Can Sewer Blockages Be Repaired Without Digging

Drain blockage can start out small and annoying, but progress into an extremely dangerous situation. For instance, the sewage could become clogged and leak into a home. For many blockage issues consulting a professional is the best way to handle it.

Sewer lines are hidden under ground and are difficult to find. In some homes the lines run under the foundation and it is not advised to start digging. There are many causes for blockages in a sewer line. Older lines may have a sludge build up, due to an improper drain slope. Most sewer lines drain by the force of gravity and should run downhill.

For buried lines, the earth around them may shift causing the angle to change, thus slowing the drain. Occasionally a line may be broken by a vehicle driving over it. Plant and tree roots could grow their way into the sewer line causing it to burst. Regardless of how, a blocked sewer line should not be tampered with.

A professional should be able to decipher the problem with a fraction of the digging. This could be accomplished by looking at the clean out plugs. Some plumbers use tiny video cameras to pinpoint blockages. After the problem is discovered, some digging may still be required. If the break in the sewer line is serious, replacing the broken section of the line is the only way to fix the problem. Most professionals posses a type of power rodding equipment.

The power rod can remove sludge build up and invading root systems. This rod has a head that is used to cut and clear. The power rod is attached to a turning mechanism, powered either electrically or by a gas engine. This process rotates the head and clears the blockage. For cracked sewer lines there are alternatives such as coating the pipe with dry-in-place epoxies. This and many others are used to reline the inside of the pipe and seal cracks, eliminating the need for excessive digging.

Another alternative is CIPP short for Cured in Place Pipe. It is a system that allows repair to nearly all types of pipes, without digging up the entire line. The product used lasts a minimum of 50 years and secures the plumbing pipes from future cracks, blockage and corrosion. The installation of CIPP is usually done quickly. It begins with a video inspection of the damaged pipe. Then the pipe is cleaned to remove fragments, corrosion and roots. After the cleaning process, the pipe liner is installed which creates a seamless pipe inside the already existing pipe.

The next step is to wait three hours for the curing process. The last step is to perform another inspection of the new pipe and return the water service. This entire procedure is completed without excessive digging and causes no damage to the land or home. CIPP pipe lining can be used in nearly all types of structures, climates and soil.