Municipalities and utilities owe it to their customers to perform infrastructure repairs in the fastest and most efficient way possible. This ensures that residents will endure the least disruption to their service and get the most value for their monthly water bills. For years, repairing broken water mains and sewer pipes was a very cost and labor intensive process. Today, however, the advent of trenchless repairs make this procedure much less expensive and complicated. To understand why, it’s necessary to compare the two methods and examine what makes them so radically different from each other.
The Basics of Traditional Sewer Repairs
It used to be that the only way to fix a broken pipe was to dig it up and replace it. This traditional repair method involves excavating the area around the broken section, potentially causing significant damage to streets, sidewalks, landscaping and even nearby buildings. Once the broken pipe is uncovered, it must be cut out and replaced with a new section. This means area residents and businesses could be without water service for days waiting for the work to be completed. Once repairs are made, the pipe is reburied and any damaged pavement or landscaping must be restored. This is why traditional sewer repair costs are often so high. They include restoring and repairing any damage, while the use of heavy equipment escalates the amount of labor necessary for the job.
Why Trenchless Repairs Are More Affordable
In contrast, newer repair techniques require far less time and involve no excavation. First, crews identify the closest access point to the water main break. Using a flexible video camera system, the pipe is inspected to find the exact location of the leak or breach. Once it is discovered, a liner sleeve coated in epoxy is threaded into the main until it reaches the damaged area. This is then inflated so that it presses against the inner walls of the pipe. When the epoxy cures, the lining essentially forms a new layer of pipe on the inside of the existing one. This seals the main and repairs it without needing to remove it from the ground. Because this process is much less involved than the traditional method, and requires only a fraction of the time, labor and equipment, trenchless sewer repair costs much less.
Turn to Pro-Pipe for Trenchless Services
As a trusted industry leader for trenchless repair as well as sewer pipe inspection and cleaning, Pro-Pipe helps utility providers do right by their customers. We have the experience, equipment and know-how to provide simple, affordable services that can restore water lines quickly, safely and cost-effectively. To learn more about how we can put our expertise to work for your operation, get in touch with us today.