It is very common for people to see old man holes while driving down the road, and they can be quite a nuisance. If they are damaged, they can actually block the sewer, become road hazards, and can lead to liability and safety issues.
Manhole deterioration could be the result of several things including:
• Ground settlement or earthquakes
• Weather (i.e. ice, rain, extreme heat)
• Asphalt deterioration
• Root invasion
• Water erosion
Regardless of what has caused the problem, business owners and property managers should implement standard manhole inspections from time to time, incorporating these into their maintenance assessments. Replacing or repairing manhole should never be overlooked.
Manhole Rehabilitation Techniques
Realistically, a manhole rehabilitation should be done early enough where only minor repairs will be necessary. By simply looking for signs, such as cracking, pooling water, ill fitting covers, or even visible damage to the cover is easy to notice.
If you happen to see any indication that there is some type of damage, you need to have the sewer line and manhole inspected. There are three techniques that you can use for standard manhole repair: polyurethane spray, lining, and grouting. These can be implemented in just a few hours and you will not have to disrupt sewer line services or strive for unnecessary paving jobs that could take up a lot of time.
Grouting
This is typically used to prevent runoff that can be caused by draining directly into the manhole, this technique is designed for man holes that do not require substantial or significant repairs. Grouts are simply made of chemicals that will match the material that the manhole is made of and also the surrounding pavement or soil. Once you have done a thorough cleaning, this can simply be injected into the voids and cracks that you have noticed, forming a watertight seal that will combine with the local soil and the manhole itself.
Lining
Manhole lining is another way to rehabilitate a manhole in his typically meant for structural changes or reinforcement. Once the manhole is cleaned, and all loose debris is removed, then a liner can be fitted onto this space. Pressed tightly, the lining will expand, until it is cured directly in place. What you will end up with is a new interior that is going to improve the integrity of this manhole, prevent groundwater and runoff blocks, and also prevent gases from coming up from the sewer which can be unappealing. The curing process, which is easy to complete, will help regarding outgoing and incoming pipes that are open, leaving almost no evidence that this has ever occurred.
Polyurethane Spray
Manhole ability should and can be done using a spray made of polyurethane, something like SprayWall. This urethane material can provide a coating on the outside which can prevent corrosive gases and groundwater from causing corrosion. It is important to pressure wash the manhole to identify any active leaks that will be stopped up once this process is complete.
Replacing The Manhole
Another possibility is to simply replace the manhole because it is not easy to fix. You should only do this if you have tried all of the other alternatives and none of them have worked. If you do think it needs to be replaced, this is typically done when wet concrete goes into the manhole, hardens, and then causes blockages which are difficult to remove. If this is a substantial project, it may take a few days to complete everything, but you need to follow through and it should be done by a professional.
There will be an excavation that may take place which could cover a 10 foot diameter area, going all the way down to the sewer main. At this point, a sewer bypass will be installed as you are completing this procedure, encompassing the entire manhole that’s going to be excavated and so new materials and a new structure can be installed.
There are certain circumstances where the new manhole is going to be built where one was not evident before, and this is done in an effort to provide competent sewer line maintenance. If it is determined that a manhole is not needed, or never was needed, all of this can be stripped within a few feet of the surface, abandoning the idea completely. What remains will be backfilled, and the opening will be resurfaced, as if nothing was ever there before.
It can be very easy to forget about man holes in sewer lines if you are not going into them constantly. However, it is important to not neglect utility holes that can also lead to larger problems, including damaging car tires. As the waste and debris continues to build up, this can clog sewer mains. If it is a deteriorating structure, it could cave-in at some point in time. Improper manhole covers can actually drop out, or they may even create runoff seepage related problems. Some smaller problems may not be addressed initially, and if not, this can lead to larger problems with the entire sewer line which can be very expensive.
Contacting a professional sewer line expert is necessary if you believe that damage or corrosion has occurred, specifically near sewer mains or a utility hole. Don’t hesitate in contacting M&B Services LLC if you would like information about manhole rehabilitation ideas or a complete sewer line video inspection.