If your sewer pipes are over 40 years old, they likely need to be replaced. The reason is that pipes laid over 40 years ago are not as study as what is used today. Worried about the expense of having a trench dug and the labor involved? No need to fear. There are ways around the unpleasantness of sewer line repair with cured in pipe placement options, or CIPP for short.
Trenchless pipe replacement has been used for about 15 years now, though it is not as widely popular as the more work intensive version. It may be due to the limits of CIPP. For extensive damage, a patch will not fix the problem.
CIPP works more as a patch for an existing pipe than an entire replacement. This works because it strengthens what is already in place. But there are problems and potential issues that may occur that can make CIPP a pitfall instead of a solution. The key is to know its strengths and weaknesses.
For homes or businesses that have pipes with lots of off-shooting pipes, the concern is that the CIPP will cover up the openings. The way that CIPP works is similar to a very long, very sticky glove being turned inside out. It becomes tricky to get the right places patched if the contractor is not skilled with the sewer camera and the process of installing the inner liner that reenforces the damaged pipe.
A big concern for many homeowners and business owners in a repair project of this magnitude is price. How much the job will cost depends on a number of factors, from the actual damage to the restorative costs. Although trenchless sewer line repair may cost the same for the actual pipe repair as a traditional method, the restorative work of the landscaping is lessened.