Blog

If you’re looking for “sewer relining vs. replacement LA,” you’re likely curious about what local plumbers near you can do for your damaged plumbing. When it comes to deciding between sewer relining and pipe bursting, you have to weigh the cost, timeline, and invasiveness of the procedure. Both methods, however, land under the umbrella term of “trenchless” plumbing repairs, as they do not require much digging.

Sewer relining is a less invasive and more efficient way to repair sewer lines as opposed to sewer replacement. There are many benefits of sewer relining vs replacement: it is often cheaper, faster, and causes less damage to your property. However, sewer relining is not always the best option, and there are some pros and cons that you should consider before making the decision on how to repair your plumbing. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of sewer relining vs replacement, other names for sewer relining, and the pros and cons of sewer relining. We will help you decide which option is right for you!

Sewer relining (or pipe relining) is a process of plumbing repairs requiring a special felt tube that has been impregnated with resin. This tube is inserted into the broken pipe and the resin is activated, to create a new, often stronger, resin pipe within the damaged one.

This is considered a less invasive alternative to digging up the length of the damaged pipe and replacing it, which is why it is called also called “trenchless” plumbing repair. During the sewer relining process, the felt tube is most frequently inserted upstream of the damage, as inserting it downstream is generally considered to carry a higher risk.

There are several steps that must occur before a pipe is considered fully relined. The general order of operations is as follows:

1.     A video or CCTV camera is inserted into the damaged pipe to take measurements and assess the nature of the damage.

2.     A custom felt liner is cut to match the extent of the damage.

3.     The felt liner is “impregnated” with resin, which is then loaded into a drum.

4.     The impregnated liner is then inserted into the pipe, and a calibration tube expands within the liner to secure it into place.

5.     The liner cures for around 4 hours until the resin has set.

Pipe bursting is similar to sewer relining in that it is a less invasive means of plumbing repair—however, while pipe relining focuses on creating a new tube out of resin within the preexisting pipe, pipe bursting destroys the original pipe while implementing the new at the same time.

There are two primary types of pipe bursting. The two most common forms of type bursting are:

·      Pneumatic pipe bursting, which relies on compressed air to hammer the new pipe through the existing pipe, shattering and replacing it in one motion

·      Static pull pipe bursting, which relies on a conical “expansion head” attached to the new pipe (much like a battering ram) which is attached to a rod or cable connected to a hydraulic unit capable of pulling the new pipe through the old.

It is one thing to successfully burst a faulty pipe and another to correctly implement new pipes. Here is the standard order of operations for pipe bursting:

1.     A high-resolution camera is inserted into the sewer pipe for the nature of the damage and the precise location of the area(s) in need of repair.

2.     Entry and exit holes are dug at the foundation of the house and the edge of your property line. While this does require some digging, it is generally a much less invasive process than digging a trench through your yard or paved driveway!

3.     New, strong pipes are welded together to meet the needs of the client’s circumstances.

4.     The new pipes “burst” through the old by either hydraulic or pneumatic means and connected to mainline pipes as well as localized plumbing at the house foundation.

This means of replacing pipes is growing in popularity as it enables a homeowner to replace faulty plumbing without totally destroying their yard or driveway.

Pipe bursting goes by a slew of different monikers, all essentially referring to the same concept: non-invasive (limited digging) plumbing repairs. Here are some of the other common names for pipe bursting:

·      Sewer pipe bursting

·      Pipeline bursting

·      Waterline pipe bursting

·      Trenchless pipe bursting

Sewer relining has seen a rise in popularity in recent years, and many plumbers believe this practice is the future of the industry. This is because of several key benefits of the practice, including:

1.     It is currently the least invasive way to repair damaged plumbing—even better than pipe bursting. This minimizes costly, unsightly, and inconvenient property damage while effectively getting the job done.

2.     It has a lifespan of 50-60 years. This easily outstrips the expected lifespan of pipes made from other standard materials by 10-20 years.

3.     Long-term savings. By replacing your pipes with a durable material like epoxy resin, they will need to be replaced fewer times than pipes made from plastic, cast iron, or terra cotta.

4.     Depending on your budget, it can be accomplished extremely quickly. While the lower end of the price range gets you access to epoxy resin curing technology that will set in roughly four hours, at the high end you can cure your new pipes using blue light technology in as little as five minutes!

However, there are some circumstances in which you may prefer to opt for pipe bursting over sewer relining. For example, if the price is at all important to you, it may be better to opt for pipe bursting, as this typically will cost up to $20,000, while at the extreme end, sewer relining can cost up to $50,000. Also, pipe relining will slightly decrease the flow capacity of your damaged pipes by creating a replacement pipe within the original.

While sewer relining has its merits, there’s something to be said for pipe bursting as well. This popular method of plumbing repair was first patented in the 1970s in an effort to repair gas main lines and has been popular with plumbers ever since. There are several key benefits of pipe bursting that keep it competitive even with newer technology, including:

1.     It is another trenchless plumbing repair alternative. While pipe bursting does require two holes to be dug, it does not require the extreme inconvenience of digging a giant trench through the middle of your property. This preserves landscaping as well as any paved areas you may wish to protect.

2.      Pipe bursting increases pipe capacity by replacing smaller, frailer pipes with bigger, more robust ones. Bigger diameter pipes mean lower pressure flow, which is easier on your plumbing over time.

3.     Can re-plumb up to 1,000 feet of pipe at a time. For more industrial projects, pipe bursting can make relatively short work of large-scale plumbing repairs. This can be accomplished with many different types of preexisting pipes, except reinforced concrete, ductile iron, and HPDE.

4.     It can typically be accomplished on a lower budget than pipe relining, as the technology for epoxy resin curing can cost anywhere from $8,000-$15,000.

While some pipe bursting experts protest that their pipes will last for 100 years, most guarantee them for closer to 50 years—so it is nearly on par with pipe relining in terms of lifespan. However, if you are trying to get your business running again and time is of great importance, you may opt for the higher tech solution of pipe relining, which is regarded as the “future” of plumbing.

Whatever trenchless repair methods your local plumber offers, just know that plumbing technology has come a long way since its humble roots as terra cotta pipes. With several incredibly effective and efficient trenchless sewer repair options for your circumstances, you can make a decision based on the advanced plumbing technology and lifespan of the product versus one based on the price tag alone. If you have any doubts about the best course of action, consult a professional plumber (or two) for a quote for both methods.

Are you looking for an LA area plumber for your trenchless plumbing repair project? Call Rooter John today for a quote!