Let’s talk about water. More specifically, the water you might be losing and what it means for your home and wallet.

A single shower head leaking 10 drops a minute wastes more than 500 gallons of water a year. Average household water leaks waste more than 10,000 gallons per year. And it’s not just water that’s being wasted, it’s money. Repairing leaking pipes can save homeowners 10% on their water bills. That’s money you could be spending on Chicago Bulls season tickets.

How do you know if your pipes are leaking? The easiest way to find out is to wait for the water bill. If it’s more than normal, there’s a good chance it’s due to a leak. But if you’d rather not face a costly bill, you can keep track of your meter readings every month. The water meter is usually located in a box on the outside of your home or inside, under the kitchen sink. If you suspect a leaking pipe, jot down the meter reading, turn off the water, and check it again in a few hours. If the numbers are dramatically higher, you’ve most likely got a leak.

When it comes to possible sewer leaks, age is a big indicator. If your sewer is more than 40 years old, it could need replacing.

Sewer and pipe repair used to require a lot of time, equipment, and digging — sometimes costing homeowners more than $20,000 — but now it’s as easy as a few days and a few thousand dollars. This is all due to a method of pipe repair called “trenchless pipe lining.”

CIPP (Cured In Place Pipe Lining) systems are a simple and efficient way to repair leaking pipes. The CIPP northern process goes as follows.

A pipe inspection or sewer camera inspection and drain cleaning will be performed. The pipe will be measured to make sure the lining fits inside it. Epoxy lining will be mixed in preparation for being inserted into the pipe. The lining will be inserted into the pipe where it will bond with the existing structure and fill any cracks or root damage. The lining will harden for approximately 3 hours. The pipe can be used.

Many homeowners prefer trenchless pipe repair because it leaves your yard intact and is generally much cheaper than traditional digging methods.


CIPP northern systems are equipped to handle 50 years of service, but if something should happen, many pipe linings come with warranties that can range from 10 to 50 years. When shopping for the best contractor to perform your pipe or sewer repair, you should always ask about how the yard will be affected and how long it will take. CIPP northern repairs generally take between one and 30 hours depending on pipe diameter and other factors. Pipe lining for the entire home can take up to three days.

If you’re dealing with root damaged or leaking pipes, trenchless repair may be the saving grace your wallet and your yard need.