Sewer line repair options

The sewer is one of the most crucial utility systems in any home and yet, most people don’t ever think about it until there’s a problem. As time goes by and sewer pipes experience normal wear and tear, it’s natural for the lines to get blocked up, burst, or experience other issues. Once these issues occur, it’s necessary to carry out repairs. There are a few sewer line repair options homeowners can choose from and we will discuss them in this article.

Excavation or trench sewer pipe repair

This is the old-fashioned method of sewer line repair. While the cost of the repair itself can be relatively low, plumbers will need to dig trenches on your property and expose pipes inside your house. This means that your lawn, driveway, pavement, fencing, and possibly flooring inside the house will be damaged. As a result, you will likely need to spend a lot of money to restore your property after the repairs are done. Today, this sewer repair method is used to repair only the worst damage because newer trenchless methods don’t cause any of this damage.

Pipe lining

This trenchless pipe repair method is typically used when there’s a very small amount of damage to the pipes. To carry out the repair using the pipe lining method, the technician will insert an inflatable tube coated in epoxy into your pipe. Once the tube reaches the damaged section of the sewer line, it is inflated until the point where it starts pressing on the damaged sewage pipe. After a little time, the epoxy will solidify, which will fix the leak. The technician will then remove the inflatable tube.

Pipe bursting

The pipe bursting method is generally used to fix more significant damage. During this repair, a team of plumbers will destroy the old pipe line using a cone-shaped bit and simultaneously replace the old pipe with a new one. Naturally, this method is more expensive and time-consuming than pipe lining.

How to prevent damage to the sewer lines?

As with anything in life, it’s much easier and cheaper to prevent sewer line damage than to repair it. There are a few things you can do to ensure that your sewer pipes last as long as possible:

Have your sewer inspected annually – to catch small sewer line damage and wear that can potentially turn into a huge issue down the line early on, you should have your sewers professionally inspected once a year. Most plumbers will use a camera to check if your pipes have damage, corrosion, or blockage.
Get rid of trees that are ruining your pipes – if a portion of your sewer has already been damaged by tree roots, you should remove this tree to prevent further damage.
Use the sewer correctly – make sure that you, your family members, and house guests don’t dispose of any improper items in the toilet. Remember, you should only use the sewer to dispose of human waste and toilet paper.