What is Trenchless Pipe Lining and How Does It Work?

Aging water pipes are one of the dreaded parts of being a homeowner. These pipes will begin to become problematic in ways such as leaks, water with pieces of metal in it, or foul smelling and tasting water. When this time comes, there are two ways the pipes can be handled. Either you can do a full pipe replacement, or the much more affordable and simpler option which is trenchless pipe lining.

At Ted and Bros, we are a full service plumbing business that helps homeowners with all their plumbing needs. When it comes to pipes, one of the newer and more popular services we offer is trenchless pipe lining, or epoxy pipe lining.

In this article, we define trenchless pipe lining and go over how the process works to help you decide if it’s the right plumbing solution for you.

Trenchless Pipe Lining

What Is Trenchless Pipe Lining?

Trenchless pipe lining , also known as cured-in-place- lining or just pipe lining, is a minimally invasive process used to repair sewer pipes. There are two types of trenchless pipe lining, although the more common process, lateral pipe lining, is when the sewer line is first cleaned and then an epoxy lining is installed that seals the entire inside of the pipe. It is an easier alternative to a traditional pipe replacement.

What Are The Two Types Of Trenchless Pipe Lining?

Trenchless pipe lining can be done one of two ways: lateral pipe lining or pipe bursting. Generally the extent of your damage and condition of your old pipes will determine which one needs to be done. A licensed professional plumber can examine your pipes using a sewer camera to examine the damage and determine which method is more appropriate.

Lateral Pipe Lining

We briefly mentioned earlier how lateral pipe lining is the most common way to repair damaged water pipes and is also the more common trenchless pipe lining method. This method is arguably more popular because it does not involve removing the old pipes first which saves on time and labor, making for an easier overall process.

How Does Lateral Pipe Lining Work?

  1. Evaluation
  2. Cleaning
  3. Placing Of Epoxy Liner
  4. Curing
  5. Checking

Evaluation Of The Old Pipes

Before any installation can begin, the old pipes need to be evaluated by sewer camera inspection. During the inspection, the cause of the problem can be determined. It will also be determined whether or not the pipes are in good enough shape to do a lateral pipe lining. There are certain pipe requirements in order to do a trenchless pipe repair. 

Cleaning

Once the pipes have passed inspection, they will then be cleaned with hydro jetting. This removes blockages that need to be cleared prior to the pipe lining being installed.

Placing Liner

Once the pipes are clean, they are now ready for lateral pipe lining. The epoxy liner is placed inside of the old pipe. The lined pipe is then coated with a resin. An inner bladder is inflated to ensure the material forms to the pipe.

Curing

The liner is cured in place which takes 4-8 hours. After this time,  a durable hard plastic coating is formed. Once the curing is complete, the bladder is removed.

Checking New Pipe

The sewer camera will be used at the end of the installation to check the work and make sure everything looks good.

Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is a process where your old pipe is broken up and then a new pipe is installed. If your pipes have more than just a moderate amount of damage, then they most likely are not in good enough condition for lateral pipe lining. In these instances, pipe bursting is the best repair solution. 

While it’s a more involved process, it is also a less invasive pipe repair method compared to a traditional pipe replacement.

How Does Pipe Bursting Work?

  1. Measure
  2. Old Pipe Is Broken Up
  3. Replacement pipe is run through

Measure

Once the crew has access to the pipe, they need to measure to determine the size of the replacement pipe that is needed. Some homeowners use pipe bursting as an opportunity to go with a larger pipe size than they had previously for increased water capacity.

Old Pipe Is Broken Up

A hydraulic power device that has a cone tip is placed into the old piping. The cone tip breaks up the old pipe and creates space to run the replacement pipe.

Replacement Pipe Is Run Through

The replacement pipe is pulled through by the device so as the old pipe is removed, it is immediately replaced with new piping.

When Should You Consider Trenchless Pipe Lining?

  • Your pipes have root intrusion
  • You have leaks
  • You  notice unpleasant odors, visible sinkholes, or cracked and lifted concrete slabs on your property.
  • Your home has clogging problems with the sinks, showers or toilets in your home or building.
  • You tried hydro jetting and it did not fix the problem.
trenchless-pipe-lining

Why Choose Trenchless Pipe Lining?

Trenchless pipe lining resolves your piping issues with less mess and money compared to repiping. It lasts for up to 50 years and comes with a limited warranty so you can have peace of mind when it comes to your plumbing for years to come.

Schedule a Free Estimate For Trenchless Pipe Lining

Pipe lining should always be done by a professional and experienced plumbing company that will do the installation correctly. At Ted & Bros Plumbing, we stand behind our work. Unlike most plumbing companies, we provide a warranty for up to 7 years on our trenchless pipe lining repairs.

Looking to get started on pipe lining? We’re happy to help! Request a free estimate and someone will contact you within 24 hours. If you require immediate assistance, please feel free to call us at (714) 290-0080.