Push camera and roller skid saves time and money

Problem / By the time a plumber showed up at a home in Valatie, New York, the customer was excited and stressed because the sewer pipe was backing up. No amount of plunging by the customer had worked and professional help was needed. An access plug in the pipe leading to the septic tank was easily accessible. Once removed, several buckets were used to collect sewage.

Solution / The plumber installed the CPI Products Trapmaster to get a 1.5-inch push camera into the 4-inch pipe and was able to pass by the remaining debris to view the blockage and determine exactly where it was. It turned out to be the last remaining section of a more than 30-year-old asphalt-coated paper pipe that had collapsed. They were able to pinpoint this by using the push camera with the roller skid.

Result / The collapsed section was easily accessed, and it saved time since digging up the entire pipeline wasn’t necessary. The repair was completed quickly, and the customer has a proper line all the way to the septic tank. 413-443-0925; www.cplasproducts.com

Lining system used to fix root-infested sewer pipe

Problem / Mr. Rooter of Western Washington was called to help fix a root-infested sewer pipe on a nearly 100-year-old, two-family home in Seattle. The root infestation caused breaks in the lateral pipe and sewer backups in the basement. The multidiameter lateral, consisting of 4-inch cast iron for the first one-third of the pipe and 6-inch clay for the remainder, was approximately 85 feet from the basement clean-out to the city sewer main.  

Solution / A tailored, 4- to 6-inch polyester Transition Scrim Liner from Paramount Pipe Lining Products was used because it creates a smooth, seamless transition in pipes with multiple diameters. The five-step process involved removing roots from the pipe, mixing the epoxy, wetting out the liner, using air pressure to insert the liner into the pipe, and using a hot-water curing process. The liner was cured in less than two hours using the Hornet hot-water curing system.

Result / The entire sewer line from the basement out to the city sewer was effectively relined, forming a watertight barrier impenetrable by root intrusions. In less than two hours, the cracked and defective pipes were like new and 100% flow capacity was restored. “It’s important for homeowners to understand they have options to tearing up their landscape when it comes to fixing their deteriorated pipes,” says Vinnie Sposari, owner of Mr. Rooter of Western Washington. 833-663-2477; www.paramountcipp.com