Home repairs are a part of life when you own a house. Some are predictably unpredictable, such as a fuse blowing at the worst moment or the roof developing a leak during the rainy season. Those are the fix-it jobs you have on the back of your mind, because they are visible.
But what about the damages you cannot see? Faulty pipes are difficult to diagnose, until the problem becomes a big problem. If water is backing up in the toilet, or your water bill is rising without you knowing why, there may be issues deep down.
If your house is more than forty years old, the pipes should be looked at; they might need to be replaced. According to sewerhistory.org, the pipes before the 1970s were made with what is known as Orangeburg pipe, which has been known to become susceptible to growing tree roots and deform with age.
The pipe material was a compressed tube of coal tar and wood pulp, not exactly ruggedly durable. In the case of homes that do have old Orangeburg pipes in need of repair, a perma liner using trenchless pipe technology is still viable if the pipe has not collapsed. Which brings us to our next point.
The process for perma liner installation takes less than 30 hours for long jobs. Cured-in-place pipe, or CIPP, is meant to last 50 years, so you won’t need to worry about your pipes again, barring any wayward tree roots. The process is outlined as follows:
- 1. Sewer camera inspection, to get a clear picture of what needs to be repaired or replaced.
2. Isolating the effected area (you have to be careful around joints).
3. Drying out the pipe for the perma liner to adhere properly.
4. Installing the perma liner and allowing the resin to dry.
So how much will this option cost you? Sewer repair can be costly, whether you use a perma liner for patching or need to replace a whole section of pipe. Trenchless pipe repair is generally regarded as being the less expensive option, as well as less of a hassle without the worry that comes with digging up the front yard and possibly the street as well.
The CIPP method may not be an option for every case of sewer repair, but it is an option for many. When making a major home repair, get a second opinion and find a reputable contractor so you can rest easy. Research more like this.
