Is Trenchless Sewer Replacement a Good Idea?

If you are experiencing signs of a sewer line leak, trenchless sewer replacement is one of your repair options. You may have wondered, “Is trenchless sewer replacement a good idea for my home?”

What Is Trenchless Sewer Replacement?

Although it’s been around for decades, trenchless pipe lining is still a new concept to many homeowners. Most homeowners don’t take the time to learn about sewer line repairs until they need them.

Traditionally, repairing a sewer pipe meant digging up the old pipe and replacing it with a new one. That process is bad enough when you need to unearth your lawn. When the damage is under the driveway, sidewalk, extensive landscaping, or other structures, it becomes a much more intrusive process. If you have to dig up the street in front of your home and pay for rerouting of traffic, you could end up spending thousands of dollars more.

In some homes, the sewage lines run under the slab foundation. With traditional repair techniques, the plumber must jackhammer the slab to access and repair or replace the pipe. After they recover the old pipe and replace it with a new one, they must also repair the slab.

In contrast, trenchless sewer repair allows you to leave everything outside and inside intact. There’s no damage to your property, landscaping, or the foundation of your home. Instead of digging up and replacing the sewer pipe, the plumber replaces the pipe from inside. 

There are two types of sewer repair used to meet the needs of a range of situations.

Pipelining – Also called “cured-in-place pipe”, plumbers insert a flexible tube coated with resin into the damaged pipe. Once in place, the plumbers inflate the tube to hold the resin in place against the pipe while it cures. Once it hardens, it creates a “pipe within a pipe”.

In most cases, pipelining only requires the digging of one access hole. This process might not work if the lateral pipe has joints or if it has collapsed. In these cases, pipe bursting might be the better option.

Pipe Bursting – During this process, the plumbers insert a bursting head through the existing sewer pipe that breaks it apart as it proceeds through the pipe’s length. At the same time, the head pulls the new pipe behind it to replace the old pipe. The fragments of the old pipe remain in place while the new pipe takes over as the new sewer line.

Every situation is different and requires a custom approach to get the best results. Whether your sewer line is cast iron, concrete, clay, PVC, or Orangeburg, trenchless repair technology will work for your situation. The pipes made using either process are equally durable and cost-effective. After an inspection, the plumber will explain your options and why one method might work better for your situation.

Older houses sometimes have sewer pipes made of inferior materials. California requires new sewer lines to be of certain materials including cast iron, copper type DWV, or certain types of plastic such as ABS or PVC. There are also specifications about how these pipes must be installed. Homeowners must request a building permit for sewer pipe replacements along with certain inspections before the job is complete. These include a municipal inspection under the street and sidewalk.

Even the best-maintained plumbing system will break down eventually. This is especially true of the sewage line. Multiple people use the system every day to transport a broad range of materials out of your home. It’s only natural for pipes to deteriorate over time. There are also other causes of sewer pipe damage including:

  • Tree and shrubbery roots infiltrate the pipe
  • Aging pipes corrode, sag, crack, or collapse
  • Use of pipes made from low-quality materials
  • Clogs formed by grease and other materials poured or flushed down the drain
  • A poorly installed pipe

The most important thing you can do is act quickly once you have signs of a leaky sewer. Putting off repairing blockages or breaks causes drains to back up. You could end up with a flooded, damaged foundation and even sewer contamination in your home. A trenchless repair lets you repair or replace damaged sewer lines quickly before the problem gets worse and costs you more money.

If you know the signs of a faulty sewer line, you can make the right decision about the best sewer line replacement for your long-term needs.

trenchless sewer replacement

Signs You Need a Sewer Line Repair

The sewage system in your home connects to the city sewer through a sewer lateral. You are responsible for any repairs to the line from your home to where the pipe connects to the sewer main. If the damage occurs beyond your property line, you should report the problem to the city’s sewer emergency line. The only way to detect the location of the damage is by calling a licensed plumber. They can determine if the damage is on your property or part of the main sewer line.

The most obvious signs that you need a sewer repair is when your toilets are always clogged or backing up into your tub or shower. This occurs when the tub or shower drain is lower than the toilet. Even if you don’t see any backup, gurgling noises can be a sign of a clog in the main drain or sewer line. Other signs of sewer damage include:

  • You can smell sewage on your front lawn
  • There are sunken areas in the lawn where the sewer line runs
  • You’ve had an increase in rodents and/or insects including sewer flies or roaches in your home
  • Your home smells moldy
  • You hear running water when the drains aren’t in use
  • At least one section of your lawn is greener
  • There are warm or wet spots on your floors or carpeting
  • Your neighbors’ homes have required sewer line repairs recently

Some homeowners try to make the repairs themselves. They might ask “Is trenchless sewer replacement a good idea if the damage only affects a small area of the pipe?” While the signs of sewer damage might point in the immediate direction of the problem, a repair to one area of the pipe won’t last. It won’t be long before additional issues occur in other areas of the pipe. This is where the differences between traditional and trenchless sewer replacement make the biggest difference.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Sewer Leak

Any of the signs listed above will tell you if you have a sewer leak. Unfortunately, they can’t tell you the extent of the damage. Plumbers who are experts in trenchless pipe repair rely on the best equipment for every job. That includes an assortment of cameras that allow them to investigate the inside of your drains.

Black and White Drain Camera

There was a time when black and white cameras were the best in technology. What is surprising is that many companies still use them today. Today’s color drain inspection cameras have better clarity that allows for more effective inspections of the pipes. It also allows the plumber to see what types of pipes are used and the type of damage or corrosion that requires replacement.

Color Sewer Camera

A color sewer camera gives plumbers the ability to view hard-to-see areas like the interior wall and floor cavities of the pipe. They insert the camera through the pipe to diagnose the location, type, and extent of the damage. These cameras make it easy to see corrosion, collapsed lines, tree or shrub root infiltrations, pipes made from substandard materials, and damage caused by household elements.

Smoke-Vapor Testing

Foul odors in your home might come from cracks in pipes that aren’t visible with a camera. Smoke-vapor testing provides a tool for pinpointing the source of odors when they aren’t detectable by other means.

Is Trenchless Sewer Replacement a Good Idea on My Budget?

Cost is a big consideration for most homeowners. Most homeowners insurance doesn’t cover the cost of sewer repair unless you take out a policy specifically for that purpose.

At first glance, traditional sewer line repair might seem like the most affordable option. That’s because trenchless sewer replacement has a larger upfront cost. On average, traditional pipe repair costs between $50 and $250 per foot. The cost depends on several factors including how deep the pipes are and the materials used.

In contrast, pipe lining typically ranges between $80 and $250 per foot while pipe bursting averages between $60 and $200 per foot. When you compare traditional sewer line repair with trenchless repair, there really isn’t a lot of difference. What many homeowners fail to consider are the hidden costs of traditional pipe repair. For example, the cost of excavating the old pipe, moving heavy objects located over the sewer pipes, or restoring the landscape aren’t included in the price.

Once you break the processes down, you will see that the trenchless option is much more cost-effective. If a trenchless repair is a viable option for you, it’s likely to be the best value overall.

There is also the cost to the environment and the disruption to your daily life. During a traditional sewer repair, you can’t use your water system until the repair is complete. That usually means moving to a different property until the job is finished. You can expect the job to be finished in 24 to 48 hours in comparison to two weeks or longer without access to your home.

Trenchless sewer repairs are environmentally friendly, too. There is less need to disturb the ground and the ecosystem surrounding the pipe.

Another benefit to trenchless sewer replacement is the quality of the results. The epoxy used to create the lining or new pipe lasts for up to 50 years or if engineered by Brinks it can last up to 125 years! Caring for your existing sewer pipe or your new one will help it last longer.

Protecting Your Sewer Lateral

Many people don’t realize that what they pour down their drain can lead to sewer spills. Cooking grease coats pipelines leading to blockages over time. One of the simplest ways to care for your sewer lateral is to never pour fats, grease, or oil down the sink. If you accidentally spill oil or grease in the drain, flush it with cold water, not hot. Cooking grease is the number one cause of sewer spills. Other ways to maintain your sewer lateral are:

– The purpose of the toilet is to flush soluble waste. Never put non-soluble items like sanitary napkins, diaper wipes, or other materials into the toilet.

– If your sewer drain has a property cleanout, flush the lateral with a high-pressure hose at least once yearly.

– Don’t try to fix plumbing problems yourself. Always have a licensed plumber investigate the problem and suggest which approach is best for fixing it.

The sewer system isn’t always at the top of the list for new home buyers. Never assume that the home inspection specialist will evaluate the condition of the sewage pipe. It’s worth the investment to have a licensed plumber inspect the sewer lateral before you buy.

Trenchless Sewer Replacement for Commercial Buildings

People often ask, “Is trenchless sewer replacement a good idea for my business?” It often is the best choice for businesses for many of the same reasons that homeowners prefer it. Some businesses are more prone to sewer blockages and the disruptions to business that sewer problems bring. Food-related businesses can suffer from business closures, fines, and extensive damage to their property if they don’t handle sewage leaks quickly. These types of businesses must have grease traps that separate greasy water from the municipal sewer system. Preventative maintenance goes a long way towards keeping the sewage flowing freely.

As disruptive as digging up your landscaping and flooring is to your home, it’s even more of a disruption for businesses. It also costs more to repair the damages caused by traditional repairs.

Why Call The Brinks Group of Services

At Brinks Group of Services, we use the latest and most technologically advanced methods to improve your plumbing and pipelining systems. We’ve developed new standards in effectiveness and convenience while producing a better product.

Our talented employees deliver the kind of experience that you can feel good about.

All homeowners have to deal with sewage problems eventually. When it happens to you, you want to know that you’re getting the best solutions and the greatest value for your investment. That’s why you should call The Brinks Group Services for all of your San Diego plumbing needs.