Pipe Relining: What You Need To Know

Unfortunately, pipes are not indestructible. Over time they start to wear out and even the hardiest pipes will crack under the strain of years of use and start leaking or even worse, burst and flood a part of your home. Sometimes even brand-new pipes get damaged due to outside factors, such as tree roots slowly growing around the pipe, which results in the pipe becoming too constricted and eventually bursting.

Either way, if your pipes decide to eventually give out, then you are presented with two options. The first option involves you getting the pipes replaced completely or at the very least, the section of the pipe that has been damaged (whether only one section can be replaced will depend on the general state of the pipes and the damage done to the other sections).

The second option involves getting a process known as “pipe relining” done. Pipe relining has very similar goals to total pipe replacement in that both end up leading to your pipes working again.

But, both options use very different methods to achieve that goal. In this post, we are going to talk about pipe relining and help you decide whether it is right for you or not.

What is pipe relining?

Pipe relining has actually been around for quite a while, although many in the general public still do not know about it and how useful it is. So, to explain pipe relining let’s first explain the alternative, total pipe replacement.

Total pipe replacement involves digging up the section or sections of pipe that have been damaged and that need to be replaced. The section is cut out and the new section put in. Obviously, as anyone who has ever had total pipe replacement done before can attest to, it is extremely cumbersome, expensive, and time-consuming. Everything around the pipe has to be moved, which can be a very big hassle if the pipe is indoors or deep underground.

Pipe relining is the exact opposite of total pipe replacement. With pipe relining, a material is placed inside the pipe, it is then inflated to create a sort of “inner layer” inside the pipe. So, for example, if a pipe is full of cracks that water would leak through, the pipe relining solves that issue by creating a new layer that is free of cracks.

A wide variety of materials can be used to create this inner layer. You will often see materials like epoxy, silicone, and polyester used to create the inner layer of the pipe. Also used in pipe relining is a resin mixture. The resin is applied thoroughly to the outside of whatever material is going to be used to inflated inside the pipe, ensuring that the material thoroughly sticks to the inside of the pipe and helps create a strong seal.

The advantages of pipe relining over total pipe replacement

So, now that you know what pipe relining is, you may be wondering what advantages it has over regular pipe replacement. Well, there are quite a few advantages that pipe relining has over pipe replacement, but we are going to cover the main ones in this section.

Cost

So, one of the main things we are all concerned about is cost. We all want to save as much money as possible. Well, when it comes to cost, there is simply no competition between the two services.

Total pipe replacement costs a ton due to labour costs, equipment costs, and the pure complexity of the service. Replacing a pipe requires serious effort, so you are going to have to spend some significant money to get it done. Pipe relining, on the other hand, does not cost as much money. Now, it will still cost you, but you will be spending significantly less to get it done.

The reason for the massive disparity in cost is due to the fact that pipe relining requires far less manpower to complete, it requires fewer resources, and it just takes less time to get it done. Also, pipe relining is a far less complex operation, so it is easier for the plumbers to complete.

Now, you should not make the mistake of assuming that because pipe relining costs less that it is somehow less effective at solving pipe issues. Both pipe relining and pipe replacement will stop issues with your pipes. If you are having leaks or other issues like that, both of these services will get your pipes back into working order, pipe relining will just end up costing you less.

Additionally, because of the strong materials used in pipe relining and because of the good resin coating used on the outside, pipe relining will last about as long as a new pipe. So, pipe relining does not cost less because it is some sort of temporary solution. Overall, if you care about saving as much money as possible, then there is no contest, you need to go with pipe relining.

Time

Pipe relining is just a far less complex operation overall. With pipe replacement, the plumbers have to dig up the entire pipe section in order to take out the pipe. With pipe relining, they only have to dig a small hole that is big enough to fit the material into so that the material can be inflated. Pipe replacement can take quite a while, whereas pipe relining can be done relatively quickly and with minimal disruption.

Depending on the situation and depending on where the damaged piping is located, this can be a very big deal. Not every family can afford to have their lives be disrupted while the pipe replacement is happening. If you want your piping repaired quickly, then you need to go for relining.

If you want pipe relining done, just give us a call, our plumbers can have the job done in no time. Also, if you are unsure about whether your pipes need to be relined or not, see our earlier post on “signs that you should have your pipes relined.”