★ Compare Methods
Trenchless pipe pulling is one of several methods for replacing a residential water service line. Here is how it compares to the other methods. Each one has a place.
Here is a straight look at the common methods — what each one needs, what it leaves behind, and where the PF-12 fits and where it doesn't.
★ The Options
Typical residential 3/4" and 1" water service replacement.
01
Dig the full length of the line, lay new pipe, backfill, restore. Works on almost any line — and puts the whole yard between the meter and the house on the table.
02
Feed a cable through the old line, attach a splitting wedge and the new pipe, and pull it through with a backhoe or truck. Proven, low tooling cost — but the machine has to get into the yard and line up with the pull.
03
An air-driven boring tool punches a new path between two pits. Fast in good soil. The old line stays in the ground, and the tool can deflect off rock or obstructions.
04
A drill rig bores and steers a new path, then pulls the new line back. Built for longer runs and crossings. Brings a rig, a locator, and a bigger crew to a residential job.
05
Cable-and-wedge replacement through the existing line — pulled by a geared-down 12V electric pulling module on a 1' × 2' frame at the access point. No backhoe on the property.
★ Side By Side
Here is how the PF-12 stacks up against open trench, backhoe wedge, piercing tool, and directional drilling methods.
| PF-12 | Open Trench | Backhoe-Pulled Wedge | Piercing Tool | Directional Drilling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New line path | Existing line path | New trench | Existing line path | New bore | New bore |
| Excavation | Two access points | Full length of the run | Two pits, plus room for the machine to pull | Launch and exit pits | Entry and exit pits |
| Typical time on the pull | 2 hours or less, typically | Often a full day or more, plus restoration | Varies — plus getting the machine on and off the property | Varies with soil and run length | Rig setup and locating add time |
| Crew | Minimal — no machine operator | Machine operator plus laborers | Machine operator plus helpers | Small crew | Rig crew |
| Equipment on the property | 1' × 2' frame, 12V power | Excavator or trencher | Backhoe or truck in line with the pull | Air compressor | Drill rig and support equipment |
| Tight access (backyards, fences, side yards) | Built for it | Limited by the machine — or hand digging | Limited — the machine needs a clear pull line | Good | Limited by rig size |
| Old line | Split or pulled out | Removed or abandoned | Split or pulled out | Abandoned in place | Abandoned in place |
| Risk to other buried utilities | Follows the existing path | Exposed along the full trench | Follows the existing path | New path — can deflect | New path — must be located and steered |
| Surface restoration | Access points | Full length | Pits, plus machine access and tracks | Pits | Pits and rig setup area |
| Buried fittings & offsets | May need spot digs | Not a problem | May need spot digs | Not applicable — new path | Not applicable — new path |
| Service runs under a slab | Yes — new PEX-A pulled through the existing path | Means breaking the slab and trenching the floor | Limited — the machine has to line up with the pull | New bore under the slab — can deflect | Possible with room for the rig — new bore |
| Equipment investment | $12,995 complete system | Low if you already own the machine | Low tooling cost if you already run a backhoe | Moderate | High |
| Best fit | Finished properties and tight access where the old line is continuous | Lines with many fittings, collapsed lines, new routes | Open yards where a machine can get in and line up | Short runs in good soil when the old line can't be used | Long runs and crossings |
Swipe to compare all methods →
General comparison for typical residential 3/4" and 1" water service replacement. Site conditions, soil, pipe condition, and local code always decide the right method.
★ Same Idea. Different Muscle.
Pulling a wedge and a new line through the old one isn't new. Plumbers and utilities have done it for years, and it works.
The catch has always been what does the pulling. A backhoe or truck has to get onto the property, line up with the pull, and work from the yard you're trying to protect. On a finished lawn, a fenced backyard, or a tight side yard, that's where the method falls apart.
The PF-12 moves the pull to the access point. A 1' × 2' frame anchors at the pit, and a geared-down 12V electric pulling module draws the line through at a steady pace. No machine in the yard. No ruts to restore. It goes where a backhoe can't.
★ Under The Slab
A failed service under a slab-on-grade home has always meant a hard choice.
A
Jackhammer through the floor, trench the line, re-pour, and put the flooring back. The customer lives in a construction zone, and the restoration bill often outruns the plumbing.
B
Abandon the old line and run a new one around the slab — through walls, attics, or overhead. It avoids the jackhammer but means opening walls and changing where the water comes in.
C
Bore a new path under the slab from outside. It can work, but it's a new path under a foundation — with deflection risk and room needed for the equipment.
The PF-12 Way
Pull a brand-new PEX-A line through the path of the old service — from an access point at each end. The slab stays put. The floor stays down.
Under-slab replacement depends on the existing line giving a continuous path. Buried fittings, tight bends, or a collapsed line under the slab may call for a different approach.
★ Straight Answers
The PF-12 fits finished residential properties with 3/4" or 1" service lines; larger lines may need another method.
The PF-12 is the strongest choice when the property is finished and the yard is worth protecting.
Another method may be better for lines larger than 1" or jobs outside residential water service.
Not sure which side your job falls on? Book a demo and walk us through it — we'll tell you straight.
Book a demo to see how the PF-12 handles the kind of water service jobs you run.