4 Types of Trenchless Sewer Repair Methods

A cracked sewer pipe repair and leaking pipes are a common occurrence after a long period. Often the first thing that comes to mind is replacing the leaking pipes. However, the environmental costs involved in pipe replacement are so significant to bear.

The replacement of pipes leads can cause a mess. Such a dreadful experience is because a full sewer pipe replacement requires a total sewer excavation. Since sewer lines go through sidewalks, driveways, landscaping, trees, and walls, they can’t all be collateral damage, can they?

You don’t have to destroy all that infrastructure. Consider relining sewer pipe. A sewer pipe lining is an inexpensive way to solve your plumbing problems. You have four options to pick from when it comes to pipe relining. All the materials used in the procedure are safe for the environment and don’t warrant any pipe replacement. Let us examine them.

Cure-in-place piping

What type of piping system do you have? You can repair existing pipe systems without digging a trench. The trenchless pipe lining repair is done remotely. In the first stage, the pipe is cleaned. The next step is to dry the pipes. The installer can then apply a sewer pipe lining to the cracked sewer pipe repair it.

The sewer pipe lining is usually made of a resin-resistant material. Types of material used in the application are fiberglass cloth, polyester, or spread tow carbon fiber. The material is generally inserted into the cracked pipe upstream. A downstream access point can be used though it is a bit risky. An access point such as a utility hole or an excavation is picked.

After the liner is placed, it is cured with hot steam. The pressure needed for the installation is created using pressure vessels. The curing can be accelerated for fiberglass tubes using UV light.

Once the process is done, the pipe is as good as new. The dried resin forms a tight-fitting, rust-resistant, and jointless replacement pipe. You don’t have to worry about the leaks anymore since you repair the pipe at the least cost to the environment.

Pull-in place lining

It doesn’t matter the type of gaps in the sewer pipes. Pull-in place sewer pipe lining will handle large cracks and crevices to the sewer pipe. It is also 100% trenchless, like the other methods on the list, and It takes a short period to complete. It takes a full day if you have a long pipe or have challenging conditions.

Why not jump on to the train and find out how the lining works? It can be done on vertical stacks with ease and completes any desired length of pipe. You can star anywhere in the pipe and stop anywhere. First things first, you need to clean the pipes.

Cleaning is done to remove all debris in the system that can contaminate the pipe. So, it is good to confirm that everything is fine using a closed-circuit camera. The camera examines the lateral pipe to provide proper measurements.

You can now start lining the sewer pipe with a liner. The most suitable liner for the job is one made of epoxy resin. Pull the line in place on the required size of the pipe. With the calibration tube and rubber bladder’s aid, the liner is pressed against the pipe to bond with the pipe and seal cracks.

Pipe-in place in place is versatile and can be used on all types of pipes, PVC, clay, or cast iron. The liner comes in two options the Navi-liner and the Ragi-liner.

PIPE BURSTING LINER

Before you consider using pipe bursting as a pipelining method, ensure that your pipes can be burst. Pipe bursting is the most convenient method for replacing severely damaged pipes. It can also be used for repairing large sections of a sewer pipeline and, in extreme cases, an entire pipeline.

Pipe-bursting is old technology and has been in use for at least a century. It has been perfected upon at every turn to make sure that it is fully functional. Pipes that can be replaced by this method are Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Vitrified Clay Pipe (VCP), Asbestos cement (AC), and Concrete Pipe (CP). The technique is had shown success with brick pipes too.

The pipe installer has to get in physical contact with the pipe being replaced. The installer is put at the access point where it begins the repairers. Hydraulic power is used to push the head of the installer through the pipe. The movement process breaks the old pipe, and as the installer places a new seamless pipe behind.

The only disadvantage with this method is you can work with steel pipes and other pipes that cannot be burst.

INTERNAL PIPE COATING

An internal pipe coating is made of a mixture of epoxy resin and a curing agent. The combination is a semi-thick liquid that completely coats the inside diameter of sewer pipes. The mixture can be used on straight pipes and curved ones. That method is highly effective and versatile hence used with almost all types of pipes.

You can have a higher effect using this method, especially when you have fresh cracks. To begin the repair process, isolate the pipes from the rest of the sewer system. Thoroughly drain the pipes to get rid of the water within the sewers.

After cleaning the pipe, let it dry. You can speed up the drying process using heat. Heating helps loosen the corrosion and the debris, making it easier to remove. Spray the epoxy mixture over the wall of the pipe using pressurized air. Let the coating cure and dry. A sewer line inspection camera is used to ensure that the coating has covered the entire pipe.

Epoxy mixture is trusted because of its water-proof qualities. It is the most trusted agent in sewer pipe repairs. Most professionals like internal piping as it doesn’t destroy the old pipe and relay a new one. However, it does a clean job of permanently sealing the pipes and leaving them smooth and lasting long.

Conclusion

When face with a cracked pipe, relining sewer pipe is often cheaper to the environment and convenient. Contact The Original Plumber to help you to reline the sewer pipe. We can use any of the methods we have discussed here.