A Detailed Guide to the Process of Trenchless Drain Replacement

Trenchless drain relining or replacement is an effective and quick method to repair damaged drain pipes. These pipes are located under the ground and the damaged sections often lie under well-installed lawns or driveways. In the traditional repair method, the ground above the damage pipe needs to be excavated to access the line, which can cause extensive damage to the features in the landscape. This can be avoided if you choose trenchless drain replacement in Toronto.

The method requires considering soil characteristics and the loads applied to the surface. In cases where the soil is sandy, the water table is at shallow depth, or heavy loads like that of urban traffic are expected, the depth of excavation has to be such that the pressure of the load on the surface does not affect the bore, otherwise there is danger of surface caving in.

When do you need trenchless replacement?
Most people don’t realize their sewage line is broken or blocked until it’s too late and the damage to the property is extensive. If you keep an eye on the signs mentioned below, you can carry out the repairs before a damaged drain can cause too many problems:

• The lawn soil is soggy, wet, and spongy.
• The grass in one area of the lawn is green and healthy and looks more vibrant than the grass in other areas of your property.
• There’s a bad odor in your property and you can’t pinpoint the source.
• The drains in your indoor plumbing system are slow and there’s flooding.

If you see these signs, it’s time to call a plumber to inspect the system and determine if there’s a damaged drain.

Trenchless drain repair technology had evolved over the years and experts have developed a number of interesting and effective techniques to carry out repairs without digging trenches. Here’s an introduction to the different methods experts use:
1. Pipe Busting

• Holes are dug at each end of the pipe that needs to be replaced to gain access to the line.
• A hydraulic machine pulls an attached bursting head through the old pipe. This makes room for the new pipe.
• The new line, made from high-density polyethylene, is pulled in place of the old one by the same hydraulic machine.
• This new pipe is very resilient and strong. The process is a full replacement and the line doesn’t rely on the old pipe for support.

• This process creates a new pipe within the old one, which means the new one partially relies on the structure of the old pipe.
• The pipe is first cleaned with the hydro jetting process to ensure there is no debris present inside.
• The technicians saturate a felt pipe with epoxy and slip it into the existing one. The felt pipe also has a bladder in it to release hot steam during the final step.
• Once the felt pipe covers the entire length of the damaged area, it is inflated into place.
• After the felt pipe is completely inflated, the epoxy dries and the new pipe gains its required shape.
• The technicians than saturate the newly lined pipe with hot steam to ensure the lining seals with the existing structure. This process can only be used on pipes that have a few cracks and minimal structural damage.

There are other trenchless drain relining processes available like inversion lining, pull-in-place lining, etc. All of these processes have minimal cleanup and can be completed within a short time span. The technician will examine the extent of the damage, assess the drain line design and placement, and look into other such factors before they recommend a repair process that works. They can also install a completely new sewer line through the moling process.
If you need drain replacement, call a technician with skill and experience with trenchless drain replacement in Toronto.