Anybody get a sewer line re-piped? Trenchless?

[Nifty-Chicken]

Every year our old terracotta sewer line gets plugged with tree roots and we have to have it rootered out. A mess, inconvenient, and costly.

I hear radio ads for trenchless re-piping and was wondering if anybody has had it done?

 

[Elite Silkies]

I was in the Plumbing Industry for 10 years and I haven't heard of that. Must be something new. I know those lines that you have now, are a pain! I would def. consider replacing them.

 

[DuckLady]

Isn't that where they force a slightly smaller pipe through the existing one and hope it goes through?

Honestly, with a sewer, I would just trench and replace it right. You don't want that leaking.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Here's what they do:

 

[redhen]

I'm confused.. whats the guy in the hat doing?

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:

 

[wegotchickens]

Looks too good to be true. Get a guarantee. Check with the Better Business Bureau first.

 

[rnoyster]

Nifty............

I am a Plumbing Contractor and have been for over 20 years. I haven't heard of this proceedure. I would be concerned on the pipe having the correct fall to allow the debris to run from the house to the sewer tap at the street usuing this proceedure. Over the years, terra cotta pipes get all out of alignment, without problems from roots, etc. To follow these pipes with a pipe being installed inside them, I would think that the pipe that is inserted would be up/down and sideways while following the crooked terra cotta that it was pushed through! If the terra cotta pipe was sloped down and then there was a spot where it had been pushed up out of alignment and then back down, that would form a "Belly" in the pipe or basically a running trap in the line. As debris flowed down the line to that Belly, the debris would slow its travelwhile climbing the raised portion of the pipe. If this happens, some of the debris would stay in the Belly and after a while would stop more and more from going up the raised portion of the pipe. This would result in a stoppage that would require a plumber and a sewer machine to clear for you, like you are having done currently, except it wouldn't be caused by roots!
I am interested in learning more about this proceedure. Could you point me to the name of the proceedure so that I might investigate it further?
Here in my area, one company is doing something similar with waterlines that have been installed under the concrete floors of houses that have developed holes in them. The run a machine through them and coat them with some kind of liquid rubber compound that seals the leaks. Sort of like putting sealant in a automobile tire.
Dick

 

[Elite Silkies]

Just ask my husband about it, and he said that it is called boring. He said that there is no way he would bore for a sewer line, because they require so much fall, and if you can not get the proper fall, then you will be have issue's with your sewer.

He said he would only recommend boring for water lines, cables lines, etc.

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Google "trenchless sewer line". I found a ton of sites and a lot of contractors doing it. I've heard it is a pretty reliable solution. Here's a good video of a local company that does it:

While youtubin' I also saw this interesting video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GDl6ECZVL0&feature=pyv&ad=4362838605&kw=trenchless&gclid=CODe7KvugqICFQ4BiQod2QnmFA

I'm not convinced that bladder / epoxy system is a good solution, but it is interesting!