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ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR PIPE CHECK? THAT’S A BAD IDEA.
ARE YOU PUTTING OFF YOUR PIPE CHECK? THAT’S A BAD IDEA. 800 400 Vitek AS

Checking the pipes isn’t at the top of most people’s list of things to do at home, but the consequences can be serious if you neglect it completely. We’ll explain why you mustn’t put off checking your pipes!

A pipe inspection can save you a lot of money. Over the years, all pipes build up a layer of grease, chemicals and food residues. This build-up will only increase over time, and most of us aren’t particularly good at thinking about maintenance and preventing blocked pipes in our day-to-day lives.

If you carry out a pipe inspection, you’ll be able to monitor the condition of your pipes and carry out any necessary repairs, so that you can go to bed at night with a clear conscience and without worrying that something might happen to your pipes. After all, you are responsible for ensuring that the drainage pipes from your house out to the municipal mains – also known as the service pipe – are in good condition.

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU HAVE YOUR PIPES CHECKED?

Pipe inspections aren’t something you need to carry out every year. It’s more than enough to check your pipes once a decade. Feel free to ask local professionals when you should carry out your next pipe inspection, as this may depend on various factors in your area.

If you have taken over a property that is more than 40 years old, it is advisable to have the pipework inspected, unless there is documentation to show that this has recently been carried out.

A PLUMBER CAN’T DO THE SAME JOB

Checking your pipes regularly is an important part of owning a home, and properly functioning pipes are essential for your comfort at home. A plumber can help you with many problems that arise with your pipes, but a plumber is first and foremost an expert in fitting, repairing, installing or adapting plumbing systems – which a pipe inspection is not part of.

A pipe inspector, on the other hand, can carry out several of the tasks that a plumber is often called out to do. If you have a blocked drain or a blocked toilet, it is a pipe inspector you should call.

THESE SIGNS INDICATE THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR PIPES INSPECTED

  1. There are gurgling sounds
    Gurgling noises from your drains are one of the first signs of a problem. The noises occur when the water has to displace the air in the pipe in order to flow through, and are caused by there being far too little space. This is particularly common in kitchens, where a lot of grease ends up in the drain. Read also: Has your sink started gurgling?.
  2. There’s a nasty smell
    When a pipe becomes completely or partially blocked, bacteria thrive. Having the pipes flushed is absolutely essential to remove the unpleasant odour coming up from the drain, as well as to prevent further damage to the pipes.
  3. You have a property with an older pipework system
    Pipes, and their quality, have changed considerably over the years. In older homes, the condition of the pipes varies greatly depending on when the system was installed and how owners have maintained them over the years. A pipe inspection will tell you exactly what condition your pipes are in, and if the situation is so bad that flushing the pipes isn’t enough – fortunately, pipe rehabilitation is an excellent solution. In many cases, pipe rehabilitation means you won’t need to replace the old pipes.
    See also: 7 good reasons to choose pipe renewal
  4. The drain often gets blocked
    If your drains often become blocked and you keep resorting to Plumbo time and time again, you’re not solving the actual problem and are potentially exposing the pipes to further damage. Plumbo and other drain cleaning products are very harsh on the pipes and can cause damage and leaks. Call for a pipe inspection, as your pipes will most likely need flushing – or perhaps even a more extensive repair.

PIPE INSPECTIONS MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL

There are many providers of pipe inspection and pipe jetting services on the market, but not all of them operate with the same level of professionalism. Check that the pipe inspection company in question is a member of Rørinspeksjon Norge (RIN). VITEK aims to help improve safety and provide accurate information to those who need it. VITEK is also an established specialist in all services relating to pipes and drainage systems, with specialist expertise in pipe cleaning, inspection and renewal.

 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENOVATING SERVICE PIPES
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RENOVATING SERVICE PIPES 2560 1353 Vitek AS

As a homeowner, you are responsible for the service pipe – the pipe that connects your house to the mains network. Avoid major expenses – opt for pipe renewal before problems arise.

Local authorities across the country have long since realised that renovating service pipes is absolutely essential to reduce leaks in the pipework network. Nevertheless, it is the homeowner who is responsible for carrying this out. The problem is that almost half of all homeowners are not up to date or aware of the condition of their own service pipes, or whether they need repairing.

The local authority will therefore issue a notice to rectify the situation if you do not meet the requirements, by which time the damage to the pipes may already be so extensive that it will cost you a great deal. To avoid significant expenses, you should therefore opt for pipe renewal before this happens.

BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY WHEN IT COMES TO PIPE INSPECTION

VITEK sees cases every day where some of the problems – and consequently the costs incurred – could have been avoided if pipe renewal had been carried out just a few years earlier. As a homeowner, it is therefore never too early to have your pipes inspected and assessed. Anyone can do this, but it is particularly important for those of you living in a property that is 20 years old or older.

A full inspection is not always necessary. During a pipe inspection, a comprehensive check of all the pipes is carried out to determine the need for repairs, but sometimes the extent of the damage and the required work can be easily assessed during a preliminary inspection. We can do this during a simple site visit and then provide you with a quote for pipe renewal.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF PIPES

Before carrying out pipe renewal, you need to check what the existing pipes are made of. Different materials have been used at various stages over the past few decades, depending on the raw materials and technology available at the time. Both cast iron and plastic in various forms are widely used. Pipe renewal can be carried out on virtually all types of pipes. Pipes can be renewed at bends (where the pipe changes direction) and where the pipe dimensions change. The fact that other pipes are connected to the branch pipe is not a problem either. The connection point is then opened using a robot that mills a hole.

Pipe rehabilitation has been carried out since the 1970s and is therefore nothing new. Vitek has been rehabilitating pipes for almost 40 years, and the volume of work has increased – and continues to increase – all the time. The durability and guarantees are equivalent to those of brand-new pipes.

It is important that the assessment of which method to use is carried out by professionals. Pipe renewal is not a quick and easy solution; it requires knowledge and experience, as well as the right product and method for the specific pipe to be renewed.

TENDERS AND CONTRACTS

Feel free to obtain several quotes for pipe renewal work. Remember to check for certificates of competence and specific accreditations, which indicate that the company is reputable and has the necessary expertise to ensure a good result.

Here at VITEK, we are members of Rørinspeksjon Norge, maintain the highest professional standards and have extensive experience and in-depth knowledge. You are welcome to contact us at any time for a no-obligation chat, an assessment and to draw up a plan on how we can best assist you.

MORE INSTALLATIONS WITH DGAI
MORE INSTALLATIONS WITH DGAI 1366 619 Vitek AS

Vitek and Vitek Denmark have carried out a number of installations in recent weeks. Components ranging in size from 380 mm to 700 mm have been installed using various insertion and curing methods. DGAI (Dual Gland Air Injection) was the most frequently used method, although retraction was also employed. The installations have gone entirely according to plan, and the customer reports that they are very satisfied.

Ole-Gunnar Thue at Vitek says that, over three days last week, 700 metres of the project’s total 1,200 metres were installed. He points out that the collaboration with our Danish colleagues is going very well and that installation using DGAI is a very efficient and effective method. “Our teams are working very well together, which is good, as there’s a lot to do,” says Thue.

MEDALS FOR LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICE
MEDALS FOR LONG AND FAITHFUL SERVICE 2366 2041 Vitek AS

We would like to congratulate our wonderful colleagues Kjell Rune Ludvigsen and Ragnar Hystad on receiving the Medal for Long and Faithful Service. The medal is awarded by the Royal Society for the Promotion of Norwegian Welfare and recognises employees who have been with the same employer for at least 30 years. The medals were presented during a ceremony at Vitek’s premises in Rådal this week.

FEATURE: RIBBON-CUTTING BEATS REHABILITATION!
FEATURE: RIBBON-CUTTING BEATS REHABILITATION! 1807 1205 Vitek AS

Unfortunately, wind turbines and solar power are of no use when the house is flooded.

It’s strange how little attention is paid to everything that works. Here in Norway, we’ve been spoilt for generations with clean, good-quality water. We appreciate it when we come home from holiday. Apart from that, we give very little thought to the valuable infrastructure buried underground that ensures we have access to this vital resource.

The weather has changed

Climate scientists do, however, agree that it is water that will pose the greatest problems for Norway in the future. Precipitation is expected to increase by 18 per cent by 2100 unless greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The increase may even be greater than that.

Climate change is already here. The average temperature has risen by 1.3 degrees. It is short-term rainfall that has increased the most. We can see that the weather has changed – torrential rain and flooding have become much more common. And this comes at a cost.

Focus on maintenance

The Norwegian authorities have committed to reducing emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. If, however, you ask a politician what we should do about climate change, they often reply that we must electrify our vehicle fleet, erect more wind turbines and buy carbon credits. That is of little help when the drains burst in the cellar, the house is flooded by uncontrolled surface water or, in the worst case, is swept away by a flood. By then, it is too late to regret having voted for politicians who are not concerned with maintenance.

It is only when floods occur and there is a disproportionate amount of rainfall that we are reminded of the standard of our water and sewerage systems in Norway. A standard that we cannot take for granted.

We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis

Norsk Vann constantly tells our authorities that water and sewerage systems in Norwegian municipalities require investment totalling NOK 280 billion. Yet no politician campaigns on a promise to allocate several hundred million kroner to upgrading sewer pipes. There is little doubt that ribbon-cutting ceremonies take precedence over rehabilitation.

We cannot build our way out of the climate crisis. The construction industry is responsible for significant CO₂ emissions both globally and nationally, and it takes many decades for an energy-efficient new build to «pay for itself» in climate terms. It is not better for the climate to demolish and rebuild than to renovate. Our children know this, because they learn about reuse and recycling at school. We need politicians who understand this too.

It must be embarrassing to cut the ribbons

For whilst we must cut our greenhouse gas emissions, we must also adapt to a wilder and wetter climate. Here, the public sector can lead by example. Public procurement accounts for around 500 billion every single year, and climate-smart public procurement can contribute to significant emissions reductions. We need to think differently, because it is through refurbishment and smarter use of existing buildings and infrastructure that we can make a difference, both in terms of climate adaptation and emissions cuts. It must become embarrassing to cut ribbons and a point of pride to carry out refurbishments.

Could become a new growth sector for Norway

As an industry, we are keen to contribute both to reducing emissions and to providing smart solutions. At present, our people are hardly visible in the public eye. Unfortunately, the media do not seem to find it particularly interesting to interview people who work in the trenches. That is why so few people realise just how many jobs we represent. The Norwegian water sector today comprises a complete value chain of water and wastewater treatment plants, technology companies, consultancy firms, and highly specialised educational and research institutions.

We have everything we need to maintain existing infrastructure using local labour before the tasks become so large that only major multinational corporations are equipped to handle them.

It is absolutely essential that we prepare our society for a more extreme and wetter climate; our focus must therefore be on maintaining existing infrastructure as well as building new, smarter solutions with the lowest possible emissions. This is expertise that will be in demand far beyond our national borders. Therefore, dear politicians, the water sector is a shining example of a potential growth industry in the green transition, on a par with wind turbines, solar energy and electric ferries.

 

CC Sibbern, Chief Executive Officer, Vitek AS

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