American Sewer Specialist

2 Types of Trenchless Sewer Repair Methods: Which One is Ideal?

The repair of sewer lines is time-consuming, costly, and disruptive to day-to-day activities. Traditional sewer repairs involve trenching. As such, you have to dig deep trenches in the street next to your home, driveway, pavements, car parks, or your back or front yard. Instead of rerouting traffic and paying lots of money to dig up such areas, you can opt to use trenchless sewer repair methods to avoid disruptions.

Trenchless sewer repairs avoid traffic disruptions and damages to your landscape features as well as other utility lines. This article reviews the two types of trenchless sewer repair methods. It also reviews the factors you should consider when choosing the method that best suits your needs.

The Pipe Bursting Method

The pipe bursting trenchless sewer repair method involves inserting and pulling high-density polyethylene pipe (HDPE) through an old damaged pipe. The inserted pipe bursts open or fractures the damaged pipe without removing it. You have to dig holes on both ends of the lateral pipe before inserting the HDPE pipe. You have to connect a ‘bullet’ or ‘bursting’ head to the HDPE pipe and pull it through the old pipe.

Slip Lining, pipelining, or cured in place pipe (CIPP) method

The slip lining sewer repair technique allows the installation of an epoxy liner into a damaged lateral sewer line. The repair creates a pipe within another pipe. The sewer lining or ‘cured-in-place pipe’ is tube coated with flexible resin. This lining gets pulled through the broken sewer line and inflated to harden and create a new pipe lining within the old damaged pipe.

When can you choose one of the two methods?

1. Is the chosen method friendly to the environment?

Pipe bursting is a sewer repair method that is more friendly to the environment than CIPP. If not used well, the slip sewer lining method can release pollutants into the ground and utility lines. Research shows that some CIPP repair works have led to the release of styrene into storm-water. Styrene is a hazardous pollutant. Pipe bursting is thus safer than CIPP because it doesn’t involve the use of any chemicals with contaminants.

2. Which trenchless sewer repair method is more durable?

Pro plumbers hold that both the sewer pipe lining and pipe bursting methods are long-lasting. CIPP sections last for at least five decades, and this can give you peace of mind. But the slip lining method may not last as long as the pipe bursting method because of the reduction of the diameter of the original sewer piping. But the pipe bursting method establishes a whole new pipe that can last longer than the ‘pipe within a pipe’ under the CIPP method.

3. What’s the turnaround and disturbance during sewer line repairs?

The pipe bursting trenchless sewer repair method has a faster turnaround than CIPP. This is because a pipe bursting project can be completed in a single day. But, sometimes CIPP needs a curing process that may take up to 30 hours. This implies that CIPP may have a longer turnaround time. As such, the disturbance caused may take longer before the sewer line services get restored to normal.

4. What’s the cost of repair?

The price of trenchless sewer line repair may vary because it relies on various factors that include the depth of the sewer line, the type of soil, and the prices of repair materials. Trenchless repair options cost at least 30% to 50% more than methods that involve digging, but the cost may be lower for trenchless repair methods in cases where you avoid the restorative costs of repairing and replacing damaged landscape features.

Do you have a damaged sewer line that needs trenchless sewer repair? Talk to your plumber and landscaper to get a quote and an analysis of the restorative costs that you may incur in your repair work. Remember to consider the above-cited factors to determine the best repair method that will suit your needs and budget.

Happy Clients

Browse through some reviews from happy customers and clients.

  • "When American Sewer Specialist arrived to our home, we were so relieved. Not only because they showed up so quickly, but because they were able to figure out the problem with our leaky basement within a half hour. I have recommended American Sewer Specialist to our family and friends and will continue to do so.…"

    Dan D.
  • "Deal directly with the owner, Kurt! Excellent work, reliable, and great quote. I highly recommend! Comes right out while the others make you wait."

    Justin N.
  • "I was recommended American Sewer Specialist by my co-worker. We had quite the emergency with our sewer line, and they helped us right away! I’ll definitely call American Sewer Specialist if I am ever in need of their services again."

    Jessica L.
  • "Rick and his team did some extensive work on my property, relining and fixing the 75-year-old system. They did a great job at a fair price and cleaned up nicely after the project. You need a sewer system checked out or repaired? Do not hesitate to call Rick, he is honest, upfront and will take care of the job from start to finish. Just a great family owned company."

    Howard Effron
  • "We used American Sewer Specialist to divert a natural spring away from the house and into the storm drain. We had two other companies come out to try and fix our water drainage problem but they were unsuccessful. Rick was very professional and did a great job. He answered all of my questions and fixed our water problem! I highly recommend Rick and American Sewer Specialist!"

    Brianna
  • "We owned a property in Latrobe that was under contract. The dye test failed and Rick was there the next day. He worked on our fairly massive problem and we closed on the property without a delay. He was so patient with us as we were so panicked and living 70 miles away. Big problem-big job...BUT fair price!! Many thanks Michelle and Rick!!!!!!"

    Christine DiVecchio
  • A collection of plumbing tools and copper pipes, including a wrench, fittings, and valves, arranged on a textured dark surface.
  • A close-up view of a construction site showing an excavated hole with plumbing equipment and orange hoses, alongside a backhoe..
  • A spacious basement with a vintage air compressor on wheels, stairs leading up, and construction materials scattered across the concrete floor.
  • A snow-covered outdoor scene featuring a white pressure tank, colorful traffic cones, and a festive candy cane decoration on a brick wall.
  • A construction site showing a variety of pipes and hoses, a white bucket with a red handle, and tools on a wooden surface.
  • A worker in a camouflage hat operates a large machine on a grassy hillside, with hoses and buckets around, under a clear blue sky.
  • A worker connects colorful hoses to a machine beside an open excavation, with an orange pipe extending into the ground.
  • A large, hollow pipeline lies in a sandy trench, with another pipe visible in the background, indicating construction work in progress.
  • Two workers in safety attire operate a machine with colorful hoses in a construction area, surrounded by materials and tools.
  • A partially excavated trench filled with gravel, bordered by mounds of dirt, with construction equipment visible in the foreground.
  • Construction site with a excavator, a red spray machine, and construction materials against a clear blue sky.
  • A red and black portable machine sits on a gravel driveway in front of a brick house, surrounded by construction materials and tools.
  • A worker stands at a garage entrance surrounded by construction equipment, hoses, and tools on a sunny day. Safety cone nearby.
  • A concrete trench reveals a blue water pipe, surrounded by tools and a fan, in a construction corridor.
  • A deep hole filled with water in a basement, featuring red and black hoses linked to plumbing equipment against a concrete wall.
  • A trench with exposed pipes and tools outside a house, surrounded by orange cones and construction materials.

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