Trenchless Water Line Replacement

Trenchless water line replacement is an amazing new technology for replacing pipes with minimal digging involved. For many, realizing that they have a damaged or burst water line is the beginning of a nightmare. The cost and destruction of isolating the problem with traditional techniques, and then having a big, ugly trench in their yard or driveway may seem unavoidable. Addressing the problem is unavoidable, however, using the best techniques will help you avoid the struggle.

The good news is that the Water Guard Plumbing technicians are experts at trenchless water line replacement. This modern technique allows us to replace entire sections of the underground pipe without digging up your garden or driveway with a huge trench, saving you time, money, and stress.

trenchless Water Line Replacement

Why Choose Us for Trenchless Water Line Replacement?

When you need trenchless water line replacement, look no further than Water Guard Plumbing.  By using the highest quality materials and state-of-the-art equipment, also by using sewer video inspection technology, we can ensure that there is minimal property damage. We offer the most competitive rates in the industry and offer an all-inclusive service, committed to 100% customer satisfaction. 

We are also dedicated to providing the best customer experience in trenchless water line replacement to ensure our clients have access to safe and clean drinking water in their households. When you put your trust in Water Guard Plumbing, we guarantee service quality and an inspection pass or you don’t pay!

3 Reasons to Use Trenchless Water Line Replacement

trenchless water line replacement cost

1. Replacing Old Materials

Traditionally, water service pipes are made up of lead or galvanized steel pipes. If you live in an older home in the GTA, there is a great chance that the water service pipe is made up of these materials. These materials can corrode and break down over time, causing a burst of the uncontrolled volume of water, loss of service and clogged drains possible structural damage to your home, and massive flooding. Corrosion can also cause remnants of lead to enter your bathing and drinking water, making it extremely dangerous to your health. Learn more about lead in drinking water here.

2. Home Additions

If you’re planning a home renovation with increased water facilities, such as a home addition, additional washrooms, or more water facilities, using the same water pipe system can reduce the amount of water distributed throughout the house, resulting in low water pressure. Upgrading to a larger water pipe system will be able to accommodate the incoming water supply. It’s also best to check the requirements of your municipality, as many require households to upgrade the size of their pipe system to accommodate new fixtures. 

Emergency replacement of burst and broken line

3. Emergency Broken Water Line Replacement

Although older water pipes can last for a long time, the shift in the ground can create pressure that the material might not be able to withstand, leading to a high chance of Bursts. Factors such as cold weather, freezing water inside the pipe, and structures like sidewalks adding excess pressure can also contribute to the problem. Over time the material wears off, corrodes, and deposits on the walls. Even small vibrations can cause clogs in the line and, depending on the material, massive water main breaks and bursts. 

Common symptoms of a burst water line:

  • Flooding
  • Higher water bills (if the pipe is burst inside the house after the meter)
  • Lowered overall water pressure
  • Contaminants in the home’s water supply
  • Big green patch of grass on the front lawn
  • Water seeping through the asphalt/concrete

If you are experiencing any of those issues, it is worthwhile to ask a Water Guard local plumbing expert to inspect your property and pipes. We offer emergency replacement of burst water pipes through trenchless water line repair that can often be completed in just under a day. This step can save you a lot of money by preventing further destruction and damage to your property.

How Trenchless Water Pipe Replacement Works

The trenchless water line replacement technique only requires digging at either end of the section to be repaired, but this can only be done if the pipe is exposed to the property line and inside your basement. This is crucial, as attempting an excavation repair may disturb other pipes in the area, leading to extra breaks and problems. Here is our process of trenchless water pipe replacement:

 locating the exact position of the waterline

1. Locating the Water Line

We start by locating the exact position of the waterline using our state-of-the-art equipment. You are only responsible for the replacement of your line up to a certain line that acts as a border between your lot and the municipality. This is where we excavate the hole.

Torpedo Method trenchless water line

2. Using the Torpedo Method

Inside the basement, we expose a 5′ long (1.4 meter) x 1′ wide (30 cm) hole going underneath the footing of your house to the hole excavated outside. This allows us to insert our torpedo so there are no obstacles in its path. The torpedo is set in motion through air and oil compressors, giving it the necessary force to crush through soil and rocks. However, the success of the procedure is dependent on the quality of the soil, with minimal stone and sand. 

3. New Pipe Insertion

After the torpedo is set in motion, we attach a copper/plastic coil to it and set it in reverse for the torpedo to make its way back into the basement, bringing along a new pipe. The pipe will be connected at the property line using corporation coupling or will be inserted directly into the curb stop. A new ball valve is installed inside the pipe before the meter and is then installed and connected to the system. This is the standard location of the meter but special relocations can be done if requested. 

How to Get Started

1. Get an Estimate

Reach out to Water Guard Plumbing for a free estimate of the job. The assessment can be done either through a phone call, or a video call, or if the situation is not the typical standard and relocation of the water meter is required, an on-site job assessment will be done.

2. Creating the Plan

Once our team is able to assess the situation, we can create an overall plan and provide a free quote for your trenchless water line replacement.

3. Getting the Job Done

We will order the appropriate location inspection required from the municipality and follow the appropriate by-laws. Next, we will dispatch a team equipped with the required tools and equipment such as the excavator, torpedo, compressor, and everything else necessary to complete the work. Since we always are prepared to have everything required on-site, the process is seamless and usually requires 8 to 10 hours of work.

If the municipality requires the water to be turned off, you may expect a break of water service from 9 to 2 pm. There are some cases where we are able to connect to the water system without involving the municipality.

Post Installation Service

Cleaning up the work is just as important to keep minimal damage to your home. That’s why we prefer to share our process as we are committed to 100% customer satisfaction and transparency of our services,

Post Installation Service
  1. The hole will be backfilled with water to ensure the highest compaction rate is achieved
  2. We tramped down the hole with a Jumping Jack (a big piece of metal that jumps and compacts the soil). All excess soil and garbage is removed and properly disposed of by our team
  3. Inside the basement, we re-finish the concrete and clean the floor. During the process, drop sheets and plastic are used to cover your belongings.
  4. If an inspection is required by the municipality, we organize this on your behalf and ensure all the required paperwork is completed for any applicable programs that you can apply to within your municipality such as the Priority Lead Pipe Replacement in Toronto.
  5. Once the job is completed, an invoice will be sent to you and you can make the payment through our secure portal. 

Emergency Water Line Plumbing Experts

Water Guard has over 15 years of experience in many different projects, and our team can provide the best service in GTA on any of your plumbing needs. We understand that every project is different, and we approach it with special care. Contact us and we will locate the problem and tackle the project as efficiently as possible. Regardless of your issue – we can help! Call us today at 647-832-1738 for a free, no-obligation quote for all of your plumbing issues. (Terms and conditions apply)

FAQs Trenchless Water Line

How much does it cost to replace the main water line?

Waterline installation costs vary on certain factors such as access, depth, pipe material, permits, municipality, labour, and length of the replacement.
Our average price costs range from just under $2999 to $6500 for exterior work depending on certain conditions.
We have 3 packages:
1-Up to 30 feet of replacement starting at $2500-3500
2-Between 30-45 feet of replacement starting at $3500-5000
3-45 feet plus (this will require a site visit for a quote)

Does homeowners insurance cover water/sewer line replacement?

The duration of Waterline repair depends on several factors such as the location of the rapture, the age of the pipes, the type of pipes are made of, the length and size of the pipe, the repair method, and the damage the Most of the time no, but usually a burst pipe involves catastrophic damage to your basement, so it is a great time to coordinate it with us and make sure your system is updated and matches your water supply volume needs.

What Are the Benefits of Trenchless Technology?

There are many benefits from trenchless replacement, here are some of them:
Saving labour expenses. We do work QUICK.
Saving money, reducing the number of equipment and technicians
Less digging – This means less damage to the surrounding area
Environmental impact – We have saved over 10,000 trees, by being able to work underneath with minimal or no damage to the system
Your time – No hassle, all-inclusive service with 100% satisfaction. You usually don’t even notice we were there, no re-landscaping involved.
If you find a company that comes up with a better, more efficient way to replace your pipes we will provide a 10% discount on their written quote guaranteed.


Call our Experts for Trenchless Water Line Replacement – 647-832-1738