Sewer line repair is a necessary but complicated job that no home owner looks forward to having to call sewer contractors about. However, if you’re envisioning your pristine yard being torn up, thanks to the traditional “trench” method of sewer line repair, think again. You may want to look into companies that offer trenchless sewer line repair as an alternative. Though it can cost more upfront, you may save money overall by not having to repair your landscaping after the fact. It also has a lower environmental impact than the tradition trench method. Of course, the ideal is to not need sewer line replacement or repair in the first place. So let’s discuss ways you can avoid sewer repair altogether and what trenchless sewer line repair involves and some of its benefits compared to the traditional method.
How Can I Keep My Sewers Intact?
If you have old sewers, it’s worth keeping a closer eye on them than if your sewer system is newer. The American Society of Civil Engineers reports that the over 500,000 plus miles of sewer lines in the United States are on average, over thirty years old. This may explain why the Civil Engineering Research Foundation reports that the amount of backed up sewers goes up around 3% every year — an alarming rate.
One of the most common causes of sewer line repair are encroaching tree roots, which automatically grow towards sewer pipes, seeing them as a resource for the tree to grow. They’ll seek out leaking pipes, worm their way in, and take over, clogging up the pipe. Being aware of where your sewer lines are located before planting is a smart idea, as creating a type of barrier between your plants and the sewer lines. Or, if the sewer lines run through an area of your yard you really want to plant it, choose plants that don’t have long-reaching roots.
Make sure you’re conducting regular sewer inspections and maintenance, such as cleaning, when necessary. Keeping up with these activities will ensure that total sewer line repair isn’t on the books any time soon.
What Is Trenchless Sewer Line Repair?
Traditionally, sewer line repair involved digging a trench to access the part of the pipe that was damaged. Backhoes came in to bare the pipes and then fill in the disturbed area afterwards. With trenchless sewer line repair, only small access holes need to be created.
There are two kinds of trenchless sewer line repair: pipe bursting and pipe relining. In pipe bursting, access holes are made where the pipe needs repair, on either end of where the pipe is damaged. A machine then pulls replacement pipe through the original line, which also breaks up the original pipe as it goes.
Pipe relining is the other type of trenchless sewer line repair that can be done. In this type of repair, a new pipe is installed within the original pipe, making a new inner wall. The resin hardens once everything is in place and molds itself to the original pipe and usually on requires one access hole, making it a relatively low impact process.
What Are Some of the Benefits of Trenchless Sewer Repair?
Trenchless sewer repair has considerably less of an impact on your yard. You won’t need to spend thousands of dollars on restoring your property after trenchless sewer repair. You also won’t need to file as many permits or worry about having to reroute traffic with trenchless sewer repair.
Furthermore, this type of sewer repair is highly durable and takes much less time than the trench method of sewer repair. You won’t have to worry about relocating while the sewer repair is happening or fetch water by hand while work is ongoing. And, because there’s not as much damage happening, life can resume much faster than if a trench was dug and needed to be refilled.
If you need sewer line repair done, take the time to consider your options before proceeding. Trenchless sewer repair might be the best option for you, depending on your needs, and the extent of the work you need done.