Your old, damaged sewer line can get a new lease on life with trenchless methods. Trenchless repairs avoid the mess and hassle of digging a trench through your property or sidewalk.
You also benefit from modern, super-strong materials that should last much longer than your clay or tar paper pipes. Read on to discover more about CIPP and other trenchless repair processes:
Pipe Lining
Using a no-dig trenchless process, pipe lining is used to repair damaged, leaky, and clogged sewer lines. The process inserts a new liner into the existing pipes, restoring their structural integrity and providing a seamless, jointless pipe within the old pipe. The lining is made from a high-tech, flexible material saturated with epoxy resin. To prepare the liner for installation, your plumber uses drain cameras and a hydrojetting system to clean out the pipelines. Once the pipes are clean, a custom-made liner is inserted into your existing pipes through access points, such as outside plumbing cleanouts or maintenance holes. Once the liner is cured, it acts like a brand-new pipe with a 50-year life expectancy.
The CIPP (cured-in-place pipe) method is one of the most widely used methods to repair aging and failed sewer lines. It’s also an excellent option for new construction projects. It can be installed without excavation and in wet or dry conditions.
Unlike traditional sewage pipe repair and replacement methods, this no-dig technology won’t disturb your property with a muddy mess, traffic detours, or loud construction noises for weeks. In addition, pipe lining can save you up to 50% in utility costs. A lining can help your pipes last longer by protecting them from corrosion and other damage.
Pipe Bursting
When a sewer line is irreparably damaged or clogged, it may need to be replaced altogether. Traditionally, this was accomplished using excavation-based techniques that required digging up the existing lines and installing new ones. This method is time-consuming and causes significant disruption to the property and surrounding environment.
A less invasive alternative is trenchless sewer lining replacement. Among the various trenchless techniques available, pipe bursting is one of the most effective. In this method, small pits are dug at each end of the damaged line to insert a specialized tool called an expander head. Pulling the tool through the old pipe, it breaks up or “bursts” into fragments. A length of new high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe then follows behind it to take its place.
Unlike pipe lining, this technique can be used in a broader range of existing pipe materials. Depending on soil conditions, it also allows for a larger diameter pipe to be installed.
This process is much faster than traditional trenching and requires far fewer resources. Additionally, it eliminates the need for extensive property rehabilitation and re-grading that would be necessary following an excavation-based replacement.
Joint Sealing
When a sewer pipe joint is damaged, it allows waste and groundwater to seep through. During routine maintenance and repair, using suitable materials to seal the joint in a way that will not fail prematurely or allow future blockages is essential. Joint sealants are toothpaste-like resins applied to a joint and allowed to cure in place, ensuring the pipe is sealed correctly.
Traditional methods for replacing and repairing old, damaged, clogged, or leaking pipes involved tearing up yards, landscaping, driveways, and sidewalks. Trenchless repair methods eliminate the need for this extensive, expensive, and disruptive work.
One of the most popular trenchless techniques for rehabilitating old, failing, or damaged pipes is called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP). Using this process, plumbers can create a new pipe within your existing one by inserting an epoxy liner that hardens and forms a structural tube. Angi can connect you with plumbing companies who are experienced and trained in using this method.
Spray lining and brush coating are other trenchless repair options for your old, worn-out sewer pipe. In these processes, an epoxy or flexible polymer is sprayed or brushed on the inside of your pipe to form a protective coating. It will help prevent future problems and keep your pipes as good as new.
Inspection
Trenchless technology is revolutionizing the plumbing industry by enabling professionals to repair sewer lines without the risky and costly excavation that comes with traditional methods. Professionals can use pipe lining and bursting to fix broken pipes and root intrusions. The revised system is more dependable and long-lasting, saving you money in the long run by reducing costly repairs and replacements.
This non-invasive technique involves a high-tech epoxy liner installed inside your sewer pipe. Once it cures, the liner acts as a new structural pipe, preventing all the problems plaguing the old one, such as holes, cracks, channeling, and age-related deterioration. The rehabilitated pipes are less prone to collapse or backflow and have a 50-year life expectancy.
After your pipes are hydro and mechanically cleaned, a liner similar to an old fire hose is coated in an epoxy resin and inserted into your sewer system. Once it has cured, the new pipe becomes a permanent fixture that is much more corrosion-resistant and can handle increased flow rates. These pipes are also less likely to be invaded by tree roots and are not as susceptible to breakage and fragmentation.
The other primary method of trenchless sewer repair is pipe bursting, which involves breaking apart your existing sewer line and replacing it with a brand-new pipe. This process requires only two entry points, one on the street and one at the home’s plumbing vent. A steel cable with a “bursting head” is pulled through these access holes, breaking the original pipe apart and drawing a new pipe into place.
