Everything You Need to Know About Pipe Bursting
When you install pipes underground, they might get damaged after some time because of abrasion, pressure from above the ground or poor installation. You need to repair them instantly for you to continue enjoying the conduit services that the pipes offer. Today, trenchless rehabilitation has replaced the traditional method of digging out pipes and laying new ones all over again. Pipe bursting is one of the methods used for trenchless rehabilitation. The following thoroughly looks at pipe bursting to help you gain insight:
What Does Pipe Bursting Involve?
Pipe bursting is one of the methods used for the trenchless replacement of water, sewer, and natural gas pipes. In this method, a launching and receiving pit are used to pull a torpedo head through an existing damaged pipe. As the head moves through the pipe, it forces the pipe to expand and burst open as a new pipe is pulled through the old damaged line. The result is a well-repaired pipeline with little to no trenching.
Notably, pipe bursting is the only technique you can use to expand the diameter or capacity of your pipeline without digging. It comes in handy when the old lines can no longer handle the carrying capacity required today.
What Equipment Will You be Paying For?
Pipe bursting requires five primary pieces of equipment. These are the expander head, pulling machine, pulling rods, hydraulic power pack and a retaining device. Most of the expander heads used today have a smaller head on the front side (leading end) than the bursting end at the back. The purpose of the leading end is to direct the bursting end trailing it on the other end of the device. This is one of the features that lacked in the older models of equipment used for pipe bursting. Most of the old machines lost course in the middle of the project and led to poor quality of work. Thankfully, this has been resolved.
What are the Benefits of Pipe Bursting?
Pipe bursting has many advantages when you are repairing pipes in your home. First, the process is fast and relatively cheap compared to traditional excavation techniques. You will save significantly on labour and through reduced project delivery time. Secondly, the amount of trenching needed is often negligible, meaning that pipe bursting prevents the scars that would otherwise be left on your landscape had you gone the traditional way. It saves you the time and money required for restoring the beauty of your garden.