If you own a home, you are familiar with repairs. You have likely made small repairs to your home from the moment you moved into your private oasis. You may have fixed a lightbulb, repaired a crack in a wall, or even replaced a few doors. However, you hope that major repairs, such as the roof, HVAC system, and even sewage system hold up for years to come. Nonetheless, the time may come when even those major repairs can wait no longer. When it comes to sewage repair, as with any other major home repairs, it is essential to know your options and choose the best option for your home and your wallet. In many cases, the answer to your sewage repair problems is trenchless sewer repair.

What is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

To begin our foray into trenchless sewer repair, we should understand what it is and how it works. Let’s begin with the root and understand what is a trench. For many years, a trench was the only way to fix a sewer problem. A plumber would need to dig up your entire landscape leading to and from the sewer line. It would be unsightly at best and extremely costly at worst. The trench would allow the plumber to dig up your sewer line and replace the line, leaving you with working sewage lines. However, you would also be left with an entire landscaping project in order to repair the damage, which may cost thousands of dollars. Combine that with the  upfront costs associated with the original repair and you may need a small loan to pay for such a repair. And, the time the original repair would take could leave you with people working on your property for days.

However, technology has allowed for a different approach to repair your sewer systems. Trenchless sewer repair, also known as “no-dig” sewer repair, allows for your to repair a sewer line while leaving your landscape intact, saving time and money across the board. Much like laparoscopic surgery in which a surgeon can enter your body without cutting you open and exposing your body to the air, trenchless sewer repair allows for a plumber to enter your sewer line without opening up your yard and exposing the line to the air. The method is quite innovative and almost too simplistic to be true. Trenchless sewer repair allows the plumber to replace the sewer line by pulling the new sewer line through the old line, even if the old line is crushed and almost completely destroyed.

Trenchless Sewer Repair and Your Wallet

There is an old adage in business: “Time is Money.” The more time something may take, the more costly it can be. This is especially true in trade industries, such as plumbing. The old way of sewer repair took an incredible amount of time. It required several workers to complete a job. The equipment was heavy, expensive, and difficult to utilize. Repairing the landscape after the sewer was repaired would require a separate set of experts that would take time and equipment to repair your lawn and help restore it to its original beauty.

Trenchless sewer repair eliminates all of these issues: taking less time; keeping your lawn intact; and utilizing less manpower. The end result is more money in your wallet and a more efficiently completed job. Since you have eliminated the need to dig, or excavate, to reach the sewer line, you save time, which equates to saving money. Digging is an extremely time consuming activity. If you have ever taken the time to dig a small whole to plant a tree in your yard, you have seen firsthand how the project may take hours to complete. Imagine, having to dig a precise whole that is several feet long and several feet deep. This may take an entire eight hour day, or longer, depending on the length of the piping and its depth. Typically this job may take at least two individuals to make sure it is done properly and additional damage does not occur.

Once the trench is dug, the removal process begins. Removing the damaged pipeline requires several workers and can be quite tedious. Depending on the damage and the size of the pipeline, this may be another day’s worth of work, or more. Only once this is removed, can the new sewer pipe be installed, taking another few workers’ time and several hours.

In contrast, trenchless sewer repair eliminates many of these time consuming processes from the repair. First, there is no digging. Therefore, one or more workers do not need to take an entire day or more to dig through the landscaping to reach the sewer pipeline. Since there is no digging, there is no manual removal of the damaged sewer line. Instead, the plumbers conducting trenchless sewer repair can utilize a special tool which helps pull the new line through the older line, reducing the waste and amount of manpower required. Finally, the landscape stays intact (for the most part), eliminating the need to hire a landscaper to repair your excavated lawn. Upon completion of the trenchless sewer repair, you end up with a new sewer line and more money in your wallet to help with other repairs throughout your home, or save for a rainy day.

The Environment Prefers Trenchless Sewer Repair

As we discussed above, trenchless sewer repair requires no digging and leaves little waste. Of course, this is great for keeping costs low. However, it also adds to protecting the environment. Let’s explore this concept.

First, avoiding digging up your landscape means helping to protect the ecosystem that lives in your yard. As you begin to disrupt your landscape, you may affect the insects and other typical backyard animals who depend on the nutrients within your soil and the landscape in your yard to survive. This is not often something we think about on a regular basis. As a matter of fact, we actively try to ignore the fact that these creatures live in our yards. However, any disruption to the natural environment may have a larger impact on the overall environment around us.

However, the big issue that typically occurs when using typical sewer repair services is the waste. Typical sewer lines are made of copper or even PCP piping. Many times, these materials may not be able to be recycled. Therefore, they become waste that fills a landfill, creating more harm for the environment. Trenchless sewer repair eliminates this excess waste. The original pipeline stays in the ground, while the new material simply lines the original pipeline. Eliminating waste is a great way trenchless sewer repair helps protect the environment and eliminates excess waste.

Trenchless Sewer Repair and Durability

Every repair in your home has a shelf life. For instance, a roof typically needs replacing every thirty years. HVAC systems are usually good for about twenty years. Sewer lines of old typically need replacing every 20 years or so. However, trenchless sewer repair uses pipes lined with epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is a type of chemical finish which protects the piping from weather damage and other issues that have been known to damage sewer lines. As a result, this type of piping can last up to 50 years. This means your pipelines may outlast your ownership of the home. This is simply one more way in which trenchless sewer repair is easy on your wallet and the environment.

Trenchless Sewer Repair Is Not Always an Option

With so many benefits to trenchless sewer repair, one may ask why any other type of sewer repair still exists. The truth is two-fold. First, not all plumbing contractors are created equal. Since the technology is fairly new and requires a certain amount of precision, some sewer repair companies may prefer to stay away from trenchless sewer repair whenever possible. These companies may not be the companies looking out for your best interests.

On the other hand, and more importantly, sometimes, in very rare occasions, trenchless sewer repair is not an option. Sometimes, the damage to the original piping is far beyond repair. In these cases, it is best for the environment and home owner to remove the original piping and install new piping. However, rest assured, the new piping that will be installed will be a perfect candidate for trenchless sewer repair in the future, when needed.

In conclusion, trenchless sewer repair is the wave of the future. In the age of technology, when full surgeries can be performed without ever cutting a person’s body, there is no reason sewer repair cannot be conducted in the same way. That being said, when looking to work with a company to repair your sewer line, make sure the company is qualified to conducted both trenchless sewer repair and traditional sewer repair. This will ensure that if your pipes are not eligible for trenchless sewer repair, the company can still do the work without recreating the wheel. Any company you hire should be certified and understand the pros and cons regarding trenchless sewer repair. Do not be afraid to ask questions to make sure you are getting the most qualified company to complete your sewer repair job. If you have any questions about trenchless sewer repair, or plumbing issues in general, contact the experts at Bullseye Plumbing at 650.515.6607. One of our experts will be happy to answer any and all of your plumbing questions.