What is pipe relining and how does it work?
Pipe relining, a trenchless repair technique, fixes drains and damaged pipes without extensive excavation or complete pipe replacement. The method inserts an epoxy resin liner into the existing pipe, solving a range of plumbing issues without disruptive digging. Once cured, this technique renews drain pipes with a smooth, seamless inner lining, which is central to your pipe relining endeavour, sealing cracks and holes.
Our team expertly conducts a thorough drain repair process, which includes:
- Inspecting pipes with CCTV cameras to identify damage
- Cleaning and preparing pipes for relining
- Inserted an epoxy resin-soaked liner into the pipe
- Curing the liner using hot water, steam or UV light to harden it
- After curing, the liner creates a 'pipe within a pipe,' restoring function and flow capacity, which is a hallmark of successful pipe relining.
Key benefits include cost-effectiveness, minimised excavation, rapid installation, and long-term solutions for ageing pipes, making drain relining suitable for various pipe shapes and sizes.
Overall, our team reinforces your drainage system in-place through our pipe relining service, providing an eco-friendly and effective trenchless repair for both drain and sewer pipes, with little surface impact – even in high traffic areas where digging up your yard is difficult.
When should pipe relining be considered for repairs?
Pipe relining is the preferred repair method when the trenchless approach is more advantageous than complete pipe replacement. Common scenarios where relining is the perfect solution include fixing your broken pipes:
- Blocked drains with cracks, holes or missing sections
- Corroded pipes causing leaks or blockages
- Pipes compromised by intrusive tree root invasions
- General wear and tear or deterioration with age
- Low water flow or drainage capacity
Pipe relining is effective on a variety of materials, including cast iron, clay, concrete, and PVC, with the added benefit of preventing landscaping damage. Pipe relining is ideal for areas beneath landscaping, buildings, or busy roads, where excavation can significantly increase drain repair costs.
As seasoned plumbers at Wetherill Park Plumbing, when I called for assistance, their plumbing services helped inspect my plumbing system in detail before recommending trenchless solutions. If trenchless relining can fix pipe damage and extend its service life, we recommend this durable solution for your plumbing needs, along with traditional replacement alternatives.
What makes pipe relining suitable for high-traffic areas?
Our sewer pipe relining services are an ideal repair method for addressing issues in your sewer infrastructure with minimal disruption to operations or traffic flow. Key factors that make it suitable include:
- Trenchless process - eliminates the need for road digging or large-scale excavations
- Short installation times measured in hours or days rather than weeks
- Small access pits only around your entry points into the pipe system
- The site remains mostly accessible, leading to reduced costs associated with the relining project.
This allows businesses, infrastructure and roads in busy commercial zones or CBD areas to remain open while services to get pipe relining are underway. Emergency or time-sensitive relining can be conducted with minimal impact, preventing delays.
At Wetherill Park Plumbing, we utilise advanced pipe relining technology to restore damaged pipes in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs, avoiding the economic and traffic disturbances of extensive trenching and replacement.
Step-by-step process of pipe relining
- Initial pipe inspection using CCTV cameras - We meticulously inspect the damaged pipe to identify problem areas and ensure you can get the pipes measured to prepare custom-fitted liners.
- Drain cleaning - Our process involves using high-pressure water jets to clear debris, roots, and rust from the pipes, ensuring a clean surface for relining.
- Liner installation - we use an epoxy resin-soaked liner, inserted into the inside of the old pipe through access points, a crucial part of the pipe relining process.
- Liner curing - We use hot water or steam to cure the epoxy liner, integrating it into your pipes over a period exceeding 8 hours.
- Final testing - CCTV Inspection assures comprehensive pipe rehabilitation with no defects and full drainage capacity restored.
Benefits of pipe relining in high-traffic areas
Pipe relining offers several advantages for repairs in high-traffic areas, including:
- Minimal disruption - Site remains largely accessible and operations continue thanks to understanding how pipe relining made the process simple
- Short installation times - Measured in days rather than weeks or months
- Avoidance of heavy machinery - No excavators needed for access
- Permanent solution - Epoxy resin liner, which can last 50+ years
- Restored flow capacity - Allowing unimpeded drainage of sewer storm water and waste
By using pipe relining rather than traditional pipe replacement, our skilled team effectively repaired sewer lines within commercial districts and critical infrastructures, avoiding economic or traffic impacts.
The durable epoxy resin liner resists corrosion, heat and pressure, ensuring long-term service in the harsh environment of pipes.
Challenges with pipe relining projects
While pipe relining effectively repairs drains, challenges may occur with complex projects, but are not insurmountable:
- When damaged pipes may be irreparable, our skilled plumbers will identify the best action through a detailed inspection, assessing the pipe’s condition to determine if relining is the right solution.
- Intricate pipe layouts like multi-level stacks may impede liner installation. Careful planning is crucial for access issues in plumbing pipe configurations.
- Comprehensive cleaning is required to remove partial blockages like scale or grease and prevent their recurrence after relining.
- Non-uniform pipe sizes or shapes can complicate obtaining a neat, wrinkle-free fit with the liner.
Our extensive expertise at Wetherill Park Plumbing means we confidently adapt our relining process to overcome site-specific complexities. We customise the type material used for the liner and curing methods to achieve optimal repairs despite difficult pipe configurations.
We offer detailed consultations to outline whether relining or replacement is more suitable for aged or complex pipes, ensuring clients receive the best options.
Pipe relining vs. traditional pipe replacement
Trenchless pipe relining can also provide a no-dig alternative to traditional pipe replacement methods, enabling us to repair your pipes without excavating and removing the old ones. Key differences, encapsulating all pipe relining costs, include:
- Cost - Pipe relining, typically priced between AUD 100-135 per linear metre installed, is more cost-efficient than full pipe replacement, which can exceed AUD 540+ per metre.
- Time - Pipe relining can be completed in 1-3 days with minimal disruption, unlike replacements, which take over a week and cause significant impact.
- Longevity - Both methods provide long-term solutions for your property, with epoxy liners promising durability of 50+ years.
- Effectiveness - Properly installed relining repairs cracks, corrosion, and root intrusions in sewer pipes ranging from 25mm to 300mm in diameter.
For severely deteriorated or fully collapsed pipelines, relining may suffice and negate the need for disruptive digging and replacement. Assessments by our licenced plumbers determine the best method on a case-by-case basis.
Overall, pipe relining enables fast and affordable enhancements, allowing you to get your plumbing system updated even in inaccessible areas, with results lasting decades. This makes it the service we would highly recommend for restoring pipes without the upheaval of digging and replacing entire sections.
Lifespan and durability of relined pipes
Relined pipes significantly enhance the sewer system’s performance and durability, with a properly installed lining lasting over 50 years. The seamless epoxy resin lining bonds securely within old pipes, ensuring your home’s drain pipe relining gets the job done, providing robust defence against future root intrusions, corrosion, cracks and leaks.
Key traits that enable the longevity of relined pipes include:
- Joint-free construction – the seamless bonding of the new epoxy liner with the existing pipe offers sturdy protection against future damage
- Industrial-grade material used is resistant to corrosion and chemicals
- Structural strength that is stronger than the old pipe on its own, thanks to the synergistic combination of the old pipe and the new pipe liner
- Smooth water flow supported by the friction-free glass-like inner surface of the relined pipes
We at Wetherill Park Plumbing stand behind our workmanship, ensuring that your pipes are relined with an assurance of longevity. Whether facing pipe issues now or planning for the future, we recommend them as smart, sustainable investments that will benefit properties for decades.