What is pipe repair without the need for building work?
via a manhole or inspection chamber, without digging trenches or breaking up floors or walls. First, the pipe is inspected using a camera; then it is cleaned; and finally, the damaged section is sealed or the entire section is lined from the inside.
It is an alternative to traditional repair methods, which involve digging down to the pipe, replacing the broken section and then restoring the ground, garden or paving. It is suitable for buried sewer pipes, those beneath the house or those set into walls, and for building downpipes.
It cannot be used in all cases: it depends on the condition of the pipework. In this guide, we explain how to do it step by step, what methods are available, when it is possible and when it is not, and what its advantages and limitations are.
How to repair a pipe without any building work, step by step
A repair that doesn’t involve building work always follows the same sequence. Skipping a step is the most common way for it to go wrong.
1. Camera inspection
A camera is inserted through the manhole or inspection chamber and moved along the inside of the pipe. Using oscillating and rotating cameras with a 360° field of view, the type of damage (crack, deteriorated joint, break or wear and tear), its size and its extent can be identified. This step determines whether a non-invasive repair is feasible and which technique to use. This is the pipe inspection service using a camera.
2. Location of the damaged area
We mark the exact location of the damage from the surface, so we know how far we need to take the repair equipment. We do this as part of our blockage and breakage detection service.
3. Cleaning the pipework
Before carrying out repairs, the interior must be clean: the repair material needs to adhere to the wall. It is cleaned using a high-pressure water jet and, if there is limescale, roots or hard deposits, by pipe milling.
4. Repair from the inside
Depending on the damage, either just the affected area is sealed or the entire section is lined on the inside. The three techniques are explained in the following section.
5. Final check
Once the repair is complete, the pipe is checked again to verify the result and ensure that the water is flowing normally.
The three repair methods that do not require building work
The technique depends on the type of damage and its extent. At Limpiezas Domingo, we use three different methods.
|
Method |
What to do |
What’s the point? |
|---|---|---|
|
Spot repair using a packer |
A device is inserted into the damaged section, which applies a patch and presses it against the pipe wall |
A crack or a damaged joint at a specific point |
|
Internal resin coating |
The inside of the pipe wall is coated |
Cracks or wear spread across the section |
|
Continuous sleeve with LED curing |
A resin-impregnated sleeve is inserted along the section and cured using LED light, forming a new pipe inside the old one |
Long sections or entire downpipes in a very poor state of repair |
Continuous lining is a variant of the CIPP technique, which we explain in ‘What does CIPP stand for?’. If you’d like to compare the systems in more detail, you can find this in ‘Which is the best system for trenchless pipe repair?’.
When repairs can be carried out without building work, and when they cannot
Repairs without excavation are not suitable for all pipes. Whether this is a viable option depends on the material, the diameter, the general condition of the pipe and the type of damage, and this can only be determined following a camera inspection.
This is usually possible when:
- The pipe has cracks, damaged joints or internal wear and tear.
- There are a few small tears or leaks, but it retains its shape.
- These are downpipes or sections that have deteriorated due to age but are still in place.
Building work is usually required when:
- The pipe is crushed, dented or split, and has lost its shape.
- One section has shifted so far that the repair material cannot follow its intended path.
- The damage is structural, and an internal repair would not guarantee the desired result.
If the pipework cannot be repaired without carrying out building work, the customer is informed and the most suitable alternative is proposed, without implementing solutions that are not technically advisable. Even so, having pinpointed the damage precisely means that work can be carried out only where necessary.
Where repairs without building work are carried out
Underground sewer pipes
Pipes running beneath the floor of the house, the garden, the garage or a paved area. This is a typical scenario: digging means lifting tiles, turf or concrete, which then need to be replaced.
Building downpipes
Downpipes run throughout the building, either inside the walls or through courtyards. With the continuous sleeve, they can be fully refurbished without breaking through the walls through which they pass.
Fibre-cement downpipes in old buildings
In many buildings constructed before 2002, the downpipes are made of asbestos-cement. Internal lining allows them to be replaced without having to remove them, thereby avoiding the complexity and risks associated with asbestos removal.
Swimming pool pipework
Swimming pool pipes are usually buried beneath the concrete or the pool deck. We offer a specialised service for repairing swimming pool pipes without the need for building work.
Advantages and limitations
Advantages
- There’s no need to dig up the floor, walls or garden. Work is being carried out from the manholes and inspection chambers.
- Less hassle at home. No construction dust, no rubble and no need to replace flooring or tiling.
- Action is taken only where necessary, thanks to prior inspection and identification.
- Sustainable and producing no construction waste, compared with traditional replacement methods.
Limitations
- It is not always feasible. If the pipe is crushed, broken or significantly displaced, it must be cut open.
- You need access. You need to be able to get in via a manhole or inspection chamber; if these are hidden, you must first locate them using a hidden manhole detector.
- A prior diagnosis is required. Without a camera inspection, it is impossible to know whether it is possible or which technique to use.
If you’d like to compare this system in detail with traditional repair methods, we explain this in our articles on traditional and trenchless methods for repairing pipes and on the hidden costs of traditional repairs.
Frequently asked questions about pipe repairs without building work
What is the difference between repairing a pipe without any building work and unblocking it?
Unblocking removes whatever is blocking the pipe; repairing it without the need for building work fixes the pipe itself when it is cracked, broken or damaged. Often, both are done: first it is cleaned, and then it is repaired.
Why do you need to clean the pipe before repairing it?
This is because the patch, resin or sleeve needs to adhere to a clean surface. If there is any grease, limescale or debris left behind, the repair will not bond properly. That is why the surface is cleaned using a high-pressure water jet and, if necessary, by milling.
What is LED curing?
This is the method used to cure the resin in the liner once it has been inserted into the pipe: LED light is shone along the length of the section until the liner hardens and forms a new pipe inside the old one.
Can a pipe blocked by roots be repaired without any building work?
First, the roots must be removed, usually by milling. Afterwards, if the pipe retains its shape, the point where the roots were entering can be sealed, or the section can be lined to prevent them from growing in again.
Can a communal downpipe be repaired without any building work?
Yes, provided the inspection confirms that it is feasible. Using the continuous liner technique, entire downpipes can be repaired from the inside, without breaking the walls through which they pass.
Before breaking it, check whether it can be repaired from the inside
Non-invasive pipe repair fixes cracks, joints, breaks and damaged pipes from the inside, without having to lift floors or walls. To find out if this is possible in your case, the first step is always a camera inspection.
At Limpiezas Domingo e Hijos, we inspect, locate and repair pipes without the need for excavation, using packers, resin and LED-cured liners. We operate in the Marina Alta and La Safor regions, with over 15 years’ experience. You can find all the details on our non-excavation pipe repair service.
Call us on 672 450 224 or 966 447 070, or request a quote.