Trenchless Tuesdays #3 - Pipelining - What is it?

The condition of the underground pipes around your home is a fundamental part of a working water and sewer system. Unfortunately, a lot can go wrong: pipes can leak, crack, corrode, collapse, burst or be subject to root intrusion. If you're dealing with any of these problems, you need pipe repair stat. When you picture traditional repair methods, images of uprooted flower beds and trenches all across the yard probably come to mind. How about you avoid turning your lawn into a veritable war zone and seek trenchless pipe repair instead? There are a few ways to repair pipes without digging trenches. One of these techniques is called pipelining. What is this technique? Could it work for your situation? Let's find out.

What is Pipelining?

This trenchless pipe repair technique, also known as cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), eliminates the need to remove old, damaged pipes. It's essentially a pipe rehabilitation process that involves inserting a new, jointless, seamless lining directly within the walls of the old pipe. This pipe-within-a-pipe technique is one of the most widely used trenchless pipe repair methods suitable for water, sewer, gas and chemical pipelines.

How does Mr. Rooter® do Pipelining?

1. Dig at the small clean out access point and check the pipe using a plumbing camera inspection. If pipelining is the best trenchless pipe repair option, the old pipe is thoroughly cleaned with high-pressure jetting to prepare it for the lining process.
2. Measure and cut the precise amount needed. Resin is mixed and poured into the liner. A special machine ensures the resin is evenly and thoroughly applied throughout the entire length.
3. The resin-filled liner is loaded into a tank, which extrudes the liner into the damaged pipe through the access point. Forced air sends the liner down the length of the existing pipe.
4. An inflatable bladder is inserted into the liner. Hot water fills the bladder, which causes the liner to tightly form against the existing pipe. The bladder is left alone for up to an hour while the liner cures and hardens.
5. The bladder is deflated and removed. The end of the liner is trimmed neatly and a final plumbing camera inspection is performed to ensure the completed job meets exacting quality control standards.
6. The line is reconnected, the small access point is filled back in with dirt, and full water or sewer service is returned to your property. The newly installed liner will now provide at least 50 more years of dependable service.

Before you dig, consider the possibility that trenchless pipe repair could be a feasible option. Call Mr. Rooter® today for a free inspection and learn if pipelining is right for you.