In 2011, a survey was taken on the average age of commercial buildings in the USA. The results indicated the average age was 50 years. The same survey was done in 2020 and the results were 53 years. In 2005 the survey was done on single family homes, the result showed and average of 31 years. The same survey in 2015 the results were 37 years. What does this tell us? With all the new commercial buildings and single-family homes being built in the USA, the average age of these structures has increased through the years.
The piping infrastructure in these buildings and homes only last so long. We take our investments, like our homes and buildings, and do modernized improvements like remodeling, painting, and updating items. All without thinking of our aging drain infrastructure under the floors, and behind the walls. The pipes are getting older, particularly the non-pressurized drain or sewer lines in these buildings that mostly are made of cast iron, but can also be clay, copper, ductile and even orange burg which is compressed paper pipe.
If you own any of these structures inside the average ages shown and if you have not already, you could be heading for sewer failures due to the age of the pipes. There are warning signs. Repeat stoppages, odors, gurgling drains, slow flushing toilets. All these falls into statistics of aging and failing systems that you could be or will be experiencing.
So, when these piping structures fail, the traditional method was to Excavate, or cut into the concrete floors. If the problem is a sewer stack, the wall would have to be cut into to remove and replace with a new stack. What if there is a method that can repair, or even make the piping structure better than it was before, that will last over 75 years without excavating, cutting, or tearing up the floors and tearing up the walls to replace old cast iron stacks.
The method is called Pipe Rehabilitation, this is less costly, less disruptive method to repair the aging pipes in your buildings. Wouldn’t it be nice to know what condition your buildings or homes internal piping structure are in? Companies that offer Pipe Rehabilitation will do a very thorough diagnostics with a High-Vis Cameras. These inspections are recorded to show clients the condition of there piping structures. They can also do schematic drawings to show depth, length and the areas that are needing repaired. The camera work will show you the grease, roots, and scaled cast iron, which over time the internal size gets smaller due to build-up. Nobody wants drain line problems.
High rise building sewer stack blockages or cracks can cause major damage to multiple floors in a building. Basements can be flooded out with sewage due to the blockage of the sewer lines. It does not have to be this way, you have options.
Through Pipe Rehabilitation you have 3 steps. Camera Inspection, cleaning and descaling of the pipes, and pipe rehabilitation with CIPP Lining Pull and Place.
The camera inspection gives the company information regarding the proper way to rehabilitate the original pipe.
The cleaning is done to prepare the host pipe for CIPP Lining. When the cleaning is done correctly, the internal size is back to original diameter and is ready for the CIPP Liner.
The CIPP Liner is installed through mostly cleanouts that were originally installed in the system, or down stacks from a roof, or a removed toilet. With this type of pipe rehabilitation, you only need one access point to install the lining system. With this type of system, the whole pipe does not have to rehabilitated, a small liner can be pin- pointed to the exact location where the repair is needed anywhere in the host pipe. Compared to some traditional methods of repair, Pipe Rehabilitation can save you money and time with less disruption from excavation, cutting floors, or tearing up walls. With the camera inspection alone, you will know what shape your pipe structure is in, what areas are bad, what areas can wait, that helps you budget accordingly to keep up with the aging pipes.
Imagine how you will feel knowing what shape, or condition your aging pipe infrastructure is in. Knowing if there are problems, and having options of preventive maintenance with camera inspections, cleaning, and CIPP Lining.
Pipe Rehabilitation is less costly and less disruptive for you. Get your camera inspection, it is a small price for your investment. You will be the Hero!!!
By: Chuck Miller
Specialized Pipe Technologies
Account Manager
Office:419-834-8366
Cell:419-366-2050
ChuckM@SPTOhio.com