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Publish Date
June 6, 2024
At some point, even the best sewage system needs repair or replacement but no one wants to have their properties dug up and destroyed. Below, experts fromAlmco Plumbingshare their advice on how to quickly and inexpensively fix your leaky pipes.
Standard and trenchless pipe rehabilitation methods
With modern technologies, sewage lines can be fixed or replaced with small losses using one of the trenchless line repair techniques:
· Cured-in-place pipe (PIPP), which means epoxy pipe lining using sewer sleeves;
· Pipe bursting; and
· Epoxy pipe lining.
The choice of repair methodsdepends on multiple factors, including the pipe length and diameter, the number of bends, and more. But most importantly, the work can be completed in just a couple of days with no extra costs for the recovery of your house and garden after the excavation mess.
In some cases, for instance, when the cracked section is located under the pool or under the road, the trenchless method may be the only reasonable option.
Steps to trenchless repair process
After running an inspection, the plumber chooses the trenchless technique to be used in each specific case, say experts from Almco Plumbing. To understand the scope of work and estimate costs, the plumber will check the lines with an ultraflexible compact SeeSnake camera to spot damages and assess the inside condition of the pipes.
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Regardless of the method chosen, the trenchless process includes the following stages:
Clean and descale the pipe using a carbide cleaning chain and hydro-jet to remove limescale and unclog the inside in order to restore the cross-section profile and prepare the surface for further work or replacement of the damaged section.
Repair the sewage system. Based on the method chosen, the technician can either replace the old pipe or repair it using one of the above techniques.
Run test check. Once the repair work is complete, the plumber runs a visual inspection of the pipe using the camera to make sure that the damage has been fixed properly, the affected pipe sections are closely fitted and aligned, and there are no foreign objects that might block the sewage system.
Epoxy pipe lining solutions
Most of the above trenchless techniques cannot be applied to pipes with a diameter of 6 inches or less, says Vlad Khorenko, CEO at Almco Plumbing. For smaller pipes, epoxy pipe lining would be the best option. This method involves using high-performance epoxy resin to create a corrosion-resistant coating up to 1/8 inch thick. This coating seals cracks and other small leakage points and helps to prevent pipe damage from growing tree roots.
This method has major advantages:
It’s fast. In most cases, it takes 2-3 days to seal the leakage, including epoxy curing time;
It’s non-invasive. The plumber will only need a cleanout to access the sewage system. Plumbing tools and materials are usually quite flexible so the epoxy pipe lining method is ideal for smaller diameter (up to 2 inches) pipes in the kitchen or laundry room as well as for pipes with bends and connectors.
It provides the best way to fix vertical pipes and seal leaky joints.
Epoxy pipe lining involves applying several layers of epoxy resin to the pre-cleaned and pre-dried area of the damaged pipe. Liquid polymers can be used alternatively to ensure waterproofing. The coating normally takes about an hour to cure.
This method can be used for old cast iron drains and modern plastic pipes. As each layer is no more than 0.4 inch thick, a minimum of three layers are required. As a result, a brand-new ¼ inch thick pipe is created directly inside the old pipe. “Even if your old cast iron pipe eventually collapses, the epoxy coating will remain intact to ensure tightness and prevent leakage”, says Vlad Khorenko. If maintained properly, your sewage system can survive up to 50 years. The reduction in internal diameter is not significant and cannot affect the performance of your sewage system.
This method has some downsides, however: it cannot be applied to large diameter pipes (6 inches or more) nor to severely damaged sewage systems.
Introduced in the USA over 15 years ago, the epoxy pipe lining method has already established itself as one of the most cost-effective for home sewage repair, andcomments and testimonials from Almco Plumbing’s customersconfirm its high efficiency.
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Members of the editorial staff of San Diego Reader were not involved in the creation of this content.
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