sewer & water repair / replacement

cure in place pipe   |   sectional/point repair  |   excavation   |   pipe bursting   |   causes of sewer failure   |   methods to replace

cure in place pipe (CIPP)

CIPP is quickly emerging as the preferred method to repair aging sewer & water lines. The technology allows for a 100% trenchless installation that requires zero disruption to yards, sidewalks, parking lots, store fronts, driveways, or streets. A resin-saturated liner is inverted into the existing line through a cleanout or incision made in the existing pipe. The resin hardens under an exothermic reaction and forms a pipe-within-a-pipe. Once cured, the existing sewer lateral will be rehabilitated to an additional 50 years of service.

SECTIONAL/POINT REPAIR (CIPP)

If a singular point of deficiency can be identified, we can install a point repair at that spot. Ranging in length from 24” to 96”, a fiberglass or felt repair can be installed at any point in the line. Our Hammerhead Trenchless and Trelleborg packers are Kevlar-reinforced for optimal pressure and curing during installation. Once the repair is ready, it is wrapped onto a packer. Fiberglass, dual purpose air/push rods are connected to the packer. The packer is now able to be remotely pushed or pulled in place until it has reached the deficiency. A small air compressor inflates the packer and holds the repair tight against the host-pie wall. 2-3 hours later, the packer is removed and the repair has been completed.

Excavation

Open trench excavation is the time-tested method for sewer & water repair. The proposed trench is located by white spray paint above-ground or within the foundation if trenching is needed inside. This is to identify to other utilities where the proposed trench will be. Once all interference is identified, traffic and pedestrian control is put in place for public safety. Full-depth excavation begins with excavation at the furthest point of deficiency and works towards the property. Once at the property, a connection is made and your lateral has been replaced. Once inspected, the trench is backfilled. Depending on the season there will be landscaping, hardscaping, sidewalk, driveway, or potentially public streets that may need replacement.

Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is an alternative to open-trench excavation. The technology is sought as a semi-trenchless method due to the elimination of up to 90% of the trench. Pipe bursting requires two pits. Pit “A” (launch pit) is typically downstream from the repair and pit “B” (receiving pit) is typically upstream. Our Hammerhead Trenchless PortaBurst PB30 hydraulic bursting unit is dropped into pit A. The PB30 is used to pull 1-inch steel cable through the existing lateral. Once the cable reaches pit B, a bursting head is attached. The bursting head is one pipe-size larger than the pipe being replaced. The PB30 pulls the bursting head in reverse which fractures the existing pipe into the ground around it. New pipe is pulled into place behind the bursting head until all cable has been removed. This process allows for the preservation of parking lots, sidewalks, store fronts, etc. Once the burst is complete, the pits are backfilled and minimal site restoration is needed.

Causes of sewer failure:

Broken, cracked, missing, or off set pipes – Early materials for constructing sewer lines were made of brittle, vitreous material. Over time these materials have worn down and become defective. Colder climates also put undue pressure on these systems as the ground continuously shifts from season to season.

Blockages – A sewer line can only handle so much debris before it will become plugged. The number one cause of blockage is tree roots. Tree roots are able to enter the line by any number of deformities, but mainly shifted joints are the culprit. Once tree roots enter the line, any grease, hair, food particles from garbage disposals, etc., will slowly begin to build up until flow is completely restricted.

Corrosion – Any sort of metal pipe that has been subject to chemical treatment such as paint thinners, or liquid drain cleaners, has the possibility of corrosion from the inside out. Horizontal pipes don’t require much grade, so over time these chemicals may sit in one place and slowly corrode the pipe.

Bellied or Disconnected Pipe – The original installation may have not been performed correctly. This could have caused a pipe belly or separation that would allow build up in the belly or a plug to form in the line.

METHODS TO REPLACE:

(These could be used for both sewer and water replacement)

Old School: Open Trench

As the name implies, we would construct a trench from the front-most part of your home all the way to the street. Once the trench was open, we would disconnect and remove all existing sewer (water) lines and replace with new, code-bearing and materials.

New Technology: Pipe Bursting

This technology is extremely beneficial in that it minimizes down time for crews waiting for entire trenches to be opened up. With a pipe bursting machine, we only need 2 smaller access holes to act as “point A to B” holes. Once the holes are in place, we guide a cable with a bursting head into your sewer (water) line, and pull it through. The bursting head simultaneously splits your old line while pulling in new material.

New Technology: Cure In Place Pipe Relining

The technology truly is state of the art. Cure In Place Pipe relining require no excavation at all. An impermeable liner is mixed with a two-part, all-solids epoxy that lines your sewer (water) line from the inside out. This allows us to use your existing lines as host pipes, minimalizing all property disruption during the repair process. The liner meets all current building codes and has a design life of 50 years!