Facing the prospect of a sewer repair can be a daunting thought, but with extensive experience and the latest equipment, Alpha Environmental can help make the process as smooth as possible. Our repair services include trenchless sewer line repair via pipe-bursting or directional drilling. When one of our experts inspects a failed sewer pipe, there are a number of things they found that may have caused the pipe to fail, including a:
- Misaligned pipe. This happens when the sewer pipe has become offset or misaligned at a joint, forcing wastewater to run outside the pipe. This can cause the soil surrounding (and supporting) the pipe to erode and the pipe to eventually collapse.
- Root intrusion. Also called “root invasion,” this happens when roots have grown their way into the sewer pipe through small cracks, holes or joint gaps. The roots eventually grow dense enough to clog the pipe, preventing wastewater from flowing freely.
- Cracked pipe. Several problems can cause a cracked sewer pipe, including corrosion (in metal piping) eating away at the pipe, dense tree roots putting too much pressure on the pipe, and even wastewater freezing and expanding more than the pipe can handle.
- Collapsed pipe. A sewer line collapse happens when the pipe material has been weakened enough that the surrounding soil collapses into the pipe, blocking wastewater flow.
A specialist can repair or replace the damaged sewer line two ways: traditional trenching and trenchless sewer repair. The traditional method involves digging to the damaged section of pipe while trenchless methods use the existing pipe system, accessed through the manhole or a small pit, to navigate to the damaged section of pipe. Trenchless sewer repair is the preferred method for Alpha Environmental because it’s:
- Faster. Trenchless sewer repair methods have less down time than traditional trenching because they don’t involve excavation. Excavating the damaged pipe and then reburying it adds a lot of time to the sewer line repair.
- Less messy. Since trenchless repairs don’t require excavation, you won’t have to worry about your yard or other structures being torn up by traditional methods.
- Cheaper overall. While trenchless sewer repair usually costs more for the repair itself, you won’t have to pay to repair landscaping or any structures (driveways, sidewalks, porches etc.) damaged by the excavation.
Our experts at Alpha Environmental have the knowledge, training and tools to repair your sewer line using the more eco-friendly trenchless methods. View our sewer repair services or contact us today to schedule a free estimate from one of the most reliable trenchless sewer repair companies in Portland.
Trenchless Sewer Repair Methods
There are two popular methods for trenchless sewer repair in Portland: pipe bursting and horizontal directional drilling. Each method depends on the type of sewer pipe that needs to be repaired or replaced.
Pipe Bursting
Pipe bursting is used to replace old, damaged sewer pipes—using the existing sewer line as a guide to pull the new sewer pipe in.
The pipe bursting process involves:
- Crew teams dig sending and receiving pits.
- A bursting tool is pulled through the existing pipe, which gets broken apart by an expansion head on the tool.
- The new pipe is pulled in behind the tool to immediately replace the old (now burst) pipe.
- The sending and receiving pits are covered.
Horizontal Directional Drilling
Directional drilling, also called directional boring or horizontal boring, is used to install brand new sewer pipes.
To perform a horizontal drilling, professionals will:
- Dig sending and receiving pits.
- Send a drill under the ground to direct the new sewer line.
- Drill a larger hole to accommodate the new sewer pipe.
- Pull the new sewer pipe through the hole.
- Cover the sending and receiving pits.
Contact Us for Trenchless Sewer Repairs in Portland
If you have a busted sewer pipe that needs to be repaired, call Alpha Environmental at (503) 292-5346 or contact us online to schedule a free estimate. Our team is experienced with both pipe bursting and horizontal drilling, which means we’ll repair or replace your sewer line as quickly as possible to get your water running again.
