, our customer avoided the high costs and disruptions of traditional tunneling, saving thousands of dollars. If you're facing pipe issues and want a smarter, less invasive solution, Reliant Plumbing is here to help. Contact us today to learn more about our trenchless repair services!