The Pros and Cons of Using HDD for Sewer Line Installation Jobs

Installing underground sewer lines can be a taxing job since digging can cause major problems. In order to solve this problem, the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) has been implemented for installing sewer lines in high-rise buildings and properties.

The horizontal drilling method has been gaining popularity as a more efficient and effective solution for installing pipes or sewers through buildings and properties efficiently with no mess to deal with.

The HDD method is generally done in three steps:

1) Location and alignment of the proposed pipe or sewer location.

2) Sinking of a pilot hole using a drill-vee, which is then followed by.

3) The actual drilling of the single pipeline using an inside diameter (ID) pipe, which is also commonly known as the HDD rig.

Before any drilling and installation of pipes can be done in a building or property, it must first undergo an inspection to determine if there are any gas lines or other underground utilities that might interfere with the drilling process.

The permission from the owners of the buildings needs to be obtained before the drilling process can even start. The entire drilling of pipes and setting of pipes in concrete must be monitored by an experienced crew who has been trained for this job.

What are the Pros?

One of the biggest pros of using a horizontal drilling method for installing sewer lines is that it is a very fast and efficient method. The fact that it requires little to no excavation means that contractors will not have to deal with any obstacles or inconveniences while their company installs the underground pipes.

Another pro of the HDD method is that it has low risks of damaging existing utilities, which can be common when working on construction sites.

The HDD method is also much cheaper than traditional methods of installing underground pipes because contractors do not have to deal with lengthy digging and excavating, as well as buying excavation equipment such as backhoes for the job.

Since this technique does not require a lot of work from the contractors, they can finish the job much faster and cost-efficiently.

Another advantage of using HDD for sewer line installation jobs is that it uses the latest technology when it comes to drilling holes in the ground. The drill rigs used in this method are very stable and have a low failure rate, which makes them reliable for installing underground utilities.

These rigs are also very easy to operate, allowing the contractors to install underground utility lines faster and more efficiently with less labor involved.

In addition, there are no risks associated with destabilization or groundwater contamination since trenchless technology does not require excavation work. Lastly, for those who want to take advantage of fewer manholes and reduced digging costs, the HDD method is the answer.

What are the Cons?

One of the main cons of using HDDs for installing sewer lines is that it can fail due to ground movement. During HDD, a drill bit is forced through rock or soil at a high rate of speed. The tendons can be damaged if the rocks and debris being pushed through cause updrafts as well as a mass of rocks to come out of the ground.

Also, since HDD requires less excavation, it may not work in areas where the soil is made up mostly of sand or clay, which means that it will be more difficult to use this method to install underground utilities.

Another con of using HDD for installing sewer lines is that sometimes when the drill has gone through a certain depth, it can become hard to control or steer across the intended path. This means that contractors may have trouble placing new pipes at specific spots if they are not properly guided by the drill bit.

Using HDDs for sewer line installation jobs is that this method can lead to accidents. Since HDD requires little to no excavation, it may not be suitable in areas where there are lots of trees or buildings around, as contractors will have to work on live electrical lines and traffic before they can install utilities underground.

Another potential problem with HDDs is that they may run into obstructions mid-way through the installation of underground utilities. The drills tend to be very powerful and bulky, which means that contractors need a lot of space to work in. If there are obstructions or obstacles on the path of the drill rigs, these machines can cause damage over time, which may also lead to mishaps.

So, when using HDD for installing sewer lines, it is important that there are no obstructions in the way of the drill bits being used. Also, manufacturers have designed these drills to be as large and powerful as possible so they can go through hard rock easily. This means that contractors cannot use these machines to drill into sandy or loose soil, which may slow down the process of installing underground utility lines.

Furthermore, another disadvantage of using HDDs for installing sewer lines is that they can be very dangerous to use. Contractors must use caution when operating these powerful machines as uncontrolled retractions or whipstock pullbacks can cause serious harm to anyone nearby.

Lastly, another negative aspect of using HDDs for installing underground utilities is that they are very expensive to operate and maintain. Contractors must spend a lot of money on fuel as well as paying a crew to work full time on the drill rigs in order to install underground utility lines with this method.

Takeaway

Contractors who choose to use HDD methods for sewer line installation should purchase quality equipment, hire an experienced operator and implement preventive measures such as training workers on how to handle emergencies that occur during boring. Additionally, they should have a solid understanding of their soil and how its characteristics can impact the success of their installations.