How to Repair a Large Diameter Corrugated Steel Pipe in Place

Joint bands are used to repair corrugated pipe while leaving it in place.

Corrugated pipe is used to transport water from one location to another. Over time, it corrodes and fails. Rather than replace the entire pipe, it is more cost efficient to repair the section that fails. Repairing corrugated steel pipe without removing it is less costly than digging up the entire pipe, then repairing and re-laying it. Sectional repairs of large diameter corrugated pipe are accomplished with joint bands. Repairing corrugated pipe is time consuming and labor intensive, but it is simple.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel, backhoe or excavator
• Safety glasses
• Leather work gloves
• Hand held cutoff machine
• Tape measure
• Coupling bands
• Replacement corrugated steel pipe
• Socket set

Instructions

1. Shovel or excavate around the damaged or broken portion of the corrugated pipe. Dig all the dirt off the top, sides and beneath the damaged area. Remove dirt within one foot of the damaged area as well. Extra space is required to fit the coupling band.

2. Cut around the circumference of the pipe with the cutoff machine. Cut 6 inches from the damaged area, on each side. Remove the damaged section of pipe. Measure the gap in the pipeline created by the removal of the section.

3. Cut a piece of the replacement pipe equal to the length of the gap. First, measure the length and mark the pipe at that length, then cut around the circumference of the pipe at the marks.

4. Slide one coupling band over each end of the replacement section and down a few inches. Fit the replacement pipe in the gap. Slide the coupling bands to the ends of the pipe. Half of each coupling band belongs on the ends of the replacement pipe, the other half of each band fits over the ends of the existing pipes. This couples the joints.

5. Hand tighten the nuts on the coupling bands to hold the bands and the replacement pipe in place. Tighten the bands securely by tightening the nuts with a socket wrench. Rebury the pipe.

References

• Corrugated-Pipe.com: Corrugated Pipe Bell Joining System Selection
• Natural Resources Conservation Service: Construction Specifications -- Corrugated Metal Pipe Conduits