Although we may not see them or think about them very often, sewers play an important role in our quality of life. It keeps garbage and waste from piling up and contaminating water sources and the ground around us. It can be residential or part of a whole sanitary sewer system that controls the sanitation of a city or village. Before trenchless methods, most sewers had to be dug and involved considerable effort and damage to the surrounding areas. Nature could also get in the way — tree roots were a particular source of trouble, as they would burrow through or around pipes and often cause damage. Today, however, trenchless methods of sewer repair and installing sewer pipes are available.
Your Sewer 101
Most of us have never questioned the sanitary state in which we dispose of our waste — we simply flush the toilet or watch with relief as rain water or other methods of street cleaning wash trash, dirt, and other refuse into the sewers on the sides of the road. Or maybe we’ve seen them in movies as a foul and subterranean escape route. Well, the idea of the modern sewage system has been around since the 19th century, but perfected as time went on. The earliest sewers were used to get animal feces off the streets — and were usually dumped straight into bodies of water without sanitation, thereby polluting nearby water sources. Today, most sewer systems are closed and carry waste to sanitation plants.
So What’s With This Trenchless Repair or Installation?
Trenchless methods of sewer repair became available for residential use around 10 to 15 years ago, although it’s been available for commercial use before then. For trenchless sewer repair, a pipe lining is put into the existing pipe and inflated. These are called cured-in-place pipes (CIPPs) and are basically pipes without joints or seams that can fix older pipes with diameters of anywhere from 4 inches to 100 inches. The resin in the pipe lining hardens around the previous pipe and becomes the new pipe, sealing off any cracks or damage to the previous pipe. For trenchless pipe installation, it’s a very similar concept. The existing pipe is fractured and drawn back up to the surface, while the new pipe is released into the ground and expanded. Experts say this is just as effective as digging a trench for sewer pipes and come with warranties that apply for anywhere up to 10 to 50 years.
Surprisingly, many consumers don’t know about trenchless pipes — almost 80% of respondents in a poll distributed by Angie’s List hadn’t heard of trenchless pipe technology. However, almost three quarters of respondents said they’d be willing to pay more for sewer replacement if it meant that their backyards, deck or patio areas, and general landscaping would be left intact. Even though trenchless methods cost more than 30-50% more than digging a trench to lay pipe, you could still actually save money, because you won’t have to replace your landscaping or deck/patio features, which can get quite pricey, especially if you’ve recently updated or redesigned that space.
Save time and effort and try trenchless sewer methods today!
