How No-Dig Pipe Repair Works

First the problematic line is cleaned of all debris using a high pressure water jetter. Then a recorded video inspection diagnoses the cause of the problem and a decision is made as to whether the underground pipe can be lined or has to be replaced.

The video cable itself measures the length of rehabilitation required and the customer is given an estimate for the pipe rehabilitation immediately.

If the pipe is going to be lined, a flexible fabric tube with polyester felt on the inside and a flexible PVC coating on the outside is measured and cut to the correct length.

Next a 100% epoxy resin and catalyst are mixed and poured into the inside of the pipeliner.

The mixture is forced through the tube saturating the inner felt fabric

One end of the pipe liner is closed off to be airtight and rolled up inside an “inverter” unit.

The “Inverter” forces air into the pipe liner turning it inside out so that the smooth PVC lining is now on the inside and the resin-saturated fabric is on the outside. The air pressure also “shoots” the lining down the pre-measured length of pipe.

Another tube called a “calibration” tube is then shot down the inside of the new PVC liner and maintained at constant pressure in an inflated state to force a bond between the host pipe and the new PVC line.

In 3 hours when the resin has hardened, the calibration tube is extracted leaving behind the jointless new PVC line on the inside of the old pipe. This new PVC pipe is called a “cured-in-place” pipeliner.

If needed, a “reinstatement cutter” is sent down the new line to cut open the connections with other lines.

A final recorded video inspection along the entire length of pipe confirms the successful rehabilitation. In most cases the pipe is put back into operation the very same day.