Sewer and drain repair are things that most of us don’t like to think about. If everything is working fine, why bother with it? The trouble is, when there is no problem, everything is great, but when there is a problem, it can be a disaster. Many different things can affect drainage systems that we cannot see at first glance. For example, tree roots. You see trees around your property, but how often do you stop to think about what’s going on with the roots? Trees should be no closer than 10 feet to the sewer lines to prevent the roots from penetrating the system. That seems like it would be common sense, but not everyone heeds the advice of professionals until it’s too late.
Angie Hicks, consumer advocate of Angie’s List fame, recommends a full inspection of your sewer system if your home is more than 40 years old. Any drain repair that might need to be done should be obvious under the lights of a full sewer pipe inspection. It’s always better to be safer rather than sorry, and if you catch the small problems now, they might not turn into the very big problems down the line, as it were.
There have been many advancements in the world of sewer and drainage technology in the recent years. A very popular technique that is saving homeowners money as well as strengthening their systems is what is referred to as a cured-in-place-pipe, or CIPP. This new type of pipe repair is a jointless, seamless, pipe-within-a-pipe with the capability to rehabilitate virtually all pipes ranging anywhere from 4″ to 110″. This type of drain repair and sewer stabilization process has been around for about the last 15 years or so, but most people are not aware of it.
This is a great way to tackle any drain repair problems while not digging up the yard to do it. Upwards of 73% of all homeowners would be in favor of paying more for their sewer and drain repair if the method of replacement didn’t compromise their landscaping, patios, decks, and the like. The good news is, CIPP is the most noninvasive method of taking care of major sewer and drain replacement issues.
Short of full replacement of drains and sewers, water blasters are being used to unclog and clean out pipes. If the pipes have no structural damage such as holes from roots or cracking from age, water blasting can often do the trick. Water blasters shoot water through the pipes at an extreme pressure of up to 60,000 PSI or pounds per square inch. The pressures can vary depending on the size of the pipes and the clogs, but water pressure can be the first wave of attack on poorly performing lines.
Ask any homeowner if they want to think about their sewer system and you probably already know what their answer will be. But when you need a drain repair or assessment, it’s good to have an expert on hand to keep everything flowing.
