What to Know Toronto Trenchless Sewer Repair

Street drain pipe overflowing with murky water

When it comes to sewer repair, you can expect to pay anywhere from $1,108 to $4,246 to your plumber. That means that you're definitely going to need to know the 4-1-1 about trenchless sewer repair costs before you choose your Toronto plumbers.

Before you dig up your entire front lawn, make sure you read our ultimate trenchless sewer repair guide to learn about your options in Toronto, Ontario!

What is Trenchless Sewer Repair?

Need an intro to trenchless sewer line repair? Luckily for you, we've got exactly what you're looking for. Basically, trenchless sewer line repair is a technique that involves replacing the existing sewer pipeline without trenching.

As a matter of fact, most homeowners in Toronto, Ontario prefer trenchless sewer repair because it's way more affordable and less intrusive than other open-line sewer repair methods. Not to mention that it has an ultra-fast turnaround compared to traditional plumbing techniques too.

But here's the thing: trenchless sewer repair typically costs at least a couple of hundred dollars to dig up and replace pipes for hours at a time. And when it's all said and done, you might have to spend a few thousand more dollars to renovate your yard as well. That doesn't mean that you should simply ignore your plumbing issue, though.

What happens if you don't want to repair your broken sewage line? The answer is simple: not only will your whole house be impacted, but you'll also be faced with overflowing toilets and backed-up sinks. And nobody wants that to happen, right?

Unfortunately, the standard way of fixing this involves the pricey excavation of older pipes and the time-consuming installation of newer pipes. It gets worse: taking out older pipes from your yard can severely damage it, which can take days to repair.

However, thanks to new advancements and technologies in the epoxy sector, you actually have more than one method to swap out underground sewage and drain pipes. And get this - neither of them requires extensive excavations either.

To get to the root of the problem, there are typically three to four assessment steps for trenchless sewer repair, including:

  • Plumbing video camera inspection

  • Plumbing diagnosis

  • Plumbing inspection

  • Plumbing Repair

But what about spot repair versus full-line replacement?

Spot Repair vs. Full Line Replacement

What's the real deal about spot repair versus full line replacement for your sewer line? Here's the breakdown. Despite the fact that your home's sewer line should hold up for at least several decades, you have to face the fact that you might have to replace it someday.

In spite of this fact, some homeowners choose to do a spot repair on their sewer line instead of fully replacing it. But here's the kicker: while spot repair is a more cost-efficient method, it's more like patching a tiny bandaid on a gaping hole.

Yes, you read that right. By only focusing on repairing the broken section of the pipeline, you could be leaving the rest of the sewer line vulnerable to getting damaged in the future. So, when should you do a spot repair, anyway?

We're glad that you asked. Normally, some red flags include things like:

  • Clogged or backed-up drains

  • Rising and falling levels of toilet water

  • Nasty smells coming from your yard or toilet

  • Damaged pipes from tree roots

  • Cracked clay pipes

  • Shifted or broken clay pipes

It gets worse - these foul-smelling odors could attract vermin, rats, and more. To know if a spot repair is right for you, be sure to consult your plumber.

Once a plumbing company comes to take a look, expect to see them put small cameras into your sewage drain to see the bigger picture. And don't be surprised when your plumber tells you that your whole pipe is in really bad shape. We can't emphasize this enough: if your plumber says your entire sewer line is bad, then full line replacement is the way to go.

Don't know the difference between trenchless sewer repair and traditional sewer repair? Be sure to brush up on your plumbing knowledge before you contact a plumbing company!

What is Cured-in-Place Pipe Lining?

You might be wondering: what on earth is cured-in-place pipelining? You've come to the right place. In a nutshell, cured-in-place pipe lining is one of the best ways to handle sewer drain repair.

To put it simply, cured-in-place pipe lining is way less invasive in terms of destroying your property grounds too. With cured-in-place pipe lining, professional plumbers can fix underground drains without having to dig up the pipeline that needs to be repaired.

Naturally, this is great for sewer line repairs that have to do with issues like cracks and punctures. As if that's not enough, cured-in-place pipe lining can be made from several different materials to fix everything from:

  • Sewage

  • Gas

  • Water

  • Chemicals

Here's how the cured-in-place pipe lining process works. Your plumber will add a liner soaked in resin to your underground sewer pipe. Amazingly, this epoxy will dry to form a new bond in your old pipe.

Usually starting with a detailed inspection, your plumber will put a camera down your damaged pipeline to check out any injuries and to see any blockages that could slow down the repair process. Once your plumber says it's all clear, they'll start to get their materials ready to line your sewage pipes.

In case you didn't know, installing cured-in-place pipe lining requires special trenchless sewer repair equipment too. Normally, a felt tube with a polyvinyl chloride lining is drawn into the broken pipe.

Next, liners that are soaked in resin are put down the pipe as well, guided down with high-tech video cameras. When your plumber puts the liner in place, they'll use air pressure to hold the liner against the damaged piece of the sewer line.

Curious about the benefits of cured-in-place pipelining? It only takes up to four hours for your pipeline to be cured!

What is Pipe Bursting?

Are you asking yourself, what is pipe bursting? Allow us to enlighten you. Also called torpedoing, pipe bursting is another non-invasive technique to fix your broken sewer line.

Rather than fixing your old pipeline, pipe bursting requires replacing the entire underground pipe. Similar to cured-in-place pipe lining, pipe bursting can work on pipes that are crafted from many different materials. Plus, it works on pipes that transport chemicals, gas, sewage, and water as well.

Not only is pipe bursting used to swap out broken sewage pipes, but it's also used when your pipes need to be upsized too. Are you scratching your head right now? We got your back.

You know your pipes need to get upsized when the capacity and flow need to be improved. Then, a plumber will switch out the small pipe with one with a much larger opening. Even though pipe bursting will prevent a lot of excavation work, your plumbing company may still need to dig around your yard.

Once they're done with the digging, your plumber will replace both ends of your sewer pipeline. After that, they'll usually have to dig up several pits for receiving and insertion. Dying to know about the perks of pipe bursting?

First of all, having one continuous pipe from the basement to the property line is more cost-effective than digging. Besides this, additional advantages of pipe bursting include:

  • Putting a new water line at the same time

  • New pipe material is super strong and flexible

Not to mention that digging a trench down your entire yard is very disruptive, the amount of dirt that needs to move is crazy. On the other hand, pipe bursting may not always be an option for your home, especially if the sewer has multiple turns. But if you can do it, we highly recommend it!

Which Trenchless Sewer Repair Method Works Better?

Question: which trenchless sewer repair method works better? To be totally honest with you, both cured-in-place pipe lining and pipe bursting are super-effective techniques. Thanks to these methods, replacing and repairing underground sewer lines have been easier and safer than ever.

On top of that, cured-in-place pipe lining and pipe bursting reduce labor costs and hours for this kind of plumbing project too. In addition, cured-in-place pipe lining and pipe bursting also prevent a lot of disruption to the ground and service in your area as well.

But here's the catch. To determine which method is really better, there are a few factors to think about first. For some homeowners, cured-in-place pipe lining is the perfect solution for their issues. For the rest of us, pipe bursting might be a better option.

Truthfully, you should probably get cured-in-place pipe lining when you still have a usable, existing pipeline. This is particularly true for those with simple punctures and cracks from tree roots. Not to mention that it's the most inexpensive method too.

Besides cured-in-place pipelining, you may need to get full pipe replacement when there's been extensive damage to your drain lining. That's when pipe bursting comes in, which is ideal for expanding pipe sizes. The point is, your sewer line will be in good hands no matter what you choose!

Things to Ask Your Trenchless Sewer Repair Contractor

What exactly should you ask your trenchless sewer repair contractor? We've got you covered. Take a look at some of our favorite recommendations:

  • What is the chance of damaging my waterline?

  • How long will the job take?

  • Do you compact the excavation or do I have to wait for it to settle over time?

First things first, when you do trenchless sewer repair, there is a high likelihood of causing at least some damage to the waterline. If it fails completely, you'll know right away. However, if it doesn't, you won't know until it fails in the future from the damage it sustained during the pull.

In addition, trenchless sewer repair can cause stress on the waterline, which can make it fail over time as well. Also, gas companies may put the lines into the drains, so be sure to check for gas lines first. So, how long will the job take?

Fortunately enough, most plumbing companies will actually send out two to three drain and sewer experts to your property. That way, the plumbing company will most likely complete the job in one day. In terms of compacting or settling the excavation site, you can't go wrong with tamping the excavation in three or four sections.

Here's another great question to ask your trenchless sewer repair contractor: do I need any special permits, and can you pull those permits? If you live in Toronto, make sure to apply for locates before you put a shovel in the ground. Not sure which plumbing company to go with?

Pro tip - read each company's trenchless sewer repair reviews first. Interested in sewer line repair and replacement? You can get started by requesting estimates from several different plumbing companies!

Why Wait? Get Trenchless Sewer Repair Today!

Still not sure how to find the best trenchless sewer repair Toronto can offer? From getting plumbing estimates to reading trenchless sewer repair reviews, we're here to help.

For those who are sick and tired of dealing with clogged or backed-up drains, there's no better way to take the smell away than by calling your plumber.

We promise that you won't regret it. So, what are you waiting for? Get trenchless sewer repair today!

Need a hand with your plumbing and drain situation? Don't hesitate to contact us now!