Sewer Repair or Replacement?
A sewer line failure can break your heart and your budget. When their main sewer pipe breaks, many Ocalans wonder if they can soften the financial blow by repairing it instead of replacing the whole thing.
At Service Minds Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, we like to save a buck when possible, too, and we will collaborate with you to determine if repairs present a viable option. But replacement is the most logical choice when any of these circumstances exist:
- Severe Damage: We might be able to resolve small cracks, section blockages, or other relatively minor issues with trenchless repair or pipe relining, which effectively address these problems without significant disruption. But these targeted repairs won’t work if the sewer line has extensive damage, such as multiple cracks, significant corrosion, or severe root intrusion. Widespread damage can compromise the integrity of the entire system, so strengthening a few sections exposes the weakness of others, making it necessary to replace the whole line.
- Chronic Complaints: In the short term, repairs are less expensive than replacements. But these stopgap measures only delay the inevitable when the sewer line is compromised. The “big one” can hit at any time — even immediately after a repair project — necessitating complete replacement anyway and hitting you with a double whammy. Weigh the immediate savings against potential future costs. If the sewer line shows signs of major damage, it will need frequent repairs that quickly add up and might even total more than a one-time replacement.
- Outdated Materials: If the original sewer line is still in place on a home that’s more than 30 years, out, we strongly suggest replacing it with durable PVC or HDPE. Clay, cast iron, and bituminized fiber pipe are prone to damage and have already likely deteriorated appreciably, creating a disaster waiting to happen. Plastic pipe materials offer greater durability, corrosion resistance, and longer lifespans.
Replacement Technology
Until recently, homeowners and plumbers had no alternative to open-trench excavation to replace sewer lines too damaged to repair. This labor-intensive process requires digging up the entire length of the line, tearing through landscaping, and exposing an ugly gash in your yard. We still must use this method when newer less-invasive trenchless line replacement is not viable.
The upside to open trench is that it allows workers to completely replace the damaged section of pipe with brand-new material. But this offers little consolation to homeowners who must deal with the hassle, the unsightly mess, and the huge price tag.
Thankfully, trenchless technology has advanced to the point Service Minds Benjamin Franklin and our clients prefer it in all situations where it can be employed. These innovative techniques allow the Service Minds Benjamin Franklin team to rehabilitate or replace sewer pipes with hardly any digging, making the process far less unsightly and intrusive:
- Pipe Relining: Also known as pipe sleeving or cured-in-place piping (CIPP) relining installs a new, seamless insert through the existing pipe interior. The new material forms a durable, impermeable barrier inside the old pipe. The flexible, resin-impregnated fabric liner “inflates” to fill the old pipe’s interior circumference. When it cures, it makes a jointless, corrosion-resistant pipe within a pipe. We encourage clients to choose this approach for restoring the structural integrity of pipes that have incurred cracking, corrosion, or tree root intrusion.
- Pipe Bursting: When the existing pipe is too damaged for relining, pipe bursting offers an equally ingenious solution. For this trenchless technique, Service Minds Benjamin Franklin technicians use specialized equipment to burst apart the old pipe from the inside out while simultaneously pulling a new replacement pipe into its place. The process is fast and efficient. It leaves your landscaping intact because we feed the new line into the opening left by the broken pipe.
- Pipe Splitting and Ramming: Uncommonly, we can use similar techniques such as pipe splitting, where a cutting tool bisects the old pipe as other components pull a new one through, and pipe ramming, which uses a pneumatic hammer to drive a new pipe into place. Each approach has its own advantages depending on the specific conditions and challenges of a given job site.
While trenchless sewer line replacement techniques require less time than open-trench processes, they often necessitate the use of specialized equipment and expertise that elevate the cost.
Trenchless options are not always available, as the equipment needs room to operate. If the sewer line is difficult to access or the existing pipe diameter, length, or material is not amenable, open trench may be the only way to complete the job.
If Service Minds Benjamin Franklin believes your situation calls for sewer line replacement, our plumbers and engineering team will walk you the options, give you a clear, honest pricing proposal and an recommend the best technique.