In the past, sewer line rehabilitation was a nightmare. To access the pipes for traditional, open-trench sewer repairs, your lawn and flowerbeds have to be ripped up by a huge, unsightly ditch that swallows up your limited time and budget right before your eyes.
Fortunately, we can now leave those old-fashioned, open-trench methods behind in favor of a less time-consuming and damaging process that requires minimal digging: trenchless sewer repair.
Wondering what exactly trenchless methods are, and why they're so much better than traditional sewer repair? We've got five reasons to convince you that trench-free is the way to go.
Ready to search for a qualified plumber who can complete trenchless repairs or replacement on your property? Good news—the search is over! The professional team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Salem, OR has the technology and years of experience necessary to get your lines working again, quickly and efficiently.
What is Trenchless Sewer Repair?
This term actually encompasses a variety of advanced techniques that eliminate the need to dig a trench on your property and allow plumbers to address issues with your sewer pipes effectively and efficiently. Two of the most common trenchless methods are pipe relining and Mr. Rooter's Pipe Pull™ technique, also known as pipe bursting.
When you have minor damage such as small cracks or gaps in your pipelines, or you're just looking for a way to prevent future trouble with an aging sewer system, relining is a good option. It basically involves lining the interior of your existing pipe with a "sleeve" that hardens within a few hours, sealing up any cracks and protecting your pipes from damage inside or outside the tube.
If the damage is severe enough to warrant trenchless pipe replacement, or you're dealing with certain types of material—such as Orangeburg piping—that can't be saved, bursting may be the best solution. It involves using hydraulics to further bust up your damaged line so a brand-new one can be pulled through the space left behind.
Why Trenchless Sewer Line Repair is Better
There are a lot of reasons why trench-free techniques are preferable over conventional methods, and we'll get to those in a moment. But first it's worth noting that, in comparison to traditional repairs, there's pretty much no downside for trenchless repairs—they come out on top in every category.
1. Less Damaging
Sewage lines can be buried as deep as five or six feet down. That means that in order to access them for traditional repair methods, the trench would need to be not only deep but wide, cutting out a huge chunk of your yard. Depending on what's in the way, you could lose flowerbeds, whole bushes, or small trees, not to mention your patio. That kind of landscaping devastation can take a long time—sometimes years—to recover from.
In comparison, trenchless techniques cause almost no damage at all. Depending on the method used, there may not be any digging at all or just two small holes on either side of the pipe run, which are easily filled in and disguised.
2. Saves Time
Understandably, digging massive trenches in the ground takes a long time, and filling it in takes a long time too. The digging process extends the overall time of the repair by multiple days, which is a huge disruption in your schedule. You will need to vacate the house while the sewer line repairs are underway and you may even need to take several days off of work—not the best use of your vacation time.
Without the trench digging, the repairs progress much faster—in fact, Mr. Rooter is often able to complete trenchless sewer repair within one day. You don't even need to leave the house, and your neighbors might not even realize what's happening!
3. Better Quality
If you need sewer line replacement, you can rest assured that the new pipes installed by Mr. Rooter will be of a higher quality than the old ones, especially if your sewer system was put in decades ago. The new lines can last up to 100 years, so it's safe to say that will be someone else's problem and you won't need to deal with replacement ever again. The pipe replacements also resist tree roots and harsh chemicals, are leak-proof, and are compliant to all building codes.
4. Saves Money
Usually when something is better and faster, it's also more expensive. The upfront cost of trenchless sewer repair may or may not be cheaper than conventional methods. However, trenchless techniques actually save you money overall in comparison to the old-fashioned way. Here's how:
You don't have to pay for the labor of digging and filling in a trench, which takes a long time and is hard work, and therefore is costly.
You don't have to pay to repair the damage to your landscaping afterwards, which is necessary to preserve your home's value and curb appeal.
You don't have to pay for a hotel stay while repairs are being carried out, and you don't have to lose income by missing multiple days of work.
The relined or replaced pipes will be more durable and resistant to damage, so they'll last a lot longer and save you money on future work.
5. Environmentally Friendly
Finally, trenchless sewer services are kinder to the environment than traditional methods. Digging a trench is disruptive to nearby flora and fauna, but the bigger problem is caused by leaking sewage, which is highly destructive to the environment, fatal to plants and animals, and can cause serious health problems for humans.
Mr. Rooter's environment-friendly sewer line repair process uses relined pipes or new PVC lines that are far less likely to break or leak, which protects the ground they're buried in from ecological damage.
Mr. Rooter Will Get Your System Running Again with Trenchless Sewer Repair
So which is better, trenchless sewer repair work or conventional sewer replacement? We have a clear winner: trench-free is better quality, faster, more cost-effective, and less damaging.
If you're ready to see it in action, give Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Salem, OR a call today at 503-343-4685 or request a job estimate online!