A leaking or corroded underground pipe is a certain sign of a major problem with your plumbing system. Once the damage has been found, it needs to be repaired quickly to avoid serious health and environmental consequences. Fortunately, experienced underground pipe repair contractors have savvy techniques that can repair the pipe without digging up your entire yard.
Signs of a Damaged Underground Pipe
You know not to leave underground pipe damage alone, but how do you know when to call in a professional to help?
Luckily, there are a few obvious signs to help you figure out if you have a damaged underground pipe :
Strange gurgling noises coming from your toilet(s)
Lack of water in your toilet(s)
Sewer odor in your yard and other areas of your property
Significantly greener grass near your sewage pipe
Flooded yard
Foundation cracks, settlement, or sinkholes
Rodent or insect infestation
Mold problems
Causes of Underground Pipe Damage
So now you know what to keep an eye out for, but what even causes underground pipe damage to begin with?
In general, any type of pipe -- regardless of the material it's made of -- can break due to extreme inner (water) or outer (ground) pressure. These are the most common causes our technicians are called out to fix :
Poor maintenance
Buildup of hair, debris, grease, sludge, oil, toilet paper, etc.
Tree roots
Wear and tear from aging
Poor sewer pipe layout, design, and/or installation
Backup from a city's sewer line
Trenchless Pipe Repair Services
One popular technique used by professional pipe repair contractors for repairing a broken underground pipe is trenchless pipe repair. This technique involves locating the access point of the pipe and inserting a resin or acrylic patching material and maneuvering it into the place where the crack or damage is located. The plumbers may first send a video camera through the pipe to pinpoint the location of the problem. This process is quick and affordable and only requires that the cracked area get repaired.
Underground Pipe Relining
Another technique that pipe repair contractors use to repair broken underground pipe is relining. If the existing pipe has a wide enough diameter, the plumbers may be able to insert a new liner into the pipe. Cloud 9 Services specializes in the CIPP lining, or cured in place pipe lining, technique. During this process, the CIPP liner enters the host pipe as a flexible felt liner soaked in a mixture of epoxy and resin. This allows it to conform to the shape of your host pipe. If your pipe has suffered some pressure and is no longer perfectly round, CIPP can adapt to the shape that it is. Once the liner is in place, hot air is forced through the length of the pipe. It easily hardens into a brand new pipe.
This pipe relining technique is not only one of the most efficient methods but it is also versatile and can be used for various types of pipeline systems. Some of those pipeline systems include cast iron pipe, abs, PVC, HDPE, clay, orangeburg, metal, and/or concrete pipes.
How much is it to fix underground pipes?
Underground pipe repair costs, using the CIPP (cured in place pipe) lining process, price ranges depending on various factors. The process creates a new, seamless pipeline inside the current one. The contractor pulls a liner saturated with epoxy through the existing pipes. It's a little smaller in diameter to fit through. CIPP liner only requires excavation to create one access point, which limits the damage to your property, as well as costs to complete the project. There are supplemental costs that you need to factor in when requesting this service as well, such as getting a video pipe inspection done to find the source of the damage, clearing out debris and gunk from the pipe, etc. but this gives you an idea of what to expect.
Call the Professionals at Cloud 9 Services
Repairing an underground pipe requires an experienced professional and is not a do-it-yourself job. For more information on underground pipe repair options, contact Cloud 9 Services, LLC, 407-481-2750, and one of our trenchless pipe repair experts will be happy to assist you. Our experts are here to take your call 24/7 nights and weekends.
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