Sewer Line Repair and Trenchless Replacement in Utah
Serving the Wasatch Front and Beyond
We start every sewer line repair with a camera inspection, and you watch the footage with us. If the pipe allows, we use trenchless lining or pipe bursting instead of digging, which means far less disruption to your yard. We only dig where trenchless methods cannot work. And we give you the price in writing before any work begins.
Schedule Your Sewer Inspection
Quick answer
Yes, Blue Best repairs and replaces sewer lines across Utah, the Wasatch Front and beyond. We put a camera down before any dig, and you watch the footage. The EPA describes lining and pipe bursting as methods that require far less digging than open trench. We quote a repair only from footage. We pull permits and coordinate inspection. You get a price in writing first.
How can you tell your sewer line is failing?
Backups that return
You clear a drain and it backs up again soon after. We run a camera to see if the pipe itself is broken or blocked deeper than a simple clog.
Multiple drains backing up
More than one fixture drains slowly or overflows at once. We inspect with a camera to find where the main line is failing.
Sewage in the yard
Wastewater pools or seeps up through the ground outside. We use a camera to locate the break or collapse in your buried pipe.
Soggy or sunken lawn
A strip of grass stays wet or dips down even without rain. We check that spot with a camera to confirm a sewer leak underneath.
Sewer smell outdoors
A rotten-egg odor lingers near your yard or foundation. We camera the line to find where the pipe is open to the soil.
Gurgling in several fixtures
Toilets, sinks, or tubs make bubbling noises when water drains. We run a camera to see if air is trapped by a blockage or break.
Foundation crack near the sewer route
A new crack appears in your basement wall above the pipe path. We camera the sewer to rule out a leak that is washing out the soil.
Basement floor drain overflow
Water or sewage rises from the floor drain during heavy use. We inspect with a camera to identify the main-line failure.
Home older than neighbors' pipes
Your house was built before surrounding homes, and the original pipe material may be failing. We camera the line to check its condition.
Why Wasatch Front sewer laterals fail?
Utah's sewer laterals fail for several reasons. According to the EPA, roots enter through defects in pipes. Clay pipe cracks under external load, and metal pipe corrodes. Plastic pipe suffers joint leakage. Snowmelt enters through cracks and joints. Salt Lake City installed its first sewer line in 1889. Homeowners own their laterals.
Roots invade pipes
A Forest Service review finds roots cause more than 50% of blockages. The worst problems occur in laterals. Old pipes with joints and shallow pipes are most vulnerable. Trees within about 20 feet are involved in 92% of cases. Willow, birch, poplar, and elm are common culprits. USU Extension advises against planting willow, poplar, and cottonwood.[1]
Materials break down
Clay pipe, the EPA reports, cracks under external load and collapses. Cast iron corrodes, developing breaks or holes. Plastic pipe shows stress cracking and joint leakage. Utah's plumbing code lists ten approved sewer materials. Bituminous fiber is not among them.[2]
The camera reveals
A camera inspection is the most effective way to assess a line, the EPA states. It produces a video record. The code requires a recorded camera survey before pipe bursting. Cleanout positions and connection depths are noted. An internal exam is required when a building sewer is replaced.[3]
Who owns what
Salt Lake City states laterals are owned by the property owner. Provo says the owner maintains the lateral. Ogden clarifies the house-to-main line is the resident's, and a shared lateral belongs to all connected owners. South Davis notes the owner builds and connects. Provo treats city backups as no-fault, with claims allowed within one year.[4]
[1] EPA - condition assessment of wastewater collection systems (white paper). [2] 2021 Utah State Plumbing Code, chapter 7 (pipe bursting, relining, cleanouts). [3] EPA - collection system rehabilitation (trenchless methods). [4] Ogden City - sewer FAQs (lateral responsibility). [5] Full source list: data-sources
We never approve a dig based on a verbal description. You watch the footage yourself. We quote the cheapest repair that solves it, including a spot repair when one is enough. The inspection fee is credited toward a repair. We offer a free second opinion on any line-replacement quote.
Which sewer repair method fits your home?
Every repair is different, so here is how the three main options compare.
Cured-in-place lining
- ✓Best for: A pipe with cracks but no collapse.
- ✓A resin-coated liner is inserted and cured in place
Pipe bursting
- ✓Best for: A pipe 6 inches and smaller.
- ✓Forces the old pipe outward and pulls in new HDPE pipe
Open-trench replacement
- ✓Best for: A collapsed or sagging pipe.
- ✓New pipe is laid in a trench for filled or unstable ground
What you get with a sewer job
Camera first
Every dig starts with a camera inspection, and you watch the footage before any work begins.
Inspection fee credited
The camera inspection fee is credited toward your repair if you move forward with us.
Cheapest fix, written plan
We quote the cheapest repair that solves the problem and provide a written plan naming the method.
Permits and inspection
We pull the required permits and coordinate the inspection with the local authority.
Recognition & accreditation
Financing available on qualifying installations, subject to credit approval; ask when you call.
Locally and women-owned and operated meet the owners Google Business Profile.
What our standard inclusions cover
Flat-rate price in writing
You'll receive a flat-rate price in writing before any work begins.
Licensed Utah contractor
We are a licensed Utah contractor with W-2 employees - no subcontractors.
No dig on verbal description
We never approve a dig based on a verbal description alone.
Permits pulled, inspection coordinated
We pull permits and coordinate the required inspection.
Work area protected, shoe covers
Your work area is protected and our crew wears shoe covers.
Workmanship guarantee
Our work comes with a workmanship guarantee, plus a free second opinion on any competitor's line-replacement quote.
What happens after you call?
Step 1
We respond.
We return your call or online form.
Step 2
We inspect with a camera.
We put a camera in your sewer line, and you watch the footage. Utah's plumbing code requires us to note cleanout positions and connection depths.
Step 3
We present a written plan.
The plan names the repair method and gives a flat price. We need your approval before we start.
Step 4
We do the work.
We use lining, bursting, or open trench. We pull permits. The EPA requires connections to be reinstated after trenchless work.
Step 5
We finish with an inspection.
We coordinate the inspection. South Davis requires an inspection before backfill. You get footage of the finished line.
Have a Sewer Replacement Quote?
We offer a free second opinion on any line-replacement quote. A camera look first; sometimes a spot repair is enough. Sometimes the other quote is right, and we say so.
What does a proper sewer repair give you?
Trenchless methods
Trenchless technology means substantially less construction than a traditional dig. This approach is valuable where digging would be disruptive to your yard, driveway, or landscaping.
Pipe bursting
Bursting pulls new HDPE pipe through the old line. The new pipe has the same nominal size as the original. A recorded survey is required first under Utah's plumbing code.
Cured-in-place lining
Lining is cured inside your existing pipe to form a new pipe within a pipe. South Davis Sewer District prefers lining for its own street-side repairs.
Cleanouts
A cleanout is required at the drain-sewer junction. The code also calls for one every 100 feet, with the plug at or above grade. We add cleanouts during a replacement.
Tracer wire
Tracer wire allows locating buried plastic pipe. Access must be available at each end of the run, or at the cleanout.
Backwater valve
A backwater valve is needed for fixtures lower than the upstream manhole. South Davis Sewer District advises backflow valves for homeowners. We install one where it belongs.
What sewer problems do we repair?
Roots in the joints
Roots enter through defects in the pipe joints. Cutting them encourages regrowth, according to a Forest Service review. We cut the roots, run a camera, then line or replace the affected section.
A cracked clay line
Clay pipe cracks under load from the soil above. The EPA notes that it can then collapse. We line an intact run of clay pipe. We replace a section that has already collapsed.
A corroded iron line
Cast iron corrodes over time, which leads to breaks or holes. We use a bursting tool to break the old pipe out. Utah's plumbing code requires HDPE pipe to be pulled in as the replacement.
Sagging pipe
A dip in the pipe line holds waste and causes clogs. The camera inspection finds the exact location of the sag. We dig only that section to repair it.
A broken connection at the main
Work in the right-of-way requires a bonded, insured, and licensed contractor. The city issues a permit for the work. We are licensed and permitted for this type of repair.
No cleanout, no access
The plumbing code requires a cleanout at the junction of the building sewer. It must be within 10 feet upstream of the building. We add one for cleaning and inspection access.
What moves the price of sewer repair?
The price is a flat rate put in writing before any work begins. The camera inspection determines which method will solve the problem. A spot repair is used when only one section is damaged. We publish what moves the price so you know what you are paying for. Blue Best quotes an exact price in writing before any work begins.
The price drivers are depth and length of the line, landscaping or concrete to restore, the method the camera allows, permits and inspection, and right-of-way work. We also offer a free second opinion on any competitor's line-replacement quote.
Quoted free
Camera inspection - Its fee is credited toward the repair.
Quoted upfront
Spot repair - One damaged section is fixed.
Quoted upfront
Cured-in-place lining - A resin liner is cured in place.
Quoted upfront
Pipe bursting - The old pipe is forced outward and a new pipe pulled in.
Quoted upfront
Open-trench replacement - The line is dug up and replaced.
What does Blue Best guarantee in writing?
On new equipment installs
a 1-year labor warranty - extendable for customers on a Blue Best Maintenance Plan - the parts warranty (typically 10 years on qualifying Lennox and Amana equipment) registered for you, and no-lemon coverage on major components like compressors and heat exchangers.
On any quoted work
the price you sign is the price you pay - change orders require your approval before we do the work. Plus a free second opinion on any competitor's replacement quote (no blanket price-match - sometimes our honest answer is "take their deal").
What we won't promise
real-world comfort depends on duct condition, insulation, and infiltration, so we disclose those dependencies rather than guarantee a number. The 5.0 rating from 2,900+ reviews is the audit trail.
Sewer line questions answered
A spot repair handles one defect. Lining works for an intact run. Replacement is needed for a collapse. We quote the cheapest repair that solves it and give you a written plan naming the method.
The camera shows the inside of the pipe and creates a video record. It reveals cracks, roots, sags, and offsets. It also shows cleanout positions and connection depths. You watch the footage, and the inspection fee is credited toward a repair.
The main is the city's. The lateral to the main is the resident's. Work in the right-of-way requires a bonded, insured, licensed contractor with a city permit. With the owner's consent, the district can own the street portion. We are licensed and pull the permit.
It is required for fixtures lower than the upstream manhole. Upper floors bypass the valve. You need access to the working parts. It is advised for basements. We add one during a repair where the code calls for it.
We offer a free second opinion. We take a camera look first. Sometimes a spot repair is enough. Sometimes the other quote is right, and we say so. There is no blanket price match.
Lining places a resin liner cured in place. Bursting forces the old pipe outward and pulls in new HDPE pipe, for lines 6 inches and smaller. Both require a camera survey first.
Not necessarily. Trenchless methods mean substantially less construction, with access pits at the ends only. Connections are reinstated afterward. Open trench is used for a collapse. We tell you which method before work begins.
A shared lateral is owned by every connected property. The repair cost is split among them. We provide a written plan, with one copy per owner.
Yes. We coordinate the inspection. The district inspects before backfill. A lateral buried without inspection must be re-excavated or camera-inspected at the owner's cost. We provide footage of the finished line.
Sewer Terms in Plain English
Lateral
The sewer pipe from your house to the main line; it is usually the owner's responsibility.
Cured-in-place lining
A resin-saturated liner inserted into the old pipe and cured in place to form a new pipe within the old one.
Pipe bursting
A method where the old pipe is forced outward and a new pipe is pulled in, for pipes 6 inches and smaller.
Open-trench replacement
Digging the sewer line up and laying a new pipe in the trench.
Camera inspection
A camera is sent through the line to create a video record of the inside condition.
Cleanout
An access fitting at the drain-sewer junction with a plug at grade for clearing blockages.
Backwater valve
A valve that stops sewage from flowing back into fixtures lower than the upstream manhole.
Right-of-way
The public strip including the street and parkway; work there requires a permit and a licensed contractor.
What homeowners say
Elizabeth M
1 week ago
Our experience with Blue Best has been fantastic. Shawn, Carson and Khaing have done any amazing job with fixing our shower and pressure valve, patching the drywall, and installing both a water...
Aaron
2 weeks ago
I have been using these people for three years. Costumer service is outstanding and they were able to give me advice on my issue until they came out in a few weeks. Would recommend, but make sure to...
Marian Young
3 weeks ago
We used Blue Best for many projects in our home (faucet replacement, HVAC, installing manifold, replace steam system, etc). Shawn was knowladgable, courteous, explained everything and cleaned up the...
Jeffery Hansen
1 month ago
Just had Roger Pay, our technician complete sumner service on our new (Heat Pump System). He was courteous and thorough but most important, professional. We had BLUE BEST put in a new heat pump in...
