Trenchless Sewer Repair, what is it?
Well, trenchless sewer repair is now the way of the future. The traditional way of replacing a sewer drain pipe is to excavate the old pipe, by hand or with a machine, and lay a new one. This way is very labor intensive old method and can be very expensive when a line is in a difficult position, such as under a house, a road or under concrete. Below is a video of an actual trenchless sewer repair. Magic Plumbing was hired by the City San Francisco because they knew we could get the job done. We were able to replace the sewer line for the entire 60 unit building complex within 3 days. We dug 2 holes, one at the building the other at the street, we then used trenchless technology to install one continuous length of pipe between the excavations. This 8″ sewer line was replaced without any interruption to the tenants, they were able to use their toilets, kitchen sinks and have a shower while we replaced the sewer pipe to the street.
Trenchless Sewer Repair Video In San Francisco
Trenchless Sewer Repair San Francisco
The Innovative Method Of Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement
Trenchless sewer repair is the most recent technology that allows the repairs to be completed quicker and done so with cost savings for the homeowner. Most homeowners are unaware of the great new technology that is available and think that if sewer repair is needed, that it will require having huge equipment dig large trenches in the yard, virtually destroying it. Trenchless sewer repair saves money and will not destroy or vastly damage yards as past methods of sewer line repair have done. This fairly new technology is one that many homeowners are choosing, and for good reason.
Why Trenchless Sewer repair Might Be Necessary
Many things can cause damage to existing sewer lines. Often, gurgling noises in toilets or slow draining sinks or tub drains signify that something is not working properly in the sewer lines. In a more serious case, a large foul smelling sinkhole or large wet area may appear in the yard. All of these are indications that the sewer line needs to be inspected and often times, it also means repairs or replacement is needed. Other factors may also cause sewer lines to fail, including the age of the lines, as old piping is often made of clay tile, which easily allows tree root penetration. Tree root intrusion is a major component in the need for sewer repair for many homeowners. If you find that your sewer line needs to be replaced, it is definitely worth considering trenchless sewer repair.
The Advantages of Choosing Trenchless Sewer repair
Gone are the days where sewer line repair or replacement required destroying an entire section of yard, and this is because of the latest innovation in sewer repair, trenchless sewer repair. Before this advancement, sewer repair meant digging a long trench in the yard, sometimes also requiring tearing up sections of sidewalks and driveways, costing homeowners much more in damage costs than simply replacing the sewer line. Replacing sidewalks, patching driveways, and redoing landscaping were all additions to the cost of fixing a sewer line. This made the costs of replacing sewer lines devastating to many homeowner’s budgets. With trenchless technology, all of these devastating factors are not necessary, as partial removal of paved surfaces and damage to existing landscape are not required any longer in order to replace sewer lines.
If a tree root caused the damage to the line, homeowners have often opted to have the tree removed to stop root growth from potentially destroying sewer lines any further. Trenchless technology uses newly developed piping for sewer lines that are virtually indestructible, meaning tree roots will not penetrate the new lines no matter how hard they try, which also means removing the tree is no longer necessary just to avoid future headaches and expenses.
How Does Trenchless Sewer repair Work?
There are two main methods for trenchless sewer repair. One method is to use trenchless pipe bursting. This method can be used when the existing pipe is in overall good shape. With this method, two access holes are dug in the yard. This does cause minimum disturbance in the yard, but far less than with traditional pipe replacement methods. These small access holes can be easily filled with dirt and patched with seed or sod. A large heavy-duty cable is fed all the way through the old sewer line. This cable is attached to a tool called a bursting head. A new Polyethylene sewer pipe is attached to the bursting head tool, and as a winch through the existing pipe pulls it, it bursts and breaks the old piping while replacing it with the brand new pipe. This is actually a fast process, with capabilities of replacing piping at three to five feet per minute.
The second method of trenchless sewer repair is trenchless pipe relining, which uses Cured In Place Pipe or CIPP. The only yard intrusion would be for one small access hole. This hole allows a liner to be inserted into the existing piping using high air force. Once inserted, an inflatable bladder in the new liner is placed under pressure with steam, which helps it to conform and mold to the shape and size or the existing pipe. This will give all weak spots in the existing pipe loads of strength, and will also fill any cracks in the old piping that were allowing seepage. The outcome is a tough seamless pipe inside the existing pipe that is extremely resistant to leaking, cracking and root invasion.
Either method of trenchless sewer repair will cause minimal yard disturbance and will be as good as pipes that would have been used if traditional, past methods had been chosen for repairs. The replacement piping used with trenchless technology, called HDPE, is powerful and durable and is rated to last for 50 or more years.
How Trenchless Sewer repair Reduces Costs
Trenchless sewer repair can drastically reduce the cost of repairing or replacing a damaged or broken sewer line. The need to bring in heavy equipment, such as backhoes, which are very costly by the hour, is not necessary with trenchless sewer repair technology. That combined with not having to redo landscaping, repair sidewalks or driveways, or pay additional costs if gas lines are nearby are all ways in which going with the trenchless method of sewer repair can save homeowner’s money. Another reason for the cost reduction is the amount of time the contractor will be on the job. Traditional methods required as long as three days to replace sewer lines at residential homes but with trenchless replacement, it can be done in just a third of the time. This means that the contractor can charge far less since his time on the job will be less.
Trenchless sewer repair is a fairly new technology that is increasingly becoming the preferred method for sewer repair. This new innovative method is cost effective for homeowners that cannot only save homeowner’s money, but also time and trouble in yard repairs. The process of trenchless replacement is fast and efficient and a very worthwhile technology worth considering should sewer replacement be needed in your home.