Having to deal with a damaged sewer line is one of the things any homeowner may never like to hear. Indeed, a clogged or broken sewer pipe could lead to repair costs that you may not be prepared for, as they require immediate attention. And if left to linger, the situation may deteriorate to a sewer backup and you’ll likely begin to get terrible odors inside your home.
Luckily, there are several solutions that homeowners and property managers can explore. Trenchless sewer replacement or repair is one of them, which also happens to be a popular choice. This method of sewer line repair is touted to offer less mess and a longer-lasting replacement. But is trenchless sewer replacement a good idea? This piece explores the meaning of trenchless sewer replacement, its benefits, and why it is an ideal choice for sewer replacement.
Why Sewer Line Replacement?
Before choosing to go forward with trenchless sewer replacement, it’s in your best interest as a homeowner or property manager to understand what trenchless sewer replacement is. That way, you can better decide if it is the solution you need or not.
Typically, your property’s drain system is connected to your city’s sewer system via a large drain that runs from the street to the house. If any fault arises in this pipe, you could end up with a blocked or clogged sewer line. This means that the waste fluid from your home is no longer going out. Causes of this kind of issue could range from a broken pipe or a drain pipe clogged with debris to an old damaged or leaking drain pipe.
Traditionally, this problem is solved by digging out the bad pipe. This typically involves digging trenches within the yard to enable the drain specialist to remove the damaged or old pipe and then replace it with a new one. Unfortunately, this procedure constitutes a lot of mess, even though it still gets the job done. You could lose your beautiful lawn and spend so much more in repair than it might even cost to purchase and fit the replacement pipes. In some sewer line repair cases, the occupants of the building might have to temporarily stay away from the property, as they might not have access to the toilets.
Literally, every obstacle would need to be moved to ensure complete removal and replacement or repair of the faulty pipes. Additionally, fixing your home’s sewer line issues in this traditional fashion can sometimes take weeks. This is besides the costs, which could at times stark up to staggering figures. The question is, “is there a better, less messy, and efficient alternative method for sewer pipe replacement?” Indeed, there is, and that is where we consider the benefit of trenchless sewer line replacement.
What is Trenchless Sewer Line Replacement?
Trenchless sewer replacement does the same thing that traditional sewer line replacement does, but in a different fashion. From the name, it does not involve the digging of trenches, yet it also effectively replaces old and damaged sewer pipes in all kinds of situations, including commercial properties. What’s more, trenchless sewer line replacement costs much less and takes less time to complete.
The process begins with an initial inspection of the pipes with a high-quality live camera inserted into the sewer line. The sewer and drain specialist uses this camera (which feeds to a screen on the outside) to locate the exact spot of the clog or damage and to assess the extent of damage/scope of work required to remedy the situation. There are three primary methods of trenchless sewer replacement. These are pipe bursting, pipe lining, spot repair.
These methods require, your local sewer service specialist will first dig access holes, through which they’ll pass the replacement pipes.
Pipe bursting
Pipe bursting involves pulling a missile-like head that is pulled through the old pipe and inside right inside it. As long as there is space to pull the new sewer line through, pipe bursting works just fine. Pipe bursting requires two holes dug for the repairs. This is where the new sewer line is passed (A pointed installation head – also known as bursting head – is pulled along in the length of the bad pipe, replacing it in the process). This method uses high-density HDPE pipes.
Pipe Relining
Pipe relining involves installing a pipe liner, also known as a cured-in-place pipe-lining. This process involves inserting the resin-saturated liner into the existing pipe. It requires only one access hole for insertion of the pipe liner. The flexible pipe liner (an inflatable tube), which is made of resin, is pulled into the old pipe and then inflated or expanded. It solidifies and cures into place by heating the liner after a few hours.
Spot Repair
The spot repair method centers on a single damaged area of pipes, rather than redoing the whole thing. Choosing this method might well mean you could avoid re-laying your pipes entirely.
The spot repair method is a great way to save money when you only need to fix one segment of pipe. If you’re thinking about doing a full renovation, this could be a good alternative because it’s cheaper and easier than the traditional method.
Why Trenchless Sewer Replacement is an Ideal Sewer Replacement Method
The convenient and minimally invasive nature of trenchless repairs is unique & unmatched by any other trenchless sewer replacement methods. Here are some more benefits of this method of pipe repair.
Reduced Property Damage
Your local sewer and drain specialist doesn’t need to dig a trench, so aside from the initial access holes, the damage to your landscape is quite minimal when compared to the traditional sewer replacement method.
Lower Costs
Depending on the complexity of your project, the overall cost of replacement can be drastically lower than the traditional method.
Less Time-consuming
Traditional sewer line replacement can easily take a week or more, trenchless sewer line repair typically takes a day or two, or even a few hours.
Less Damage and Disruption
With trenchless sewer replacement you will have minimal loss of service to your home during the repair process. It is safer, more environmentally friendly, and brings less disruption to your routines.
The Results Last Longer
Trenchless sewer replacement offers the most durable repair option with epoxy pipe fittings, which can last 50 years or more and is less disruptive for you and your neighborhood.
What to Keep in Mind When Executing Trenchless Sewer Replacement
Trenchless sewer line repair requires special equipment and some technical experience. This means that you should ensure that your local sewer and drain specialist can do a trenchless sewer replacement in your home successfully before hiring them.
Why Trust N.W. Sewer for Your Trenchless Sewer Replacement Project?
At N.W. Sewer & Drain, we have been handling sewer line replacement/repair projects for about 20 years, and we have provided top-notch drain cleaning services to property owners in Seattle, especially in Oak Harbor, Bellington, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Everett, Arlington, Bellevue, Kirkland, Shoreline, Renton, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, Auburn, and other surrounding areas.
Our trenchless pipe repair procedure at N.W. Sewer & Drain includes the use of hydro-jetting (during trenchless pipe repairs) to clear out existing clogs before repairing the pipes. For a highly effective, affordable, and timely sewer pipe repair, feel free to contact us today at 206-931-7728 to schedule an inspection of your sewer line and pipes.