Pronto Plumbing

Vincent Knisley

All About Trenchless Pipe Repair and Replacement

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Pronto Plumbing Tackles

Orangeburg Pipe

Problems

It’s lurking just beneath the surface of your central Pennsylvania property, ready to strike at any moment. Ignore it at your peril, because it’s just a matter of time before Orangeburg Pipe puts a damper on your day.

orangeburgpipes Once upon a time, Orangeburg Pipe was advertised as the wave of the future in pipe options. Manufactured of wood fibre layers held together with pitch or tar, this pipe (sometimes also called by the name “Bermico” proved economical and was thus used frequently by constructors of residences and buildings.

Today, we know that this type of pipe – basically made of “tar paper”, for lack of a better term – regularly causes area residents nightmares in the form of drain and sewage line failures.

Over time, Orangeburg pipe corrodes and deforms. The thin layers of wood fibre decay, deteriorating and warping until a) the pipe collapses (thereby blocking the water or sewage path); b) the pipe weakens and tree roots infiltrate the pipe interior; and/or c) the pipe bursts. Regardless, the outcome results in a mess that leaves owners frustrated.

When the Pronto Plumbing Heating Air Drains team tackled an Orangeburg Pipe issue at a Camp Hill home on 39th Street, the homeowner’s pipe had become egg-shaped, and was failing fast. Without missing a beat, Pronto used cutting-edge instruments including a drain camera to determine exactly where the problem lay. Then, using a trenchless system, they laid new pipe without digging up the yard.

The replacement pipe Pronto chose is made from high-strength PVC, guaranteed to outperform any Orangeburg pipe (which usually fails between 30-50 years).

If you suspect that the pipes under your home that was built between the late 1940s and 1972 may be Orangeburg, please contact the Pronto Plumbing Heating Air Drains team set up an inspection of your drain lines. It’s well worth knowing so you can save money and headaches in the long run.

You Can Repair or Replace Water, Drain or Sewer Pipes Without Destroying Your Landscaping, Driveway, or Patio!

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You Can Repair or Replace Water, Drain or Sewer Pipes Without Destroying Your Landscaping, Driveway, or Patio!

Homes built before 1999 typically have a cast iron or clay pipe sewer drain line. Cast iron, clay and “orangeburg” pipes eventually become compromised due to decay, tree root invasion or settling earth and need to be repaired or replaced before a major leak or a sewage backup occurs.

Traditional pipe repair/replace methods often require heavy-duty equipment, huge piles of dirt from digging big trenches, and ripping up your landscaping, driveway, patio, floors or walls. When completed, contractors may patch the street-cut, replace sidewalks, rough-grade and even deliver topsoil, but you’ll still have to “restore” your property. That can be very costly!

Two options can minimize the damages caused by traditional digging methods, save you thousands of dollars and be completed in as little as one day

1. No Dig – No Damage! Insert a hard-cast lining in your existing line or bore a new line underground from the street to the house.

2. Minimal Dig – Minimal Damage. Only small holes are dug to access the pipe so specialized equipment can pull a new sewer line through existing cast iron or clay pipe.

When Is No Dig- No Damage NOT the Best Solution?

When the sewer line is fully collapsed due to root intrusion or is improperly pitched. Tree roots are the warning sign!

Once your sewer line is compromised, over time it will get worse, eventually collapsing. Taking action when you first experience tree roots before the line collapses will save money, frustration and inconvenience of traditional Dig & Damage solution!

As your local licensed, insured & experienced Drain Repair and Replacement company, Pronto Plumbing & Drain will provide options that are right for you. We offer free video camera inspections of your pipes and free second opinions for our Swatara neighbors.

You Can Repair or Replace Water, Drain or Sewer Pipes Without Destroying Your Landscaping, Driveway, or Floors!

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Repair or Replace Your Main Water, Sewer Line without Destroying You Landscape, Driveway or Patio? And SAVE thousands of Dollars?

If YOUR home was built before 1999, you probably have a Cast Iron or Clay Pipe Sewer Drain Line that will clog or totally fail. Cast iron, clay & “orangeburg” pipes become compromised due to decay, tree root invasion or settling earth and need to be repaired or replaced before You have a major leak or a costly & stinky sewage backup occurs. Traditional pipe repair methods you may be familiar with often require heavy-duty equipment, huge piles of dirt from digging big trenches, and ripping up your lovely landscaping, driveway, patio, floors or walls.

Pronto Plumbing & Drain offers several Cost Saving Options to minimize the damages caused by traditional methods and SAVE YOU Thousands of Dollars!

Pronto Options include:

1. No Dig – No Damage! We may be able to insert a hard-cast lining in your existing line or Bore a totally new line from the street to the house. Can be completed in much shorter time, often in one day.

2. Minimal Dig – Minimal Damage. Only requires small holes dug outside, just enough to access the pipe for our specialized equipment to pull a new sewer line through your existing cast iron or clay pipe.

3. Traditional Dig & Damage– If it’s time to re-landscape, or you simply enjoy raking and seeding your lawn, this might be the option for you. We’ll rough-grade, deliver topsoil if you like, patch the street-cut, replace sidewalks – to make this a “turn-key” project.

We provide Solutions, Options & Financing to fit YOUR budget, fully guaranteed to last decades.

When Is No Dig- No Damage NOT the Best Solution?

When the sewer line is fully collapsed due to root intrusion or is improperly pitched. Tree Roots are the Warning Sign!

Your sewer line is compromised – it’s only a matter of time until you’ll need to suffer more expensive REPAIR or REPLACEMENT Costs! If you take action when you first experience tree roots BEFORE the line collapses, You’ll SAVE Money, frustration and inconvenience of the traditional Dig & Damage solution!

As your local licensed, insured & experienced Drain repair and replacement company, we’ll provide options that are right for you. Pronto Plumbing & Drain offers FREE video camera inspections of your pipes, as well as FREE second opinions.

Signs That Tree Roots are Infiltrating Your Pipes

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One of the most common plumbing issues we see are pipe blockages caused by tree root intrusion. If pipes have any leaks, or even tiny cracks, that creates the perfect conditions as tree roots seek out moisture and fertile soil (sewer pipes!). Pipes with seams are also at risk for root invasion. Many older homes in our area have clay or cast iron drain pipes, with especially vulnerable mortar or lead-filled joints.

Once the roots intrude into the sewer line, they GROW inside the pipes. This causes slower liquid flow, pipe damage or collapse, and eventually messy sewage backups into the house. Lucky home owners hear a gurgle, unlucky home owners come home to a real mess! How lucky are you?

Some signs of root intrusion:

1. Slow or clogged drains

2. Gurgling sounds

3. Soft, spongy or unexpected green patches in your yard

4. Foul odors (rotten eggs or sulphur)

Many homeowners don’t realize that having your main drain line “rooted” every year or two isn’t normal. Even when roots are cut up and removed, they’ll be back – for sure! The integrity of the drain line is compromised. Liquids will leach into the ground causing additional soil settling, major slumping and eventually collapse of the drain line. Once it collapses, that often means expensive trenching of a new line and weeks for your lawn to recover. If you attend to the issue early, there are options such as pulling a new “one-piece” line right though the existing pipe without destroying your landscape!

If you suspect trees are invading your pipes, have a licensed plumber perform a video camera inspection of your sewer drain system. Pronto Plumbing & Drain offers this complimentary service as well as free second opinions on sewer repair and replacement.

Pronto Plumbing Featured in Cleaner Magazine!

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JANUARY 2021 CLEANER MAGAZINE:

From structured process protocols for each and every job to giving customers free sewer line inspections, Pronto Plumbing definitely is not a conventional plumbing and drain cleaning company.

  And when combined with an emphasis on   investments in advanced, productivity-enhancing   equipment —  especially trenchless pipeline rehab   technology — co-owners Barry Kindt and John   Gribble have created a unique formula for success at   the company, based in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

 “We do operate completely different than most       plumbing companies,” Gribble says. “We believe   everything is about image and creating comfort for   customers that use our services. “Providing a better   customer experience creates a better image. And we   do that by offering to inspect sewer lines before they   become an issue, by running service calls the same   way every time and by having a well-stocked   warehouse and trucks so technicians can provide   solutions to problems every day of the week.”

 The numbers speak for themselves. With 53   employees, diverse service offerings that include   electrical and HVAC, a fleet of 22 service vehicles   and  an ever-growing roster of machines and   equipment,   Pronto Plumbing has grown   considerably since Kindt founded it in 1998.

 Gribble says Kindt, whom he describes as a mentor,   deserves most of the credit for the “visionary”   approach to growing a company. “He’s a very driven   man and his hobby is business. He’s been very   inspirational to my career.”

       PAGE 34 FOR THE FULL STORY

https://www.cleaner.com/ezine/2021/01

Switched to Natural Gas Within the Last 5 Years? What You Need to Know Now!

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[vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1579553960768{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-right: 100px !important;padding-left: 100px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]If you or your neighbors switched to Natural Gas within the last 5 Years, your sewer line, home and safety could be at risk! 

UGI Utilities Natural Gas & Electric invoices recently included a newsletter with an article titled “Clogged Sewer Line.” It warned homeowners that if their drains are clogged and need to be cleared by a professional, they need to make sure that they call 811 to check for buried electric or gas lines in the area prior to clearing the line. 

The reason for their warning is that a natural gas line could have been unintentionally installed through your sewer pipe. The equipment used to unclog sewer pipes could damage that natural gas pipe, leading to the dangerous release of natural gas and potentially causing a safety hazard INSIDE YOUR HOME or YOUR neighbor’s home.

You see, the latest technique for installing a natural gas line from the street to your home is by boring the line through your yard – no traditional excavation, no backfill and very minimal re-landscaping required. That’s the good news. 

The hazardous news is that we’re finding exactly what UGI warned their customers could happen — gas lines that run right through sewer lines, called a “cross bore,” that can eventually cause a sewer line backup or even the need for complete sewer line replacement! Typically, you wouldn’t be aware of this situation and would not smell “gas” because the boring process is stronger than the sewer line materials. If you ever smell “gas”, evacuate the area immediately and call UGI from a safe distance away. 

When a sewer line backs up, it is an urgent problem and if not resolved could leak raw sewage into your yard. If during the clearing process, the gas line was to be damaged and require emergency gas line repairs — UGI then charges these repairs and replacement costs to the contractor and/or the homeowner. How is that fair when UGI damaged your sewer line? 

Pronto Plumbing & Rooter is offering a FREE Sewer Line Camera Inspection to anyone in the Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg or our other service areas in neighboring Pennsylvania counties who have converted to natural gas and the “boring” technique was used to have the gas line installed. Let’s catch this BEFORE it’s a problem AND an expense that rightly should belong to UGI!

If it isn’t discovered until you have a back-up, it may be too late to hold UGI responsible for any damage that they may have caused. Not only would you suffer the inconvenience of a sewer line back-up, and the danger of a gas line rupture – but you might also have to pay to repair the gas line that was bored through YOUR sewer line. 

 

Be Safe – FREE Sewer Camera Inspection! Call (717) 533-1057[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”14440″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1579553977366{padding-top: 100px !important;}”][/vc_column][/vc_row]