History of Trenchless Technology

Trenchless piping revolutionized the plumbing industry. Conceptualized and realized more than four decades ago, the technology has since spread across the globe as a tried-and-true method of plumbing repair. Initially done with makeshift tools, the plumbing industry is now filled with trenchless equipment made specifically for this purpose. Companies like us, PrimeLine Products, have high-quality trenchless equipment for sale that plumbers across the United States rely on.

The First Steps of Trenchless Plumbing

In 1971, United Kingdom resident Eric Wood, a career engineer, discovered an air duct leak near a bed of mushrooms. Unwilling to pull the ductwork out of place, which would disturb the growth

With some thought and elbow grease, Wood infused epoxy pipe lining products into polyester felt tubing. The crafty engineer encased the makeshift trenchless pipe lining equipment with plastic. Said to be roughly 230 feet long, he then threaded the long tube through the ductwork.

He plugged one end into an air compressor to expand the tube. After reaching the sides of the ductwork, the material stuck in place and fixed the leak.

Now known as cured-in-place piping, Eric Wood filed for a U.S. patent in 1975. More than two years later, Wood’s patent was finally approved by the U.S. Patent Office. The technology took nearly 20 years to be widely used in commercial applications.

Pipe Bursting — a Newer Form of Trenchless Plumbing

Cast-iron plumbing used to be extremely popular in the United Kingdom. In need of repairing countless broken cast-iron pipes, two U.K. organizations came together to develop new technology.

DJ Ryan, an engineering firm, and British Gas started using impact moling in the 1980s. The impact moles were used to break broken pipes. They’d then use pneumatic force to push the pipes out of place and simultaneously replace them with new ones.

Today, trenchless solutions, as well as trenchless pipe lining equipment, have become an indispensable part of pipe works, making repairs and replacements easier, more efficient, and more convenient for all.

If you’re in need of help with your pipe lining systems, contact PrimeLine Products.