If you've got a sewer problem, the first thing some companies say is, "We have to dig it up." Sometimes that's true. But a lot of the time, it isn't. Before anyone breaks out the backhoe, there are smarter, less destructive options worth knowing about.
Start With a Look: Camera Inspection
Nobody can tell you what's wrong with your pipes just by looking at the ground. An HD camera inspection shows exactly what's inside — where a root intrusion is, where a pipe has cracked or settled, or whether the problem is just a heavy build-up that doesn't need digging at all. Diagnosis comes first, always.
Hydro Jetting: The Power Option
Hydro jetting uses highly pressurized water to scour the inside of the pipe, clearing grease, scale, and root intrusions. For build-up and root problems, jetting can often clear the line effectively without touching the ground above it.
When No-Dig Genuinely Saves the Day
- Grease, scale, and sludge build-up — cleaned out with jetting, no dig needed.
- Root intrusions — cut and cleared with cutting heads or jetted, saving the line.
- Minor cracks and leaks — often repairable with no-dig trenchless methods that avoid excavation.
When a Dig Is Genuinely Necessary
Being honest here matters: not everything can be fixed without digging. If a pipe has completely collapsed, is deeply bellied (sagging so water pools), or is too badly damaged for trenchless repair, a proper excavation is the right call. The difference is that a good company won't reach for the shovel as the default — they'll inspect, explain, and choose the least invasive option that actually fixes it.
The Bottom Line
Before agreeing to a full excavation, ask for a camera inspection and an honest explanation of why it's the only option. If a contractor immediately jumps to digging without looking, that's a reason to pause and get a second look. The right answer is fixing the problem the least destructive way possible — and we'll always tell you honestly when digging is truly the way.