Sewer renewal without trenching
Commercial Trenchless Sewer Repair in San Jose, CA
Renew sewer lines under parking lots, landscaping and buildings without trenching through them. Cured-in-place lining, pipe bursting and sectional repairs keep driveways open and tenants in business while the line is rebuilt. Many lining jobs take the line out of service for hours rather than days, and liners are commonly designed to last 50 years or more.
- 24/7 dispatchEmergency line for every property
- Plumbing + HVACCSLB License #1101278 (C-36, C-20, A)
- 1-year labor warrantyLicensed, bonded and insured since 1986
- Google 4.9130+ reviews
Schedule a Call
Pick a time to talk with our commercial team about your properties.
Who We Work With
Property managers
Residential, commercial and industrial portfolios.
HOAs and condo associations
Shared systems and common areas.
Restaurants, retail and offices
Work scheduled around business hours.
Schools and public agencies
Prevailing wage and insurance requirements met.
Commercial Trenchless Methods
The method follows what the camera shows, not the equipment we happen to own.
Cured-in-place pipe lining
A resin liner cured into a jointless new pipe inside the old one; branch connections reopened from inside.
Pipe bursting
A new seamless pipe pulled through the path of the old one, for badly damaged lines that still have a path.
Sectional and spot liners
Short liners for single cracks, offset joints and root entries.
Lines under buildings
Building drains under slabs lined without breaking up floors in occupied space.
Traffic and access control
Work areas set up with cones and traffic control so parking lots stay usable.
Camera verification
Before-and-after footage for your records and the board.
Why Trenchless for Commercial Properties
Less disruption
Parking, landscaping and entrances stay largely intact.
Shorter downtime
Many lining jobs keep the line out of service for hours rather than days.
Lower restoration cost
Little or no asphalt, concrete or landscaping to replace.
A jointless line
Liners and HDPE pipe have no joints for roots to enter.
How Commercial Trenchless Repair Works
Inspect
Camera inspection, measurement of length and diameter, and branch connections mapped.
Recommend
Lining, bursting, sectional repair or excavation, with a custom quote.
Prepare
Permits, traffic control, tenant notices and line cleaning.
Install
Liner or new pipe installed and connections reopened.
Verify
Final camera inspection and site restoration.
Recent Trenchless Work
120 feet of trenchless sewer lining
A camera inspection found sections of a commercial sewer line that had rotted through. With traffic control in place, the crew installed 120 linear feet of cured-in-place lining instead of digging, and a final camera inspection confirmed the line.
Storm-season maintenance for a condo complex
Video inspection and hydro jetting of all drain and sewer lines before the rainy season and the holidays, a job the complex books with us repeatedly.
Pricing and Service Agreements
Clear pricing
Service and repair work is priced at a flat rate or on an hourly basis. Larger projects, such as repipes, sewer replacement and equipment installations, are custom quoted.
Service agreements
Flexible service agreements and payment terms for property managers and associations, and scheduled maintenance for plumbing and HVAC. Maintenance plans.
24/7 emergency response
Call (408) 978-3093 any time for leaks, backups and no-heat or no-cooling calls. Emergency work is priced separately.
CPI has again done a top-rate job of storm season preparation for our complex, video inspections and hydrojetting all the drain lines and sewer lines too. They work hard and efficiently. Especially appreciated their extra effort to finish up before the Thanksgiving holiday with all the friends and family gatherings— Luis took a moment as he was finishing up and gathering up his equipment to say all looked good with a sewer line that had been questionable and that we should be good now for all those big holiday get-togethers.
Lucinda C.Yelp review
The CPI plumbers that performed the necessary work to clean/clear out my sewer line did an excellent job, were polite, on time, answered all my questions, cleaned up and were very professional. Even the customer service reps that I spoke on the phone with were very helpful, patient and polite. Overall, an outstanding company and would highly recommend.
Rob H.Google review
Our HOA manager recommended CPI when our toilet overflowed on a Saturday evening in July. They picked up the phone at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. One of their plumbers showed up 30 minutes later. He quickly determined that the clog was a bigger issue further down the sewer line which required a professional hydro jetting cleaning to resolve. After checking with the HOA manager, CPI sent a jetter machine and another plumber within half an hour. Their crew worked until 11:30pm to clear the clog. We were so happy that we could use the bathroom again! CPI was responsive, communicated well, worked fast, and resolved the issue during off-hours. We will definitely call them again.
Hattie C.Yelp review
Is Trenchless Right for Your Line?
Good candidates
Cracked, corroded or root-filled pipe that still holds its shape and slope.
May need excavation
Fully collapsed sections or severe sags; a short dig can be combined with lining for the rest.
Branch connections
Lines with many branches need each connection reopened and sealed; the camera survey maps them first.
Permits
Lateral work needs a City plumbing permit and inspection, and San José owners are responsible for the lateral up to the City main; connections in the street need City approval.
Lining vs. Bursting vs. Excavation
Cured-in-place lining is the most common commercial choice. After the line is cleaned, a felt liner saturated with resin is inverted into the pipe and cured into a new pipe inside the old one. It slightly reduces the inside diameter, which rarely matters for laterals and building sewers, and it works through bends and under structures.
Pipe bursting replaces the pipe rather than lining it: a bursting head breaks the old pipe outward while pulling a new HDPE pipe into place. It’s suited to straight runs that are too damaged to line but still have a path, and it can keep or increase the pipe size.
Excavation is still right for collapsed sections, severe sags that hold water, and lines whose slope must be corrected. Many projects combine a short excavation with lining for the rest.
Planning Trenchless Work at a Commercial Property
Expect a camera survey, a cleaning visit, and an installation day. Before installation we agree on tenant notices, the window when drains can’t be used, parking areas that will be coned off, and traffic control where needed. Afterwards you receive before-and-after footage, which is useful for owners, boards and future buyers.
We also line and burst commercial sewers in Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Fremont; see the service area page for the full list of cities.
Sources
- City of San José: Sewer project permits
- City of San José: Sanitary sewer FAQ (who maintains the lateral)
Checked October 2026.
Commercial Trenchless Repair FAQs
How long does a cured-in-place liner last?
Manufacturers commonly design CIPP liners for a service life of 50 years or more.
Will tenants lose sewer service?
During installation and curing, the line is out of service. Many lining jobs take hours rather than days; we plan the window with you.
How is this work priced?
Service and repair work is priced at a flat rate or on an hourly basis. Larger projects are custom quoted after we see the site. Emergency and after-hours work is priced separately.
Can you line pipes under a building?
Often, yes, through existing cleanouts, avoiding demolition of floors in occupied space.
What if the camera shows a collapse?
That section is usually excavated and replaced, and the rest of the line can still be lined.
Need a reliable plumbing and HVAC partner for your properties?
- CSLB License #1101278 (opens CSLB in a new tab): C-36 Plumbing · C-20 HVAC · A General Engineering
- 1-year labor warranty on our work
- BBB A+ Accredited Business (opens BBB in a new tab)
- Technicians trained and certified: NASSCO PACP, MACP and LACP · Rheem heat pump · Noritz Level 3 tankless · OSHA safety
- Member of IAPMO, NASSCO, BOMA, IFMA · Se habla español