When is Trenchless Sewer Repair the Best Option?

A broken sewer line is inconvenient, to say the least. Not only can it lead to significant issues both inside and outside the home, but it can also mean an unexpected and costly emergency repair. Several repair options are available, but trenchless sewer repair is becoming increasingly popular as a solution for broken sewer lines.

This innovative repair system offers some significant benefits over conventional repair options. If your company doesn’t yet offer trenchless sewer repair services, you could be missing out on an opportunity to provide your customers with a solution to many of the common issues associated with sewer pipe repairs.

What Is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

In trenchless sewer repair, a special process relines the original sewer pipeline with a quick-set epoxy resin. Instead of requiring extensive excavation to replace or repair the main sewer line, trenchless sewer repairs only need a little digging at one end of the line or the other, depending on what kind of access the plumbing company may have. In some cases, excavation is completely unnecessary.

The methods used in trenchless repair are nearly 50 years old, yet great advances during this time have reduced waste products, curing time, and overall cost. Epoxy-based solutions can take as little as a few hours to cure, but our resin-based CIPP pipe repair cures in minutes. Here are the basic steps involved in trenchless pipe repair.

Liner Preparation

The pipe liner and inflatable bladder are first cut to the length of the broken pipe section. The resin is then measured and weighed for the required liner length. The resin is then integrated into the liner, and any excess resin is saved for future use. This means less wasted product and more cost savings.

Liner Inversion

Now that the liner is prepped and ready to go, the next step is inversion. The liner is attached to the inversion machine, usually with a clamp to secure it. The liner is then fed into the broken pipe using compressed air. This also presses the liner firmly against the pipe, positioning the resin between the liner and the pipe wall.

Curing Process

Once in place, various curing processes can be employed to cure the liner, including hot water, UV, ambient heat, or steam, and T3 Lining Supply provides the tools needed for all of these methods. Regardless of the curing method used, resins harden quickly, are structurally sound, and the liners are perfectly molded to the shape of the original pipe.

Pipe Finalization

Once the pipe is hardened, the bladder is removed so that the new pipe can be inspected and declared operational. The final step is to cut out any lateral connection for future lining. In the span of only a few hours from start to finish, the pipe repair is complete.

The process requires special equipment and training, but can clearly cut down on repair time, avoid serious landscaping costs, and offer a solution that lasts approximately 50 years, protecting against tree root intrusion, trench rot, and offers a better flow due to its seamless structure.

When Is Trenchless Sewer Repair the Best Option?

In traditional sewer repair, most situations require digging up the property along the sewer line between the house and the street. It can mean tearing up the lawn, breaking apart sidewalks, or even ripping out parts of driveways. The process can take days, and the costs of the plumbing repair may only be the start of the bills.

The one advantage of traditional sewer repair is that the repair cost on its own may be less than trenchless sewer repair if the line’s path doesn’t interfere with landscaping or concrete work. But when that is not the case—and it seldom is—traditional sewer repair may not be the best solution. Trenchless sewer repair bypasses the need for digging, locating other utilities, and breaking up concrete features or landscaping in yards. It also takes far less time to complete and get your customers’ lives back to normal.

The best way to start offering trenchless sewer repair services is to get CIPP certificatied. At T3 Lining Supply, we offer semi-annual training for our equipment and resin-based trenchless pipe repair system, as well as private training opportunities. We take great pride in making it possible for plumbing and pipe repair companies to provide CIPP repair. We also train on equipment and systems other than T3 products, so if your team needs to get up to speed on the latest techniques, or simply brush up on their skills, contact us to set up a consultation.