Lining Main Sewer Line

What kind of experience do others have with lining their main sewer lines?

Earlier this winter I had a very bad block to took the plumber a good deal of effort to clear out (he ended up using a pressure washer type of snake to free it up). Once it was clear he did a video inspection and found the line was in pretty good shape except that there was channel eroded in the bottom of the line with exposed aggregate (the line is made from sections of concrete pipe).

The plumber proposed lining the line since it was still in pretty good shape, and considering it is the original drain line from 1942 this sounds reasonable. I would just like some input on the different types of liners available, their relative costs, and longevity. The line is approximately 110 feet with one 90 degree bend where it goes around the house.

How is he going to line it, and with what material? What is the line made from? What size is it now and what size will it be when it is lined? How is he going to get around the corner? What warranty on the lined pipe and who is responsible for fixing it when the lining fails? Will he do a post-installation video inspection, and give you a video tape for you to keep, showing that it was done and effective?

It is very hard to clean a line in place so you will get good adhesion of the liner. Some lining systems pull a completely new line through the old, even fracturing the old with a device pulled by a cable. That usually doesn't work going around a 90 degree bend.

If the lining is installed by jetting out the old and putting some kind of pookey inside that is supposed to stick to the old, then it probably won't last long.

It is not something that your local plumber is likely to have equipment to do. Take a look at how it is done is large scale work (see links). Then ask how he will do it and what it will cost. Get an estimate for replacing the line and compare the prices.

http://www.drainorooter.com/pipe_lining.html

http://ussewer-drain.com/
http://ussewer-drain.com/lateral.html

Sounds to me like a line that is a candidate for relining. Prices are comparable to excavation though. The savings comes from what you don't have to tear up when you dig. Here is some information on pipe relining including a segment from this old house where they shoot a liner.

http://www.maxlinerusa.com/

I sold liners for a a number of years. Trenchless is good, there are 2 forms.

Pipe liner, where the installer only needs one entry pit.

pipe burst, where the installer needs 2 entry pits.

pipe burst pulls a spear through with new SDR17 buttfusion behind it.

liner is a sleeve that is blown in and cured in place.

I recommend "Permaliner"

Not sure what area your in, you may or may not have a installer in your area.

Bob NH said:

That usually doesn't work going around a 90 degree bend.

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westcoastplumber said:

I have pulled through 2- 90's before, it is tricky, but can be done and can change the direction of the sewer being pulled.

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Try that here you just might find yourself stuck!

We have these things in the ground that look like potatoes only they are bigger, heavier, and harder. straighten out an elbow or, 2 here you'll be changing to a dig!

I got verbal estimates of about $100/ft for relining w/ an epoxy liner. I've got nearly 90ft and one 90 too.

Jason

sewer

A 65 year old concrete sewer line that is not completely infested with roots at every 2' joint borders on miraculous. Even the fact that it still appears to be flowing continually downhill is amazing.

Thanks for the input. The plumber was recommending a fiber glass liner with epoxy resin that is held in place while the epoxy cures with an air filled bladder. He said he would probably dig the pit at the 90, and run it both ways from there. He said that they provide a 50 year warranty, but when he said he would have to come another time for an estimate I figured it was going to be expensive.

Sewer Pipe Liner

That Sounds Like Perm A Liner And Thats How I Would Say To Do It From The 90 Both Ways Then Install C/o Tee Where 90 Used To Be

It would be a good plan to do it that way!