Trenchless sewer repair techniques fix or replace sewer pipes without needing to dig trenches, minimizing most of the trouble involved. There are different methods for pipe bursting, lining, or relining, but all use small entry points to repair the pipe.
Sewer pipes are normally a huge headache for every homeowner, with lots of digging and landscaping needing to be done. You won't need to transform your yard in a construction site, only a small hole to find an entrance to your home pipe system. Interested? Check it out!
What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair?
Trenchless sewer repair is a method used to repair or replace underground sewer pipes without the need for extensive digging or excavation.
Instead of digging a trench to access the pipes (creating a huge mess in your yard), trenchless methods use unique equipment to access the pipes through small entry points and repair them.
How Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Work?
Trenchless sewer repair replaces the existing pipes with a new one but without the need to dig trenches. There are three main techniques used today, discover them in the list below!
- Pipe bursting: It involves breaking apart the old, damaged pipe while simultaneously pulling a new pipe through the space created. The new pipe, usually made of durable, is the same size or slightly larger than the old pipe.
- Pipelining: This is done by inserting a flexible liner coated with resin into the existing pipe. The liner is then inflated and cured in place, creating a new, seamless pipe within the old one, like a coating but inside the pipe. It is ideal for minor damage or corrosion.
- Pipe relining: Pipe relining involves inserting a new pipe into the existing one. Instead of curing the liner in place, it is physically anchored to the old sewer system. Choose this one for older pipes that cannot withstand the pressure of the other methods.
Regardless of the method used, trenchless sewer repair may have some problems, read about it in the next section.
Common Problems With Trenchless Sewer Repair
Although this type of repair is less intrusive than conventional methods, it is not suitable for solving every type of sewer problem. If the pipe is too damaged, collapsed, or with extensive root intrusion, digging will be necessary no matter what.
Also, trenchless methods require access points at the end of the section of the pipe to be repaired or replaced. If access points are limited or difficult to reach, it can make the trenchless process more challenging or even impossible.
How Much Does Trenchless Sewer Repair Cost?
Pipe lining typically costs between $ 80 to $ 250 per foot, while pipe bursting tends to be slightly less expensive, ranging from $ 60 to $ 200 per foot. These costs include the materials, labor, and equipment needed for the repair.
Of course, these numbers can vary a lot based on specific problems of your sewer pipes, reaching up to $ 20,000 in some cases.
To be sure you are paying the proper fees and costs for trenchless sewer repairs, make sure to contact a pro plumber in your local area. It is quick and easy!
You will also like to read about:
What to Do When Your Pipes Freeze
Everything You Need To Know Before DIY Plumbing Your Home
French Drain Around Foundation: How Deep And How To Install It