Professional sewer contractors responding to a service call involving a sewer pipe blockage will perform a camera inspection of a sewer line and identify what is causing the blockage. If the pipe is damaged or installed incorrectly, the only repair available is to dig up and replace the pipe. Usually this damage is either a crushed pipe, a cracked pipe or a pipe with a dip or “belly” in it. A professional sewer contractor will be able to quickly identify the problem and make the repair quickly with minimal impact on existing landscaping. Cameras have made identifying and repairing sewer line problems much easier!
The repair of a crushed or cracked sewer pipe is relatively straightforward. The area is first excavated, then the damaged pipe is cut out and a new section of pipe is put in place. If there is any dirt, stone or tree roots in the pipe, they are removed. The excavation is then backfilled and compacted, with the landscaping then being restored. The only time this can get somewhat complicated is when the sewer is “deep” in the ground, resulting in a much larger excavation. There are specific government regulations related to “deep” excavations, because of safety concerns related to the potential collapse of the trench, while the technician is working on the pipe.
The repair of a pipe with a low spot or “belly” is pretty straightforward as well. The area is excavated and then the pipe is lifted and stone is placed under it to support it at the proper elevation and to prevent it from sagging again. It is critical that every sewer pipe has the proper fall on it to keep the sewage flowing in the pipe. Once corrected, the excavation is backfilled, compacted and the area restored. The same issues related to “deep” excavations apply here as well.
