Sewer Lines and Excavation

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Like most appliances and systems in our homes, sewer lines eventually require replacements. But unlike most other things, these lines need immediate attention. Any delays can result in extensive damage or health hazards.

Need plumbing in Anne Arundel or Howard County, Maryland?

Need plumbing in Anne Arundel or Howard County, Maryland?

Call Staton Heating, Cooling & Plumbing where we provide a range of sewer line repair methods, including pipe bursting and pipelining. Get in contact with us today, and we’ll help you determine the right excavation method for your sewer line repair.

Exposure to sewer gas may cause side effects like nausea, headaches, dizziness, and impaired cognitive abilities. Not to mention, it smells like rotten eggs! You’ll need a repair ASAP. Several strategies are used to repair sewer lines, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

External Excavation

This traditional method of sewer pipe repair is tried and true; it’s been around for years and continues to be used in excavations.

With an external sewer line excavation, workers must dig trenches and tunnels to access the sewer line. This will expose the pipe completely so that it’s easier to repair or replace. However, it often causes damage to the surrounding land and structures.

Interior Access Excavation

Rather than digging up a large section of the yard, this method involves precise excavation where the damage is. It’s a way to repair sewer lines without digging large trenches.

Even though trenchless sewer line excavation methods can be costly, you won’t need to spend money repairing landscape damage once it’s done. However, it’s not always possible to use this technique; if the lines are damaged too extensively, pipe bursting may not be viable.

Reasons for Digging Up Sewer Lines

No one wants to have their lawn excavated—but if your sewer line needs repairs, it may be necessary. Here are a few common reasons why excavations are performed:

  • The existing line is damaged. Oftentimes, this is due to tree roots. Damage to your sewer line can also be caused by oil, grease, and flushing things other than toilet paper. Avoid costly repairs by scheduling routine maintenance, like drain cleaning services.
  • You’re updating your septic system. Switching from a traditional septic tank to the city sewer system? You might choose to do this if your septic tank needs repairs, or if a new city bylaw requires it. If so, you’ll need a new sewer line to make the change.
  • Doesn’t need extra space – as the whole-house air purifier goes into the HVAC system itself, it won’t take up any space as many of the individual purifiers do.

Sewer Line Excavation Process

Before the real work begins, excavators start by marking all utility lines. Accidentally hitting a utility line may cause a service outage in your area and cause serious injuries to those nearby—in some cases, it may even result in death. Careful and precise planning is key to a successful sewer line repair.

Next, the workers will use video inspection technology to assess the condition of your pipes. It allows them to get a closer look at what’s happening within the line. Based on this information, they can select a strategy that’s optimal for your property and pipes. The plumbers may need to obtain permits or other inspections to proceed with the repair.

The specific plumbing excavation process varies depending on the methods that are used. We’re going to detail a few of them here:

Pipe Bursting vs. Open-Top Excavation

Which repair method is best for your property: trench or trenchless sewer repair? There are pros and cons to each:

Pipe Bursting

Some homeowners are hesitant to repair sewer lines because they don’t want trenches dug into their yards—it fixes their sewer line, but it ruins their lawn! One of the main advantages of pipe bursting is that it won’t require any trenches to be dug.

To remove old and broken pipes, we used a pneumatic or hydraulic head. We remove the old damaged pipe and replace it with a new one that’s perfectly sized to fit in that space.

If you’re interested in trenchless sewer line repair in Anne Arundel or Howard County, we also offer pipelining (also known as cured-in-place piping). With this method, your existing pipes are relined with epoxy. This saves you the trouble of removing the old pipes; once they’re relined, they’ll work as efficiently as if they were a new sewer line.
These repair methods have only been around for the last two decades, making them relatively recent. The lack of digging minimizes costs, both in terms of labor and what you’d spend to fix your property afterward.

Open-Top Excavation

In cases where a trenchless sewer line repair isn’t viable, there is an alternative method:

An open-top sewer line excavation is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it ensures that your sewer line is completely repaired. Holes must be dug on either side of the pipe and around it, too. As you can imagine, this means a large portion of your yard must be dug up.

Once the pipes are unearthed, the repairs can begin. Whether the pipe requires a total replacement or just an adjustment, the workers will have easy access to the sewer line.

An open-top excavation tends to be more affordable than a trenchless repair. It’s a reliable way to repair a faulty sewer line or replace it with an entirely new pipe. That being said, this method has its disadvantages—namely, the time it takes to complete, and the expense associated with repairing your yard.

At some point or another, most home and business owners deal with a damaged sewer line. A prompt replacement is the key to minimizing damage or exposure to any hazards. We also offer expert sewer backups repair, drain cleaning, and water heater repair to keep your home’s plumbing in excellent condition. Wondering which of these repair methods are best for your property? We can help!

Client Testimonials

REAL REVIEWS FROM REAL CLIENTS

4.9 Google Rating

Ed Beran
3 days ago
Cristian did excellent, very knowledgeable and professional
Willie Hoskin
3 days ago
Cristian was very thorough and explained everything I needed with my system and made sure he got it back to good condition. Highly recommend
Keyona
3 days ago
Joe F. was our technician and he was great! He had to work with our roof technician to adjust the pipe. He was very understanding about waiting for the other technician! Joe explained everything that he had to do to resolve our sewer smell and the noise from our bathroom tub after we flush the toilet! He was confident about what he was telling us which made us feel like we got the right company for the job! Now we do not hear nor smell anything when we flush our toilet! We will for sure use Staton again!
J S
4 days ago
HVAC maintenance plan check up today. Very professional. Friendly and thorough. Quote for outdoor unit coil cleaning was very high though.
David Duba
4 days ago
Thorough and informative inspection done by Dre Harper today! Always great to see a young person learning a trade and starting a strong career. We’ll definitely ask for Dre for service in the future.
Anne Winters
4 days ago
He was about the most professional plumbing specialist I’ve ever had at my house. He was courteous, a terrific listener, interested in a wide variety of things and explain to me every single thing that he was doing. Asked me questions about what I wanted, what my expectations were, and the whole experience was very much a cooperative one. I was included in every bit of it all along the way
Katherine Neall
5 days ago
Staton was fantastic from the first point of contact (Brandon) to the project completion (Robert and his apprentice). Timely, knowledgeable, and professional. I'm very happy with the service received and I highly recommend them!
Gelina
6 days ago
We have used Staton in the past for other issues, and they have always been so professional and on time! We had scheduled a water heater maintenance appointment which turned into a full replacement, but our technician Stephen made it such a seamless process. He was extremely efficient - went to get a new heater and installed it in record time - all within the timeframe we were given. He patiently answered all my questions and gave a thorough explanation of his work. He was also very polite and considerate of our home - wore shoes covers and had floor covers to protect the carpet - all without being asked. We are extremely pleased and grateful for the service!
Ronnie C
6 days ago
Water heater installation (first review): We could not be happier with our experience with Staton HC&P, specifically our technician Joe Breig. Staton team was extremely responsive when we needed immediate attention for a leaking water heater. Joe was a consummate professional, who provided us with detailed information on our options and worked diligently to ensure that the work was completed to our satisfaction in the timeline that he provided us. Joe's affable demeanor put us at ease in making such a big decision worth thousands of dollars. We would recommend Joe and Staton team to anyone needing honest and professional work on their water heater installation (and other heating and cooling tasks). Thank you to Joe and Staton team for ensuring that we were happy and satisfied customers! AC/Furnace installation (second review): Since Google doesn't allow two separate reviews for the same business, I'll just add my review for our second experience with Staton here. Just like our first experience, Staton and its team members (Justin Edwards and Darrius Kennedy) were pleasure to work with in replacing our old AC/Furnace. From getting several quotes from Derrick to having the systems installed in one day, we couldn't be happier and more impressed by Staton from start to finish. Justin and Darrius were professional and friendly, and really displayed their expertise in AC/Furnace systems. Even when we ran into an issue due to the layout of our finished basement, Justin was able to recommend a solution that would complete the job without delay and without cutting corners. Truly two professionals doing amazing work. Also, I have to give Staton kudos for their financing options for such a large work. Getting surprised by an even better financing terms from what was initially quoted doesn't happen often, but we were pleasantly surprised by an awesome financing terms to make this project an absolute steal. Thank you! I'm certain that I will be adding more glowing reviews to this one in the future.
John Lewis
6 days ago
Professional and efficient services!! Clearly communicated the estimate and reviewed all the work completed. Great experience all around!