Most residential, commercial, and industrial property owners are familiar with the dreaded traditional excavation method of repairing or replacing the sewer system. However far too many people are unfamiliar with the two trenchless sewer repair procedures that rely on technology instead of excavation. For many years plumbing contractors have been digging or excavating a large and destructive trench in order to reach the sewer pipes that are buried underground.
Typically the trench runs the entire length of the sewer pipeline, which can be hundreds or even thousands of feet long, and goes as deep as the pipes are buried. Since the sewer pipes run underneath lawns, trees, flowers, shrubs, driveways, walkways, sidewalks, patios, and parking lots the trench basically destroys any landscaping and hardscaping in its path. The traditional excavation process was the industry standard for well over fifty years.
However much like everything else in this world something new and better has taken its place in more recent times. Trenchless sewer repair was invented approximately fifteen years ago and thanks to advances in plumbing related technology it is now the best way by far to have your sewer system fixed. As mentioned above there are actually two types of trenchless sewer repairs available. A forward thinking plumbing contractor, like Restore Pipe Systems will determine which approach to take based on the current condition of the sewer pipeline.
The Trenchless Pipe Lining Approach
The trenchless pipe lining approach is utilized when the existing sewer pipeline is in good enough shape that the process will actually work. Instead of excavating a large and destructive trench that runs along the length of the sewer pipes, a small access point is made at one end of the sewer pipeline. A high-tech machine uses the access point to install a specially formulated wet epoxy resin to all of the interior surfaces of the existing sewer pipes. The wet epoxy resin dries, or cures in place from a more technical term within a few hours.
It forms a hard liner that in essence is a brand new pipe within the existing broken one. The new liner will last for well over fifty years. The entire trenchless pipe lining approach takes as little as one day to complete from start to finish. In addition, it is approximately fifty-percent more cost effective than the traditional excavation method.
The Trenchless Pipe Bursting Approach
The trenchless pipe bursting approach is utilized when the existing sewer pipeline is in such bad shape that the pipe lining process simply will not work. Instead of excavating a large and destructive trench that runs along the length of the sewer pipes, two small access points are made, one at each end of the sewer pipeline. A similar yet different high-tech machine used the access point to install a brand new, hard plastic PVC pipe into the existing broken one.
As the new pipe is being pushed, pulled, and blown through it burst or breaks apart the old sewer pipeline. The pieces break in an outward motion and land in the earth where they are left to rot away. Once the process is complete the new plastic PVC pipe completely takes the place of the old one. The new sewer pipeline will last upwards of one hundred plus years. The entire trenchless pipe bursting approach takes as little as one day to complete from start to finish. In addition, it is significantly more cost effective than the traditional excavation method.
