Understanding Pipe Relining and Its Mechanism
Pipe relining offers a cost-effective and non-disruptive alternative to traditional pipe replacement by using flexible epoxy resins that cure in place, forming a seamless internal barrier within the existing pipes.
This restores structural integrity and provides a robust defence against leaks and blocked drains.
Once relined, a customised inflation and curing method is applied to the liner, tailored to the job, ensuring optimal results. The resin forms a pipe stronger than traditional materials and ensures a durable, jointless structure with a lifespan from 20-50 years. Relining pipes to reline your pipeline eliminates the need dig extensively, offering a less invasive option than replacement, with most installations completed in just one day.
The cured liner’s flexibility excellently handles bends, allowing a seamless reline over the entire section and avoiding the replacement of jointed pipes.
Advantages of Pipe Relining Over Replacement
Pipe relining has several advantages over full pipe replacement when it comes to plumbing repairs:
- Less invasive and disruptive – Opting for pipe relining means avoiding the havoc of trenches disrupting homes, gardens, and other outdoor areas. It safeguards surrounding landscapes and structures, ensuring a durable solution for the plumbing system.
- Significant savings – Relining’s cost-effectiveness is clear, as it reduces the need for excavation and restoration, lowering overall costs. Savings also stem from eliminating the need for new PVC pipe and fittings.
- Longevity - Strengthened by the composite resins, what emerges is a robust new pipe that is superior to conventional alternatives, promising the pipe last over 50+ years of uncompromised function.
- Versatility – Pipe relining is adaptable for renewing entire lines or targeting specific sections, proving its effectiveness for diverse sewer scenarios.
- Efficiency - The efficiency of relining allows for the property to be functional on the same day, without any residual construction mess. Water pipe supply is swiftly reinstated, allowing you to use them straight after installation and can also benefit from immediate usage.
- Structural integrity - The flexibility of cured liners allows them to navigate misalignments and adapt to the layout of existing pipes rather than needing realignment.
Pipe relining is a more affordable and less disruptive technique, sparing landscapes and providing a hassle-free solution to a variety of plumbing problems.
Pipe Relining Process
Initial Pipe Inspection
The relining process begins with a CCTV drain camera inspection to assess the pipeline’s damage and repair needs.
The camera identifies specific pipe issues like cracks, holes, tree root intrusions, corrosion, and blockages that need to be addressed. The inspection reveals the precise size, length, and direction of the pipeline, enabling accurate determination of liner specifications and quantity required.
Cleaning and Preparation
Before installing the liner, we perform a thorough drain cleaning using high-pressure water jetters to clear out any built-up debris, grease deposits, mineral deposits or root masses clogging the damaged pipeline.
Thorough drain cleaning prevents future bursting and secures a strong bond between the liner and pipe upon resin setting.
Inserting and Inflating Resin-Coated Liner
After preparation, we fix broken pipes by inserting a resin-infused liner through an access point, such as a cleanout or manhole. An inflatable bludder is attached to one end and inflated, pressing the liner firmly against the interior pipe surface.
We meticulously oversee the process, committed to perfectly sealing the pipe with the liner without overstretching. Light-activated resins may also be introduced before inflating the bladder.
Curing and Hardening Liner
The advanced pipe relining process utilises hot water, steam, or UV light to heat the liner interior, ensuring efficient activation of the curing process. This process causes the epoxy resin to harden, effectively sealing the used pipe from further deterioration, resulting in a high standard bond to the host pipe.
Over several hours, the resin transforms from liquid to solid. When hardened, we deflate and remove the bladder, trim the ends and reconnect service lines if necessary. Your pipe now has a tough, jointless lining built to last 50+ years!
Can Pipe Relining Fix Bowed or Misaligned Pipes?
Pipe relining proved incredibly cost-effective and was far more efficient, providing a minimally invasive solution for correcting bowed or misaligned pipes. Instead of replacing whole pipe sections, relining tackles drainage system issues with an interior coating of seamless, structural epoxy.
The flexible resin liners are specifically designed to navigate the twists and turns of your old pipes. Once inflated, the liners illustrate how stormwater and sewage pipes can be effectively managed; they straighten curves, reform bellies or dips, and span separated pipe joints to renew a continuous pipe inside.
As the liner cures and hardens, it essentially does pipe relining that creates a new pipe within the existing framework. The epoxy bonds tightly to create a robust pipe within original pipe materials like clay, concrete, PVC pipe, cast iron, steel, providing unwavering internal support.
This ensures there no issues, allowing the method pipe relining to resolve bowed pipes caused by foundation settling, overly shallow installations susceptible to surface loads, root intrusions expanding pipe joints, and corrosion weakening pipe structural integrity over time.
Sewer pipe relining by our expert Gladesville Plumbing technicians incorporates our comprehensive knowledge to effectively repair your pipelines.
Comparing Relining and Replacement for Bowed Pipes
Faced with misalignment from settling, ground movement, or corrosion, owners must choose – the disruptive dig-and-replace method or the trenchless, cost-efficient option of pipe relining.
The comparison of pipe relining and replacement methods for correcting bowed pipes is as follows:
Pipe Replacement
- Requires extensive excavation - In the dig replace approach, trenches must be dug along the entire length of damaged pipelines, risking potential issues that could damage your gardens, driveways and floor slabs.
- Greater upfront costs - With material, excavator hire, and surface repair expenses, pipe relining proves to be a more budget-friendly alternative.
- Longer downtime - Excavation is slow, replacement even slower. Properties can take days or weeks to regain water services when enduring the traditional replacement process.
- Shorter lifespan - Replacement pipes eventually fail again requiring the same process over in 20-30 years.
Pipe Relining
- Far less invasive - The lining is inserted into the system through access points like manholes, avoiding major landscaping and structural damage.
- Lower cost - Without the need for new pipe materials or surface repairs, relining is the more affordable fix.
- Minimal downtime - Liners can be installed in just a day, with water restored immediately after.
- Long-term solution - Composite liners provide a reliable 50-100 year fix, outlasting traditional pipe materials.
So when correcting bowed pipes without destroying your property or finances, take the time to speak with our experts about the advantages of pipe relining as the optimal choice and why you should choose this method. Take a moment to speak with our team at Gladesville Plumbing to understand the comprehensive pros and cons and ascertain why this method stands out.
What to Expect During Relining for Bowed Pipes
Choosing our relining service for issues like misaligned pipes, you can expect a smooth, minimally invasive process upheld by our skilled team’s excellent work.
The process starts with a CCTV inspection to gauge pipe health and detail specifications for the bespoke liner, all without excavating your property. Expect us to discuss findings and relining details so you understand what to anticipate.
On installation day, our dedicated team turned up and diligently set up our equipment, ensuring minimal disruption whether in your home or at your business premises. Short-term water disruptions may occur as we detach pipes to insert the liner.
You won’t need to evacuate or rearrange furniture since our process seldom involves significant demolition or construction mess. Our workspace remains tidy and our cleanup efficient, prompting you to consider us for future plumbing services.
You’ll be kept updated on progress as, with relining only, the flexible liner is inflated and the epoxy resin cured. This hardens the liner, allowing it to straighten, realign and reinforce the misshapen pipe.
The biggest surprise is how uneventful the process is! In a single day, we would usually have your pipes relined and your water running again, including water heater restoration, ensuring full drainage function.
Relining corrects bowed pipes from the inside without the need for extensive excavation and replacement. Reach out to us today for further details!