Pipe Types (and Problems)
In addition to the hot weather, older, conventional types of plumbing are becoming increasingly obsolete—and failing, to the chagrin of many businesses and homeowners.
In particular, cast iron pipes are a serious Southeastern issue. While cast iron is very durable for a time, pipes that have been installed for many years can begin to corrode, become brittle, and break.
Another cause of homeowner heartache: Orangeburg pipe, a type of home sewer pipe found in many properties built from 1945 to 1972. Made from a mixture of hot pitch and wood pulp encased in a water-resistant adhesive, over time, pressure can cause it to become misshapen, and ultimately fail.
Lastly, while modern day pipe material—such as PVC, CPVC, or copper—is more sustainable and durable than other products, it can also fail, break, and become compromised.
Pipelining Solutions
What do you do when a pipe fails and it’s under the foundation of a house, or it requires a hotel operator to tear open walls across multiple levels of the building? The solution, many times, will be to reline the pipe versus fully replace the pipe.
While repairs can be relatively easy to make on the pipe, the real challenge is accessing said pipe. In some instances, the demolition needed to access the affected area can be 50-90% of the total cost of the project! This is where pipelining comes in as the most cost-effective remedy.
How Pipelining Works
Fortunately, Wind River Environmental is equipped with a Pipelining Mobile Unit, where we can access one end of the compromised pipe and shoot a liner into it. This spans across the broken area and seals the pipe, so no demolition is necessary.With our pipelining process, we’re equipped to handle a multitude of pipe sizes, from residential to commercial applications. By impregnating the existing pipe with a specialized liner and resin, this liner will cure and become as durable and long-lasting as any newly installed PVC Pipe on the market.
By “shooting” the liner into the broken pipe, we can avoid tearing out walls and foundations. After only a few hours, the cured pipe is ready to be used again and operates like brand new. And by avoiding the demolition, you avoid a significant cost to remedy the plumbing issue.
Call the Experts to Assess
Pipelining isn’t recommended for every plumbing situation. But if there’s any significant amount of demolition that is required to access broken or compromised pipes, call Wind River Environmental so we can come and analyze the issue. Upon assessment and inspection, we can provide a specific estimate to fix the broken pipe at a fraction of the cost if demolition was required.
