How Does Trenchless Sewer Line Repair Work?

The days of tearing up neighborhood streets to repair a sewer line are gone. Thanks to trenchless sewer line repair, modern public works contractors no longer have to take an invasive and laborious approach. 

The name says it all — “trenchless pipe repair” allows workers to replace sewer pipes without digging up huge trenches. Although a little basic digging might be necessary, nothing strenuous or time-consuming is required. Before trenchless pipe repair, local governments that were in need of corrugated metal pipe repair, say for a local waste water treatment plant, would be required to dig up the pipe to replace it. This is a very labor intensive process, often resulting in roads being shut down for a period of time, and high labor and equipment costs. 

Fortunately, trenchless pipe repair technology has enabled local municipalities to save big on repair costs, and expedited repair timelines. Keep reading to learn how trenchless pipe repair works!

TYPES OF TRENCHLESS SEWER LINE PIPE REPAIR: 

Before you can determine what type of sewer line pipe repair you will use, first you need to gain a deep understanding of what the project entails and your client’s budget. 

CURED-IN-PLACE-PIPE LINING (CIPP)

CIPP pipe lining involves using a special two-part epoxy resin and an absorbent tube, made of felt, fiberglass, or other material, to create a new pipe within the damaged one.

The process involves inserting an epoxy-impregnated liner into the damaged pipe and then inflating it. The liner is then left to cure ambiently or the curing can be accelerated with steam or UV lighting systems. 

After it has cured for several hours it’s removed and the pipe is as good as new. 

PIPE BURSTING 

Pipe bursting is the process of breaking apart the original sewer line with a bursting head. You can do this by digging holes at the two ends of the pipe allowing the bursting head to push through the existing sewer pipe. 

The bursting head is slightly bigger than the pipe, breaking it apart as it pulls through. This process creates a cavity for the new pipe, which is pulled through directly behind the bursting head, at either the same size pipe diameter or the next larger diameter pipe size. 

SLIP LINING

Slip lining involves pulling a smaller diameter pipe into an already existing pipe and then filling the annular space between them with grout. 

While this might sound like a simple solution, take into consideration that your clients’ sewer line system’s flow capacity can be significantly reduced. Slip lining works best for long, straight pipes because the material is not flexible enough to accommodate curves. 

SPRAY PIPELINING

The greatest benefit of a spray applied pipe liner is it can be installed on larger diameter pipe than other trenchless methods,  with no digging, all while providing a long-term solution following a 50+ year design protocol. 

Unlike other spray products, SprayWall is a structural polyurethane product.

This is one of the fastest, easiest, and most effective ways to repair and restore a damaged pipeline. With a polymeric product like SprayWall®, the only proven structural and corrosion lining on the market, pipes can be rehabilitated in record time and with TWICE the load resistance. 

BENEFITS OF TRENCHLESS SEWER PIPE LINING:                                                                 

FASTER REPAIR PROCESS 

Trenchless sewer pipe lining can usually be completed in one to two days since the projects are significantly smaller than the traditional open-cut excavation sewer pipe repair projects that used to be done in the past. 

LESS EXPENSIVE 

Since there is little to no damage to the roads there will be fewer costs to replace any damages at the end of the project. The projects are smaller too which requires less manual labor than normal. 

HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCT, HIGHER QUALITY RESULTS. 

When compared to open trench pipe repairs, trenchless pipe repairs for public sewer rehabilitation provide equivalent or higher quality rehabilitated assets. The use of spray applied pipe liners (SAPL), cured-in-place liners, and seamless PVC, HDPE piping offer better quality when compared to the average pipelines in the market. Therefore, these restored pipes will not suffer from corrosion that may cause further sewage problems in the future. 

SPRAYROQ’S SPRAYWALL® IS FOR YOU

With Sprayroq you will find the future of underground infrastructures. Stop breaking your backs and wasting time and energy on digging laborious trenches. Start completing your work easier, faster, and with results that will last a lifetime.

SprayWall is the solution that will last you a lifetime. It is the only proven structural and corrosion lining on the market. 

SprayWall® is a self-priming polyurethane lining that reinstates structural integrity, superior corrosion resistance, and provides infiltration control and chemical resistance. It provides the quickest return to service times in the industry, saving you time, energy, and money.

To get a free demonstration of the product in action, or to try a sample for yourself, contact us today.