A simple blocked drain can cause dirty water backflow and unpleasant stench in your property, but cracked or broken sewer pipes create massive damage even to surrounding land. Thankfully, you can count on trenchless pipe lining to solve the problem without wreaking further havoc on your property.
With the wrong method, sewer repair projects can be a huge pain for you. These invasive methods are disruptive, time-consuming, and will cost you money. Thankfully, you can avoid these things by calling a reputable pipe lining company that provides the best trenchless sewer repair method.
In this comprehensive article, you will learn what trenchless sewer pipe lining is all about. By the end, you will know the different methods, technologies, and benefits. With the proper information, you can make an informed choice on your home’s sewer repairs and even maintenance.
What is The Trenchless Sewer Pipe Lining Method?
Trenchless sewer pipe lining lives up to its name. It means you can now replace a sewer pipe without digging a trench in your property. Back in the day, old-school methods made it difficult to assess your sewer. Remember, these pipes are buried underground for your protection.
However, their location made them complex to repair because traditional techniques meant plumbers had to dig them every time, they needed to check a problem. To make things worse, these pipes traverse your yard, driveways, patios, or walkways. These areas add to the curbside appeal of your home, so you do not want them destroyed.
In the conventional method, your property is damaged, and you need to pay more for repairs. Thus, trenchless sewer pipe repairs revolutionized plumbing because it allows technicians to do underground repairs without massive digging.
With this trenchless pipe lining, you can address issues from blocks to cracks. It can even handle complete breakages and tree root ingress. Best of all, only a tiny hole is needed for a camera inspection to spot the problem area and for the insertion of the pipe reliner. As such, you can expect a less invasive and more affordable method with a quicker turnaround.
The Different Types of Trenchless Sewer Repairs
There are many ways to carry out a trenchless sewer pipe repair. This depends on your chosen plumbing company. Of course, it would be prudent to hire an experienced technician with the right knowledge, skills, equipment, and tools to get the job done. Let’s look at the different methods below:
1. Slip Lining
Among all the trenchless methods to repair your sewer, slip lining is the oldest technique. Some say that it is almost a century old. This rehabilitation approach requires the technician to insert a smaller pipe into the damaged one. The key is finding a pipe with a smaller diameter.
Then, they pack the cavity between the two pipes with grout. This results in the following scenarios:
- It creates a new sealed pipe inside.
- The grout and smaller pipe strengthen the damaged pipe.
- The sewer pipe gets new pipe walls.
Technically speaking, this approach is trenchless. However, it is notably more invasive than the more modern methods. Your plumber will still need to dig a large pit to get the new pipes and grout in place.
2. Brush Coating or Spray Lining
As its name suggests, this method entails brushing a coat or spraying a lining. This material is a thin layer of flexible polymer inside the surface of the damaged pipe. After application, this coating will slowly set. As it hardens, it will seal off any cracks. It shall also help strengthen the outer wall of the pipe.
3. CIPP Lining
CIPP is an acronym for cured in place pipe. Others also dub it structural pipelining. This non-invasive technique will slide an epoxy resin liner into the damaged area using modern tools. It will only take a tiny hole in the ground.
Later, your technician will inflate this liner, allowing it to expand to fill the inner walls of the damaged pipes. They will heat the liners then allow them to set and cure in place. Once the liner hardens, it is as if you have a new set of pipes in place.
Some refer to this as a “pipe within a pipe” method. This approach efficiently seals off cracks and holes. Best of all, it will leave your old pipe good as new. Now, you can enjoy your new sewer pipes for many years because it is structurally sound.
4. Pipe Bursting
You may have visions of a burst pipe that is beyond repair. However, pipe bursting is a well-known repair methodology because it creates minimal damage. Your plumber will insert a new pipe that possesses the same diameter as the old, damaged one.
This new pipe will have what they call a “bursting head or bullet.” As your plumber pushes this through, the head will fracture or burst the old pipes. Thus, with the old pipes gone, you have space for the new one.
As a newer technique, this trenchless sewer repair method allows simultaneous removal and replacement. The head breaks the old pipes while dragging and laying the newer HDPE (high-density polyethylene) pipes in its track behind the head.
Find Out If Trenchless Sewer Repairs Will Work for Your Property
The only way to find out if this trenchless pipe lining will work for you is to call a professional plumber. Not every plumbing company is certified to perform these trenchless methods, so it is important to research and find the right one.
Most experienced trenchless plumbing companies will first do a sewer camera inspection to diagnose the problem. After finding out what the issues are, they may do a thorough pipe cleaning with motorized cutting blades. They can also do a trenchless pipe relining.
Noteworthy, when experts deem it is not feasible to conduct these trenchless repairs, they may use alternative methods. This includes open-trenched sewer repairs. Instances that prevent trenchless sewer repairs may include:
- The sewer pipe runs underneath a massive building.
- Thick and heavy tree roots block the pipe.
- The old pipe has collapsed or is severely damaged.
- Your area’s sanitary district does not approve of the method.
When you are dealing with this problem, call the professionals right away. Seek a solution as soon as you see tell-tale signs. Otherwise, the problem may escalate, which means more complex and expensive repairs.
The Tell-Tale Signs the You Have Sewer Issues
A massive sewer problem does not build up overnight. Usually, you will spot a few issues here and there. Do not wait for these issues to worsen before seeking help. Look at these warning signs below:
Experience Several Drains Backing Up at Once
When you have a backed-up drain, that is a red flag that you’ve got a problem. However, if it is only one sink, a shower drain, or a toilet, it could be an isolated drain issue. Your main sewer line has a lot of branches connected to it. Granted, this one drain issue still needs fixing, or it can cause major clogs.
But if you experience multiple drains backflowing or clogging at the same time, this indicates you have a major sewer line problem. Take note; one drain issue means you have a localized problem. However, a massive, widespread issue that affects many drains lines exhibits you have a major blockage issue further down your sewer line.
Take Note of Large Trees and Plants by the Sewer Pipes
Keep a watchful eye on large plants, especially trees along the pathway of your sewer pipes. Notably, root ingress is the leading culprit of sewer blockages. Typically, root hairs will find their way to a moist environment. Thus, they go into your sewer pipes. Even tiny cracks in your old pipes will create a big problem.
When this happens, the roots from around the pipes and within the inner pipe space. As the roots grow, the interior diameter becomes smaller. As a result, you may notice sluggish drains. Once a giant debris flows down, it will result in a complete sewer block. Meanwhile, the exterior roots exert undue pressure on the pipes. Though this is a rare occurrence, it can happen with extremely heavy and massive amounts of roots.
Notice a Swampy Ground
Normal wear and tear will deteriorate your sewer pipes. When you have an old property, you should expect to replace your pipes soon. Pipe damage can also be hastened by things like:
- Movement of soil
- Tree root invasion
- Heavy usage
- Improper grease disposal
When the things above occur, your sewer pipes can have tiny cracks or break. As a result, the dirty sewer fluid in the pipes will leak into the surrounding areas. Hence, you will find that the ground can look swampy. You may also notice a sudden overgrowth of weeds and other plants. They love the leaks coming from sewers because those contain essential plant nutrients. Think of it as like a compost fertilizer.
Detect Unpleasant and Foul Stench
Like localized drain blocks, issues with your sewer lines can emit nasty odors. If you smell a foul stench that never goes away all over your property, you must find the root of the problem. Usually, severe, and widespread nasty smells hardly come from indoor plumbing unless you have a direct plumbing problem in the local branch drain.
In general, when noxious gases are released all over your property, that is a red alert. It means there is a block or damage as noxious gases build up in your sewer pipes. You should not need to suffer through the unpleasant lingering stench. Seek professional help right away to fix the problem.
The Benefits of Using Trenchless Sewer Repairs
Now is the time to leverage technology as it offers many benefits. If you want a quick, efficient, and effective technique to fix your sewer problems, trenchless sewer repairs are the answer. When you invest in this innovation, you will experience the following:
Minimal Property Damage
Unlike traditional plumbing techniques that wreaked your property, trenchless pipe repairs will only dig a tiny hole for the camera inspection and pipe relining machinery. Thus, you do not need to spend a lot to fix up your property from the collateral damage of convention plumbing.
Super Efficiency
You can expect simple sewer cracks to be done within, unlike the old trench method that spans weeks. With the old method, your plumber may encounter utility line, foundations slabs, or plant roots that can delay the repairs. With technology, you can count on faster and more accurate results.
Less Mess
Digging your patio, garden, or yard will upset the soil. Damaged concrete will also result in a lot of dust, dirt, and debris. However, with trenchless repairs, you do not need to deal with a construction nightmare.
Maximum Cost-Efficiency
Without any digging, you preserve your garden and other areas. As such, there is no need to pay extra for restoration. The technique also needs less technicians, so there are fewer labor fees.
Good as New
With new pipelining in place, you can expect good as new pipes. The latest product reliners offer longevity and durability because they will not rust. This new installation could last for fifty years.
Experience Less Chaos
Digging will result in annoying noise due to jackhammers and other tools. It can annoy your neighbors and family. Modern equipment produces less noise and mess, so you will have less complaints. Most of all, there are less allergens released into the air.
Call a Reputable Trenchless Pipelining Team
Not all plumbing companies specialize in trenchless sewer repair methods. It is crucial to collaborate with an expert in this field. Our team at San Diego Plumbing and Pipelining Company is proud to share that we are accredited to perform trenchless sewer line repairs. We are experts in this niche, and our long list of happy clients can attest to that.
Remember, keep an eye out for red flags and get an inspection as soon as you detect a problem. Ignoring the problem will result in complex repairs and more inconvenience. Call us right away for leak repairs, blockage clearing, or complete pipe replacements.
