By JAIME ANTON

The Post staff writer

What's the scariest part of October?

No, it's not Halloween, haunted houses or giving away all of your candy.

It's having sewer line repair work this month that will transform the lawn into a graveyard. But, thankfully, there's an alternative out there.

Invisible Excavation in Parma can rehabilitate existing pipes without digging up the front yard. And, using the cutting edge Perma-Liner trenchless technology, the typical Invisible Excavation project takes just one day as opposed to the traditional week-long excavation work.

No one will ever know the crew was there, unless you tell them.

Spooky isn't it?

No digging?

Husband and wife, Brian and Christina McDermott, are the proud owners of Invisible Excavation. About a year ago, Brian, a plumber, was thinking to himself that there had to be a better way to repair sewer lines, a way that wouldn't permanently scar beautiful lawns.

"We did the research and found out they were using it everywhere, California, Florida," Brian said. "I kept saying, 'there's got be a better way. I'm tired of digging up people's yards and ruining them.' It's old school technology we were using, and there's so much better out there. Now, I'm here bringing it to market to do a better job."

Invisible Excavation is a branch of Brian's Benjamin Franklin Plumbing business in Parma. Benjamin Franklin is a nationwide franchise, but Invisible Excavation is unique to Brian's plumbing business. His excavation business, however, is a part of the Perma-Liner Equipment franchise that is becoming popular throughout the nation. It is the only one currently serving residential clients in northeast Ohio.

Christina actually started the excavation side and now runs the business.

Brian likens Perma-Liner technology to having a stent placed, minus the cutting, if you will.

"It's like going through the mouth," he said. "Perma-Liner is a cured-in-place pipe sewer replacement system. It's a sleeve that fits inside the existing sewer pipe. We go in through a basement opening. We put in an access point and install all the way to the street. You won't even know we were in the home. And it's all done with little or no digging. It's pretty amazing stuff."

According to perma-liner.com, the technology offers a single access pipe relining system that rehabilitates existing laterals without the need for excessive digging or liability.

"Our installers are able to line an existing pipeline without inverting into city sewer mains or disrupting above ground flow," the Web site states.

The technology works very similar to the way a New Year's Eve party favor does. Just as the favor is wound, so is the liner. The sleeve is unraveled into the existing pipe and then blown into place with air. When the liner sets, it is a heavy duty pipe that is stronger than PVC piping.

"My daughter drove her car over it and it was completely fine. It takes 5,000 PSI to crush it," Brian said.

The technology began in Germany and made its way to the United States about 10 years ago.

Perma-Liner eliminates sewer infiltration and root intrusion. It is chemical resistant, meaning no chemical can harm it. It has under gone numerous tests by agencies and is approved by all jurisdictions throughout Ohio and the United States.

A few things set Invisible Excavation apart from the other guys. First and foremost is the technology - no digging.

Brian recently finished up a project for a high-profile customer who has a $450,000 Olympic-size pool with gems in the bottom. Replacing the lines the old-fashioned way would have meant tearing out the pool and then replacing it. But with Perma-Liner, Brian was able to bypass the pool and presto, problem solved.

"Invisible Excavation is invisible. It's neat, clean and you'll barely know we were there. You won't have the graveyard in your lawn like a lot of contractors leave," he said.

And it's a full restoration.

"We care about our work. We just worked for a woman who is 80 years old. She can't fix her lawn, so she didn't want her yard torn up so she hired us to do project," Brian said.

And, Brian and Christina own all their own equipment - the Perma-Liner equipment for invisible repairs, plus the traditional excavation machinery for those who want to go that route. It's convenient because when Brian's doing plumbing work, he doesn't have to rely on an outside excavation subcontractor.

"That's why we opened the excavation side. Subcontractors can be very unreliable. I've got to have everything in-house. It's aggravating having to rely on other people. If you don't have your own excavation equipment, you're done. How do you tell a family of five that they can't flush the toilet until next week?" he said.

A family affair

Plumbing is in Brian's blood.

Brian worked side by side with his brothers for 21 years at his father's plumbing business, B. McDermott Plumbing. Five years ago, Brian took over and bought into the Benjamin Franklin franchise.

"I've been doing this since I was a little boy. I would go on jobs with my dad and my brothers. I had to dig trenches for them," he remembers. "I like tools and equipment and cutting edge stuff, things that will make my job easier and people's lives better."

Plumbers tend to walk among us unnoticed until it's about 3 a.m. and we are suddenly without the modern convenience of indoor plumbing. It's a pretty important job.

"My job as a plumber is to protect the health and safety of the nation. Without plumbers, there would be a lot of sick people. We would be full of disease. And, without a plumber, when a toilet is flushed to water would simply go into the basement. A lot of times we are not appreciated."

It's the thankfulness in people's eyes when a job's complete that keeps Brian going.

"And we can save lives with this process," he said.

No digging means crews do not have to worry about buried cable, water and gas lines.

"Once you dig up your yard, it will never be right, but it's more than that," Brian said. "With fiber optics and phones, when you dig, you take the chance of risking lives. What if you dig and hit a gas line? You hear about trenches caving in. We don't have to worry about that. We're saving lives."

Treating customers like family

It's more than just a family business. Brian strives to treat customers like he would want to be treated.

And that means making himself available both day and night.

"We're available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The phones are always answered by a live office dispatcher. There's no automated answering here," he said. "When you are panicking, we are here for you."

Financing and payment options are available, especially for the bigger projects.

They accept cash, check, credit card and have in-house financing available.

"We try to work with people. The last thing we want people thinking is, 'man, I can't afford this product.' If you add it up, we're cheaper by the time you hire a landscaper to fix your yard," Brian said.

Brian is a licensed master plumber and is a certified Perma-Liner installer. Extensive, continuing education goes into this career.

His plumbing work is guaranteed for two years. The Perma-Liner work, on the other hand, is guaranteed for 50 years.

The business consists of 13 employees. Two of their major clients in the area include Walmart and Conrad's car repair and tire service.

Brian and Christina are North Royalton residents and have three children.

"We really enjoy what we do," he said. "It's about helping people."

See, that looming plumbing project isn't so scary now. Brian and his staff can walk you through it.

Check them out at 4005 Brookpark Road in Parma. The phone number for Invisible Excavation is 216-403-4464. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing's number is 440- 230-1840. For more information about Perma-Liner, visit perma-liner.com. Invisible Excavation's Web site is currently under construction. It will be at www.invisibleexcavation.com.