Replacing sewer pipes is not fun. Before the advent of trenchless pipe lining, sewer repair work was long, complicated, destructive, and costly. The process involves digging large trenches in a home’s yard in order to reach the pipes. The yard and everything on it (a deck, a patio, a walkway, a garden, etc.) is subject to damage. In fact, the damage can be so severe that it often requires additional restoration work on top of the actual pipe repair work. The process can take weeks to complete, making homeowners understandably restless about potential sewer repair work — even when it’s necessary.
Thankfully, trenchless pipe replacement offers homeowners an alternative to tearing up their lawns. As the name suggests, trenchless sewer repair involves no trench digging or any kind of invasive action. Instead, repair crews use the existing pipe system to lay the new pipes in. Cured in place pipe (CIPP) is an epoxy-based pipe that is seamless, jointless, very flexible, and long-lasting. Repair crews draw the CIPP liner through the existing pipe with a machine that uses a mix of hot water and steam. Once the epoxy lining is drawn all the way through, it’s left to harden for a few days. Once it has fully hardened, the CIPP liner functions as the new pipe.
Amazingly, despite the convenience of trenchless sewer repair and that it has been available for residential use for 15 years, it’s relatively unheard of. A recent poll conducted by Angie’s List found that 78% of residents have never heard of the method before. Sewer pipe repair work is very serious no matter what method you use but when you need to pick an option, it’s a no-brainer: the trenchless method is the way to go. Homeowners with pipes older than 40 years may need to get them replaced. For more information on how to repair them the right way, feel free to leave a comment or question at the bottom.