What to Know About Trenchless Pipelining

If you’re dealing with pipe damage or pipe failure, there’s really no easy way to address the issue. Pipe damage or failure is cause for stress at any time. There is some good news, however—there’s no need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to repair or replace your home’s pipelines.

Trenchless technologies mean that digging and restorative landscaping, for the most part, can be avoided. Let’s take a deeper look at trenchless pipelining, how it works, and some of its benefits.

What is Trenchless Pipelining?

Trenchless pipelining, sometimes referred to as just pipe relining, is a process that creates a pipe within an existing, host pipe to restore failing drains.

By placing an epoxy-impregnated liner inside the existing drain or sewer pipes that are failing, this method repairs these piping systems and traverses missing sections of a pipe. It is an affordable solution for flow capacity, blockages, and more.

If you’ve reached out to a plumber and discovered that traditional pipe replacement just isn’t ideal for your budget, trenchless pipelining is a viable alternative.

Not only does traditional pipe replacement require more money and time, it also creates a bigger mess and is likely to cause more yard damage in its wake. A traditional pipe replacement job can even sometimes increase the total cost as you will have to pay for repairs or restorations for any landscaping, painting, and other residual damage done.

The most expensive aspects of traditional pipeline repair aren’t in the tools or materials. It’s in the labor, digging, and time spent replacing or repairing the pipes.

These costs are why you may end up spending around 25-30% more money if you go with traditional replacement or repair methods instead of trenchless pipe lining.

For underground pipes that are below the street, utility lines, sidewalks, or driveways, using traditional repair methods can become exponentially more expensive as it becomes necessary to dig and repair or replace the pipe in common-use areas.

Pipes in these areas may also cause a major disturbance to public areas and public utility. There are even some cases where tree roots have to be dug up. Trenchless methods reduce the cost and avert these additional inconveniences because it’s possible to repair or replace without unnecessary digging and reinstatement.

How Trenchless Pipelining Works 

Trenchless pipelining creates a pipe within a pipe with a structural liner that is made of epoxy-impregnated materials. In some cases, both a structural liner and resin coating may be used. There are multiple techniques available to line the pipe: the pull-in-place (PIP) method, the continuous spray method, and the cured in place pipe (CIPP) method are all viable options for drain and sewer issues.

Here’s a general breakdown of the steps to trenchless pipelining:

1. Camera inspection is typically the first step (though not always). With a camera inspection, it’s easier to discover or identify the issue. With this step, the pipeline is inspected and the problem is then identified.
2. Pipeline is cleaned (sometimes by a process called hydro-jetting). Eliminate any dirt, debris, or small clogs that have developed over time.
3. Pipeline is measured. It’s essential to capture accurate measurements of the pipeline so that the liner will fit without issues.
4. Epoxy is prepared. Mix epoxy resin according to the measurements and pour it into the liner that’s been prepared. Once in the liner, roll around to ensure the resin is fully impregnated.
5. Carefully place the liner into an inverter.
6. Insert liner into the existing pipeline.

Benefits of Trenchless Pipelining 

Trenchless methods are advantageous in most situations. Trenchless pipe repair provides a number of benefits including:

• Affordability: It is much more cost-effective than completely replacing them since the reconstruction costs and labor can account for the majority of the cost.
• Minimal Downtime: Trenchless repiping projects repair drain pipes and entire pipe systems much faster than traditional methods. For home or property owners, this is huge. In many cases, the water is turned back on the same day.
• No Occupant Displacement: Homeowners and tenants can remain in the building during the trenchless pipelining process. In a traditional pipe replacement job, most homeowners and residents are required to vacate or leave their home or office building while the work is being completed.
• Safety and Durability: Over time, up to 75% of the original flow capacity of traditional pipes can be lost due to pipe corrosion and other forms of build-up or clogs. This is not an issue with pipe coating. When properly applied, an epoxy-coated pipe system can last decades without compromising your water flow.
• Versatility: The pipelining creates a new pipe that’s load-bearing so that even if the old pipe breaks down, the liner remains effective. The lining can be applied to any metal pipe, including cast iron or PVC, in any type of structure whether it’s below or above ground.

The Bottom Line

Traditional pipe replacement is a much more invasive process that requires deconstruction and reconstruction of the home and surrounding landscaping. Accessing and put-back account for much of the added expenses and time when compared to trenchless pipelining.

A traditional pipe repair can take days or weeks depending on the extent of the repairs. This means you may have to leave your home while the work is being completed because your sewer line or water systems may not be available until the project is finished.

With trenchless pipelining solutions, property owners are free to remain in the home while the work is being done. There’s minimal disruption to your routine.

Your pipes will likely be restored on the same day in most cases. Even with severely damaged pipes, the trenchless repairs are done in a fraction of the time a traditional repiping project would take.

Contact Us

If you need an assessment or a repair done on your potable water pipes, contact us today.

We provide 24-hour support and have offices on the East and West coasts. We’re equipped to handle residential and commercial projects, along with hotels, HOA, and specialty projects.

We even offer financing options. Reach out to our team today to see how you can avoid the costs and stress of a traditional pipe repair!