Sometimes plumbers have to use an excavator to repair pipes that cannot be fixed using trenchless technologies, says Rick Hedge. As owner of The Plumber’s Plumber, based in Southwestern Florida and serving Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties, he talks here about what a sewer excavation entails.
When pipes are unable to be repaired without new trenchless technologies, then we use an excavator to dig up the defective pipe and replace it with a new one. This type of underground plumbing is really a specialized trade, and requires trained plumbers who don’t take a heavy-handed approach that could put both people and property at risk.
We can dig up to 10 feet underground using an excavator, which is more than adequate, as most sewers and drains in our area are within a six-foot depth. Our excavator allows us to dig deep fast, and get the problem fixed fast for our customers. We excavate around existing buildings, landscaping and utilities, and our equipment operators have the ability, experience and judgment needed to always maintain a safe working environment.
Fixing One Pipe
A sewer excavation is usually something we do when one pipe needs to be fixed, out in the yard, under a road or in a similar place. This is not something we do for the whole house; we are talking here about the main sewer pipes that are in need of excavation, and the main sewer drains. We can usually do it within one day, regardless of whether the pipes are clay, PVC or cast iron.
It is the law where we are from in Southwestern Florida to have all unknown underground utilities located before we dig to keep our digging safe. We are well-equipped to work in both wide open areas as well as tight spaces, and we can carry out subsurface excavations even inside buildings.
Locating Utilities
So before we start digging, we have to locate any utilities that may be buried or are unknown, to maintain a safe working environment and to minimize the risk of breaking other underground facilities. We take that seriously, and always do the best for our customers.
We use our newest trailer and backhoe to to both dig and repair any sewer pipes we find that are broken, to crush septic tanks and tackle any other issues we encounter. When we are done, we backfill it, which involves more than just tossing dirt into a hole. We use flowable backfill material and restore the area to its original grade, and we are also committed to making sure the area is restored back to its original condition as much as is possible.
