What is Pipe Relining, and How Does It Work?
Repiping your home may be costly and time-consuming. It is a significant task to dig up old pipes to replace them with newer ones.
Yes, repiping is a lot of work. While pipe relining sounds like the same thing, it isn’t. It does everything that repiping might, except cost you the same amount of money, time, and energy.
The entire process of pipe relining is nearly 180 degrees from traditional methods. You can read more about pipe relining solutions in this article.
What is Pipe Relining?
The short answer: pipe relining restructures any old pipe by filling it with epoxy resin, covering any cracks, holes, abrasions, and corrosion within the pipe lining.
Below, you will find more in-depth answers detailing pipe relining technology, such as the benefits of epoxy resins.
Pipe Relining Technology: What is Epoxy Resin?
Epoxy resin is a two-part adhesive that acts as a sealant applicable to various materials. It is delicate enough for glass, porcelain, ceramic, plastic, PVC, metal, and clay.
While you can use it on delicate material, epoxy (for short) creates an incredibly durable seal. It can bind things back together with a seal that is strong enough to withstand high amounts of pressure.
It is an inexpensive and effective tool to repair anything you don’t want to replace. Depending on different variables, such as the brand you use and its blend, the resin can repair even the most stubborn plumbing pipes.
Pipe Relining for Sewer Pipes
Pipe repair is intimidating, and the sound of it can make any homeowner jump out of their skin. It is especially rattling if your broken pipes are linked to underground sewer lines.
Don’t worry. If your sewer pipes need extensive repairs, pipe relining can be your new go-to solution!
Are relining pipes better than pipe repair?
It is affordable, effective, eco-friendly, and accessible. However, only some of your piping concerns require relining. Some pipe repairs require more or less extensive measures than relining. Need we say more?
For example, relining is a viable alternative for pipe replacement. Pipe relining is not helpful for pipes that require unclogging or cleaning. Remember, the resin is an adhesive, not a solvent.
However, pipe relining is useful if the clog leads to a damaged pipe. Clogs can damage the inner surface of your pipes, especially if they include tree roots.
After removing blockages, consider calling a plumber to apply relining solutions to pipes producing leaks. Yes, even if they are underground.
Professionals won’t have to do any digging in your yard to insert any solution to close up cracks within pipe walls. However, they may have to use other methods involving drilling to access pipe openings.
How long does pipe relining take?
While relining may not involve much yard digging, it may take some time to prep. Remember, extensive pipe replacement can take weeks or even months.
If plumbers dig through your yard to find viable access points, your yard may not experience lengthy excavation. It is a pipe repair. Your plumbers aren’t going to be replacing any plumbing fixtures.
Applying a special resin to your pipes can be a quick process, which may only take a few hours. However, there are variables we should consider, like the extent of your home’s plumbing system.
An extensive plumbing system can take up to one week to reline. There may also be instances where some components need to be replaced. In that case, lining and replacement services may take longer.
Are Relining Pipes Expensive?
A pipe issue isn’t always expensive, but they can be. Buying a new pipe can be costly, especially if they are made of copper. Thanks to the relining process, pipe repair won’t be like throwing money down the drain.
Pipe relining is more cost-effective and less time-consuming than pipe replacement. No matter how extensive your plumbing pipes are, it still won’t cost as much money to reline your pipes than to replace them.
You can bet on more efficiency, even if your pipes are deep within the ground. Again, it isn’t like you are tearing pipes out to install any new ones.
Are Relining Pipes Necessary?
Pipe relining is necessary for sewer and drain pipes producing any leaks or causing backflow. If there’s standing water surrounding your drain, you might find clogs within pipes.
Not all clogs require relining services. However, if your pipes are leaking or you notice any backflow around your drains, you might need pipe relining.
Do You Need Relined Pipes?
Do you notice constantly backed drains and clogging in your pipes? Backflow indicates there is something stuck in your pipes.
Using a plunger can help you retrieve a lost object or see whatever is down there causing a clog. If there are only soap scum, hair, and clumps of tissue down there, plungers may help flush it into the septic tank.
However, that may be bad news if you hope to retrieve something. Remember, the vacuum method may be more useful to flush things down the drain than to retrieve things. It would be best to consider using this method as a last resort against clogged pipes.
It’s much more work to retrieve things after they flow into your sewer line. You may need the help of a plumber if it’s already made its way into the septic tank.
While plungers and snaking help ease backflow and clogging, chronic plumbing issues may be the sign you need. It may be time to reline your pipes and eliminate those cracks and corrosion causing frequent clogging and leaking.
Can you execute a pipe relining by yourself?
While pouring adhesive down pipes sounds easy, it takes more skills to fill damaged pipes without rendering them ineffective. Revamping a pipe inside your walls or underground takes meticulous work and expertise.
Relining is more challenging than drain cleaning. Pipe relining shouldn’t be your first Do It Yourself project. Your first jab at home improvement shouldn’t be something as significant as relining or replacing pipes.
If you have sufficient experience or a background in plumbing, you may conduct pipe replacement and repair all on your own. Call a professional for some advice or guidance.
A plumber may also help you learn how to clean your plumbing lines safely. If you heard your neighbor’s horror story about the time they tried installing a new pipe, then you know how hard plumbing repairs can be.
Installing a new liner and pipe replacement is one of many things that’s more challenging than they seem. Asking your plumber about cleaning your drain line can help you learn new techniques.
How to clean your pipes
Do you want efficient and effective drain cleaning? The kind of cleaning that helps dig at tough grime and claw at scum caught in the bends!
You can use your garden hose to clean drains on the surface. However, it would be best if you refrained from lowering them further into sewer lines or any pipes embedded into the ground.
Cleaning scum off drain openings, bolts, and covers helps prevent residue from building up within pipes, which helps preserve their integrity.
A drain cleaner is a chemical solution that is used to dissolve grime and soften the hardened residue. You can use industrial solvents like Roto-Rooter Plumbing Solutions for drainpipes you can’t scrub or hose down.
Boiling water, equal parts baking soda, and white vinegar will do just the trick! It also won’t wear out a wax ring as fast.
Does Your Home Need Pipe Relining Solutions?
Call a plumbing company in your location to learn more about your various liner options. You can ask your old plumber about the pipes previously installed in your home to find out about their current liner.
You can also ask new plumbers about your current installations. It may sound like a conflict of interest. However, a reliable professional will tell you like it is.
They can help you inspect your plumbing system to see if all your pipes are still up to code and performing to the standard they need to be.
Fox Plumbing & Heating
We have all had our own experiences with various plumbers. Some provide cheaper services with even cheaper outcomes, while others prove too much for our price range.
Remember, reliable experts may cost a little more. However, any business that involves pipes requires professional equipment and techniques. Don’t sacrifice the integrity of your plumbing by cutting costs.
If you need help finding reliable plumbers in Washington, we have just the guys for you. Consider enlisting the most professional plumber in Seattle for pipe repair and other maintenance services.
The Fox Plumbing & Heating team is in more than just the plumbing business. We care about your home and the comfort of everyone residing within.
Leave your worries to us! We do it all.
If you need a thorough drain cleaning, leak inspection, and other services to keep your plumbing fixtures up to date, give our guys a call!