Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Before you know it, the cold weather will be here, and unfortunately, that means sewer problems for some homeowners.

But it's not too late to prevent an expensive catastrophe.

This is a great time of year to think about replacing your old sewer pipes. And here is the good news: There is now a less destructive way to do it, too!

Trenchless sewer repair is the way way to fix old pipes without destroying your yard, patio or driveway. A plumber uses a fiberglass tube coated with a resin that's inserted into a damaged pipe and is blown up like a balloon. After a few hours, it hardens and creates a new pipe within a pipe.

This costs 30 to 50 percent more than traditional repair, but depending on your yard, it could be worth it.

"When evaluating which method is right for sewer repair, consider the cost of the landscaping or any sidewalks or your driveway that might need to be replaced if they are going to use the traditional method," said Angie Hicks of Angie's List. "If it's going to cost a third of the cost of the sewer replacement in order to replace the landscaping and the concrete ... then you should go with trenchless."

How long a sewer lasts depends on various factors, but if your sewer is more than 40 years old , it may need replacing.

Before hiring anyone, though, check with your homeowner's insurance policy because some cover sewer pipe repair or replacement.

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