The 5 Signs That Indicate You Need Trenchless Pipe Repair For Your Ottawa Home

The only thing worse than a smelly pipe is not knowing where it's coming from.

It's best to understand what plumbing issues you might have before any issues arrive.

Whether it's a smelly drain or extra moisture in your basement, you need to know what the signs are telling you to have inspected.

Keep reading to learn the 5 signs that indicate your Ottawa home is in need of trenchless pipe repair!

What Is a Trenchless Pipe Repair?

As they age & depending on the maintenance techniques performed and frequency of inspection, water and sewage lines are eventually going to be needed to be replaced. It is not a surprise that having to replace something as large and potentially intrusive and destructive as a sewer line, can be a cause of stress to homeowners.

The thought of having to rip up their front lawn and replace new pipes might tempt Ottawa homeowners to avoid repairing their pipes for as long as possible but thankfully this does not have to be the case. There's something better, faster, and cheaper than ripping up that beautifully landscaped lawn — trenchless repair!

A trenchless pipe is a replacement pipe for the sewer line you already have. There are two methods of trenchless pipe repair: pipe bursting or pipe relining technologies. Both of these are much less intrusive, timely, and costly than traditional sewer line repairing techniques. Let’s “dig deep” into these methods and their benefits.

Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is best if there is a lot of damage over large stretches of the sewer line. This method is less intrusive than traditional techniques because it only involves having 2 holes dug for repairs rather than having a large section of your yard dug up. The holes are dug across the entire length of the damaged area of the pipe.

Then a pointed installation head is run that is of the same or larger diameter than the pipe that's being replaced through the entire pipe. The new pipe is pulled through the old, damaged pipe. This replaces the pipe without the need for a messy and intrusive removal process.

Pipe Bursting Benefits

The benefit of using pipe bursting is that only two incision points are required, and the repairs made are made to last. With this method, your new pipe or pipe liner will end up being more durable than the old pipe. The new pipes are also code-compliant and the material they are made out of is chemical-resistant.

The material used is also designed to deflect roots and keep your pipes healthy and working long-term. This is good news because once you fix the problem, you won't have to deal with it again.

Another reason we prefer this trenchless sewer line repair method is that traditional trenching can cost up to $20,000, and ends up destroying your yard and landscaping efforts.

Pipe Relining Method

This method is typically done by digging one hole, inserting a lining material and balloon into the existing pipe. This coats the interior of the pipe, hardening on the inside. This creates a new pipe inside the old one.

Pipe Relining Benefits

This method is great because it involves the least amount of damage done to the yard with only one hole being dug. This is a much superior alternative to traditional trenching because its quicker, less disruptive, cheaper, and is much safer for you and your family as well as the technicians.

Typical Cost for Repair

The cost is going to vary for a job like this, so it's best to speak to a professional company that knows what they're doing.

The cost of a trenchless pipe repair is $80-$250 per foot. The average is approximately $160 per foot.

With traditional trenching the typical budget on private property is between $8,000.00 and $12,000.00 can cost up to $20,000, making these newer methods a much more cost-effective way to fix your lines.

How to Tell If You Need a Trenchless Pipe Repair

There are a few telltale signs that your sewer line needs repair. If you notice any of these signs, don't wait and call a professional plumbing company in Ottawa right away.

Clogged Drains

If you just have one clogged drain, that typically isn't going to be an indication that you need a trenchless plumbing professional just yet. However, if you have multiple clogged drains throughout your house, that is the number one indication that you have a main sewer line clog.

Bad Smell Coming From the Drain

If you have foul odours coming from multiple drains in your home, it could mean your sewer line is blocked. This forces smelly sewer gas in the wrong direction in the pipes, leading back into your home. If it smells like sewage, that could mean your pipes need immediate action.

This odour may come with gurgling in the pipes, which are gas bubbles escaping through the water in the curved section beneath the drain.

Dealing with sewage is no joke, if you detect a backup call for emergency plumbing service right away!

Slow Drains or Other Strange Behavior

When you flush or wash your hands, the wastewater from your home drains away from your house in individual pipes leading to your sewage drain. If you have a septic tank, the lines drain there. If you don't have a septic tank, then the lines lead to a sewage treatment facility.

When the water drains slowly or takes more time than usual to drain, it could mean a tree root or a collapsed pipe is clogging your sewer line.

If you notice your toilets are backing up more often, or even overflowing, this is another indication that you have something blocking your sewer line.

These aren't the only indications of a block. If your pipes have been exhibiting strange behaviours, it could point to an issue with the sewer lines. Strange behaviour is pretty broad, so here's an example. If you flush your toilet, and water comes out of your sink or shower drain, that's another indication that there's an issue with your sewer line.

However, if flushing the toilet takes water pressure away from other sinks, then that's okay. It wouldn't be considered as strange behaviour. You want to watch out for if the water is coming out of other places.

Water Moisture in Basement

If you see water droplets around your drains in the basement when you haven't been using them lately, this is a major indication of a sewage break or blockage. This is why it's important to check on your drains regularly. Basements are usually the first place in the house where signs of a sewage line will show first.

Mold Growth

Water tends to lead to mold, so you want to be sure to keep your eye out for mold growth in your home. You can do this either visually by understanding what mold looks like, or by the musty smell mold gives off.

Mold is a likely indication there's an issue with your sewer line because as moisture leaks from the line the humidity in your home will increase. Mold can grow in environments that are higher than 60% humidity, so the EPA recommends your home staying within 30% to 50% to keep mold growth down.

If you notice your home reaching humidity levels higher than 60%, it's probably time to get your sewer lines checked (unless it's just another hot & humid day)!

Beautiful Green Patches of Grass

People normally don't mind having lush green grass, in fact, most people generally like having good lawns. However, if you notice your yard has an area of exceptionally fast-growing and luscious green grass, this could mean your Ottawa home is in need of trenchless pipe repair.

The reason for this is because sewage leaks in your sewer line happen to be nutrient-rich fertilizer. These unintentionally added nutrients cause the rapid growth of nearby grass. If you notice these patches of greener grass are over your sewer lines, that could mean you have an issue.

Grass should grow in a uniform colour and size, so it would be easy to see if there are unintended added nutrients in your lawn. Pay attention to your grass and look for signs by noting the colour and how tall different areas get. If you mow more in one area than another, be sure to take note that it's not happening consistently.

A Soaking Wet Yard

Ottawa typically gets a lot of rain, on average we get 869.5 mm of rainfall per year. When large storms happen it is natural to retain water on your lawn for a day or two. However, if you notice you have puddles in your lawn and it hasn't rained recently, it might be a sign that your sewer line cracked.

If this goes unchecked overtime your yard could start to sink, collecting wastewater or sewage. When this happens you need to call to get service fast to avoid compromising your family’s health, higher costly repairs, and even potentially a sinkhole in your lawn!

What to Expect With a Trenchless Pipe Repair

The first thing you should expect when planning to get a trenchless pipe repair is that you need a trusted Ottawa plumbing professional. A lot can go wrong if you try to DIY your plumbing, so be sure to do your research and find someone who's a good fit to repair your sewer line.

Here are some tips and things to expect if you have to get your pipes repairs.

Check Your Local Ordinances

You're going to want to be sure that trenchless repair methods are allowed in your neighbourhood. You'll also want to be sure that your system doesn't need additional modifications to passcode requirements.

If you're unsure of how to do this, let your plumbing company know and they should be able to help..

Remove Blockages

In Ottawa, most access to sewers are located from inside of your home. It is a good idea to ensure that this area is clear of any items in the way to ensure service is uninhibited. It is also a good idea to remove any lawn furniture or decorative rocks surrounding the section of damaged pipe on your lawn. This is going to save time for your plumbing company to get in, make the fixes and get out. This ensures anything your property is safe and doesn't get knocked over or destroyed during the repair process.

Expect to Be Waterless

While the work is going on, the workers are going to have to turn your water supply off. This means you won't be able to wash your hands, use the toilet, or take a shower while the work is happening.

If the work is going to take more than a day it's recommended that you stay at a family member's or neighbours house. In the worst-case scenario, you could use this as an excuse to go out of town to a hotel for a few days while the work is being done.

Understand the Damage

While Ottawa trenchless sewer repairs are less invasive than traditional methods, there still could be some post-repair issues on your lawn. The workers just dug one or two holes in your lawn. Any grass that was there beforehand is going to be gone, and you're going to have to fix your lawn up.

Comparing this to traditional trenching methods where they rip up your whole lawn, these don't seem so bad. However, just keep in mind that your lawn may take a few weeks or even up to a year to go back to its former glory.

What to Do If You Need a Repair

If you have any of these signs, it's best to call a professional plumber in Ottawa right away. Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Ottawa has been serving Ottawa homeowners with professional plumbing & drain cleaning services for decades. Call us today for prompt trenchless pipe repair service for your Ottawa home. Our expert technicians guarantee all workmanship and parts so you can rest easy that Mr. Rooter will get the job done!

Here's how you can get ready for a trenchless pipe repair if you do end up needing trenchless service.