Replacing a damaged sewer or water line means digging up your yard, right? When something goes wrong, you have to break through your driveway or tear up landscaping that took years to establish. With pipe bursting, you don’t have to.
Here are the benefits of choosing pipe bursting services from Mr. Mike’s Plumbing Calgary:
Unfortunately, traditional excavation is messy and destructive, but sometimes, it’s something you have to do. However, there are exceptions. In these cases, trenchless pipe bursting might work. The proven trenchless pipe replacement installs a new pipe through the old one, breaking apart the existing pipe along the way, causing minimal disruption to the surface above. Mr. Mike’s Plumbing provides pipe bursting services across Calgary for residential and commercial properties. Beyond bursting pipes, we inspect, accurately identify the problem and carry out the repair. With us, you only deal with one company from pipe inspection to permanent fix. Contact us to learn more.
Pipe bursting is a popular trenchless pipe replacement method. Instead of excavating a trench along the full length of the pipe, a tool called a bursting head is pulled from the line. Along the way, it fractures and displaces the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil. A new pipe, usually HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is attached to the bursting head and pulled into a position as the old pipe breaks apart.
The end result is a fully replaced pipe line with new HDPE installation that only requires small access excavations at the ends of the pipe instead of a full trench. The majority of the surface above the pipe whether that’s your yard, driveway or landscaping remains largely intact. Pipe bursting in Calgary is a permanent fix, not a patch. When it comes to pipe repairs and replacement, we’re here for you.
A proper pipe bursting service is separated by a rushed one by what happens before the process begins. At Mr. Mike’s Plumbing, we use a camera inspection to see what’s happening inside of the existing line.
The pipe installation shows us the inside of the pipe, where the damage is located, what the pipe material is and if the line is suitable for bursting. Not every damaged pipe is ideal for pipe bursting because if the pipe collapses completely, has significant misalignment or runs through conditions that prevents the bursting head from passing through cleanly, we let you know and recommend alternative repair methods. The inspection protects you from paying for a service that won’t solve your issue.
We use a sewer camera to inspect the full length of the pipe we’re replacing. It’s how we confirm the pipe’s condition, the extent of the damage and if pipe bursting makes sense for the job. We never burst blind and never skip this step.
We excavate small access pits so we can reach the entry and exit points of the pipes. These are much smaller than the trench needed for traditional pipe replacement, they tend to be one to two metres in diameter instead of a full trench along the pipe length. The process causes minimal disruption.
The bursting head is a cone-shaped tool a little bigger in diameter than the existing pipe and it’s connected to a pulling cable or rod system. The new HDPE pipe is attached behind the bursting head to follow through as the head moves forward.
The bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe from the entry pit to the exit pit. As it moves through the line, it fractures the old pipe and pushes the fragments outward into the surrounding soil. At the same time, the new HDPE pipe is pulled into the space left by the old one. The bursting process is continuous and usually takes a few hours for a standard residential sewer line run.
After the new pipe is in place, connections are made at each end with one being the building’s plumbing and the other being the sewer main or water main. From there, we test the line to confirm flow and integrity before backfilling the access pits and restoring the surface.
In many cases, pipe bursting can be an effective way to address the problem. Here’s when it makes sense:
Pipe bursting isn’t always the right method. When the pipe has fully collapsed, in cases of severe misalignment and when the pipe run has sharp bends that the bursting head cannot navigate, it’s not the right solution. In these cases, traditional excavation or CIPP lining are great alternatives. That’s one of the reasons we inspect your pipe before we start working.
A failing sewer line or water main break can be stressful for any Calgary homeowner. It can easily destroy your yard, forcing you to pay for new landscaping on top of the expensive repair. Residential pipe bursting is an effective way to replace your pipe while keeping your landscaping, driveway and garden mostly intact. Residential pipe bursting doesn’t usually take longer than a day so they tend to cause minimal disruption to your home.
We offer pipe bursting services for sewer lines, water lines and drain lines to homeowners across Calgary.The first step is a camera inspection to confirm the problem. From there, we can offer an effective solution.
Commercial pipe bursting is a completely different scenario. Large pipe diameters, longer runs, parking lots and paved surfaces, operating schedules and the minimal downtime make these jobs more challenging. Mr. Mike’s Plumbing provides commercial pipe bursting services for Calgary businesses, commercial property managers and developers. We have the equipment and experience needed for commercial-scale bursting projects and work around your schedule to reduce disruption.
Pipe bursting is a trenchless way to replace a damaged pipe without excavating a full trench. A tool called a bursting head is pulled through the existing pipe, fracturing it outward along the way while pulling a new HDPE pipe into position behind it. The end result is a fully replaced pipe with minimal surface disruption. It’s a permanent fix, not a temporary patch.
The cost comes down to the length of the pipe run, the pipe diameter, access conditions and the extent of the damage. In most cases, pipe bursting is more cost-effective than traditional excavation since you don’t have to factor surface restoration costs such as repaving or landscaping rebuild. We’ll give you an upfront price for your pipe inspection so you have a clear number before we start working. Call (403) 520-2040 or book online for a quote.
Yes, we do. Instead of digging a full trench along the pipe run, we excavate small access pits at each end and pull the bursting head through to create a new pipe through the existing line. The surface above remains intact for the most part throughout the process.
When a pipe is damaged, but has yet to fully collapse, when the run is relatively straight and when the pipe passes under surfaces where excavation is too costly or disruptive, it’s the best option. During our pipe inspection, we determine if this is a good option for you.
Standard residential pipe bursting takes one day from start to finish including access excavation, bursting, connection and backfill. Longer commercial runs or more complex access conditions can make the job take longer. We will give you a more realistic estimate when we assess the job.
While both options are trenchless repair methods, they don’t work the same way. Pipe lining (CIPP) is installing a resin-saturated liner inside the existing pipe to replace the old pipe without removing it. Pipe bursting is replacing the existing pipe altogether by fracturing it and pulling a new pipe through. Lining is better for when the existing pipe is largely intact and needs to be sealed. Bursting is better for when the pipe needs to be fully replaced. The pipe inspection will determine the right approach.
Pipe bursting is a solution for most common pipe materials in Calgary including clay, cast iron, concrete, PVC, orangeburg and some HDPE pipes. The method is effective for both sewer and water lines.
If your sewer line or water line is failing and you’re wondering if pipe bursting is the right option, Mr. Mike’s Plumbing will inspect, assess and quote the job. We provide pipe bursting services to residential and commercial properties across Calgary. It’s trenchless, proven and backed by a full camera inspection before we start working.
