No one wants sewer pipe problems, but sewer lines do experience back-ups and clogs as well as develop leaks and cracks on occasion. Sometimes you may not notice or understand signs a sewer line is in trouble. If this is the case, a visual inspection may reveal that a sewer line repair or replacement is necessary.
There are several possible options when it's time to access your sewer line for repair or replacement. Read on to learn more about these three-sewer line repair and replacement options.
1. Dig and Replace
Traditionally, the only way to access a main sewer line for repair or replacement before the advent of technology and improved methods, is to excavate along the entire length of the sewer line. Sewer lines can vary in depth from as little as 12 inches to over 10 feet, depending on how deep the City sewer line is, and/or because the slope of the landscape dictates that it has to run very deep.
Pipes can vary in depths of 18 to 30 inches in temperate climates, and up to 5 feet in areas that freeze. Often a pipe is deeper even in temperate climates if a municipality or neighborhood has deeper sewer mains.
The dig and replace method can be costly, time-consuming, but completely necessary in certain plumbing situations. This method is the best way to access pipes that have extensive or widespread damage. Extremely aged and broken zipes lack the integrity for optional methods like re-lining to be successful.
In some instances, dig and replace may be less expensive for pipes that rest just below the surface that require much less digging to access them. Keep in mind that this method is best suited for yards with no obstructions like neighboring buildings, fences, or landscaping that interferes with the dig site.
2. Pipe Bursting
The pipe bursting method is a trenchless choice, as it replaces existing buried pipes without the need to excavate completely. Instead, our technicians access the underground pipe in just one location called the insertion pit. Here, a hydraulic or pneumatic expansion head enters the pipe and continually destroys or "bursts" the pipe as it moves along.
As the expansion head shatters and pushes the old pipe out of the way ,a new replacement pipe is simultaneously pulled into place. Pipe bursting can even install a larger diameter pipe than the one it destroys. This feature is helpful if your sewer malfunction stems from problems associated with a sewer line that is too small.
This method is less pricey and extensive than a traditional dig and replace, but it's not for everyone. Sandy, rocky and extremely compacted soil surrounding a sewer pipe and high-water tables make pipe bursting difficult. Finally, pipe bursting is not suitable for certain kinds of pipes such as reinforced concrete, ductile iron, and HDPE.
3. Pipe Lining
The best option for slightly damaged sewer lines is the pipe lining method. Similar to pipe bursting, pipe lining does not rely on access via an open trench. Instead, the existing line remains buried while technicians insert an inflatable tube inside. When extended inside, the tube presses against the interior of the pipe and leaves behind a layer of epoxy that later hardens in place. The tube is then pulled out.
The pipe lining method utilizes polyethylene and similar long-lasting plastics that withstand corrosion, rust, and freezing. Because pipe lining fills a pipe with epoxy, there are no seams and joints prone to weakening. Unlike dig and replace, trenchless methods like pipe lining are faster to execute, less expensive, and much less invasive.
Interested in which method best suits your sewer line? You may be surprised to learn that access to your sewer line may not be as daunting as you fear. Contact Aurora Plumbing & Electric if you want to know more about ways, we can repair or replace your sewer line without ruining your landscaping.
