Dear John Contest

For nearly as long as we’ve had sewer pipes running beneath the ground, we’ve had the problem of line repair. Getting to the root of the problem meant excavation on a large scale, which not was not only a costly and lengthy process but also meant you would have some serious yard repair to tackle once your pipes were fixed.

But just like everything else in our society, technology has provided a better way.  It’s called trenchless pipe repair. It’s faster, landscape friendly and works like a charm.  Your local ARS or Rescue Rooter service professional has all the equipment necessary to tackle just about any broken or collapsed line.

Instead of uncovering the entire line, trenchless repair needs only a couple of small access points, one on either end of the line. And when the process is completed, those holes are backfilled in no time. When we leave, it will be hard to tell we were there.

There are two options for trenchless repair – pipe relining and pipe bursting. In pipe bursting, the old pipe is literally burst apart as a new pipe is pulled through it. The old pipe acts as a guide to insure proper placement but is ripped apart by the machine pulling in the new pipe. You’re left with a strong, new pipe exactly where the old one was.

Pipe relining is a similar process, but instead of splitting apart the old pipe and replacing it, a fiberglass liner is placed inside the faulty pipes and seals any damage. The result is a repaired pipe that will last for decades.

Both approaches are a bit more expensive than two guys with a couple of shovels, but if your sewer line runs under landscaping, trees, sidewalks, driveways or other things you’d rather not ruin, trenchless repair is a must. Ask your ARS or Rescue Rooter pro which trenchless method may be best for you.