What Is Epoxy Pipe Lining and How Does It Work

When you have problems with your pipe system, there are different remedies to fix the pipe damage. Most consumers in this situation are looking for the most affordable pipe repair. Depending on the conditions of your pipes, your answer could be epoxy pipe lining.

At Ted and Bros, we are a full service plumbing business that helps homeowners with any plumbing issue from water heater installation to dealing with a bursted pipe. One of the newer and more popular services we offer is trenchless pipe lining, or epoxy pipe lining.

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

What Is Epoxy Pipe Lining?

Epoxy pipe lining is the process of putting a new pipe inside of your old piping system. This trenchless pipe repair is a more affordable alternative to a traditional pipe replacement. It can also be used to repair blockages, cracked pipes, mold growth and water damage.

Root Intrusion On Old Sewer Main Lines

Your plumbing system may also be a candidate for epoxy pipe lining if:

  • Your pipes have root intrusion, or interference between trees and your sewer system. You may have root intrusion if you notice unpleasant odors, visible sinkholes, or cracked and lifted concrete slabs on your property.
  • You are continuously experiencing clogging issues with the sinks, showers or toilets in your home or building.
  • You have had hydro jetting previously done and it does not fix the problem.

How Does Epoxy Pipe Lining Work?

The epoxy pipe resin makes a coating on the inside of the pipe to seal off any pinhole leaks or holes that were caused from corrosion. Epoxy pipe lining does not involve the removal of your old pipe, but rather the creation of a new pipe within your old pipe. By not removing the old pipes first, you are saving on time and labor which makes pipelining a more affordable pipe repair solution.

Sewer Pipe Lining Infographic

The Epoxy Pipe Lining Process

  • Evaluation
  • Cleaning
  • Placing Of Epoxy Liner
  • Curing
  • 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. At the same time, it should be confirmed that the old pipes are in suitable condition, as well as the right pipe diameter, in order for the epoxy pipe lining to be successful. There are certain pipe requirements in order to do a trenchless pipe repair.

Cleaning

Once the pipes have been deemed a good fit for epoxy, they then need to be cleaned by hydro jetting to remove any debris or blockages that could interrupt the pipelining.

Placing Epoxy Liner

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

Epoxy Curing

The curing of the resin is the longest part of pipelining and takes approximately 4-8 hours to be cured. When cured in place, the epoxy will create a durable hard plastic coating. The bladder is removed once the curing is complete.

Checking New Pipe

One last camera inspection is performed to ensure everything with the installation looks good.

Why Choose Epoxy Pipe Lining?

  • Epoxy pipe lining is a popular pipe repair solution as there is less mess, downtime and money involved compared to repiping. While epoxy pipelining can be completed in a matter of days, a traditional pipe replacement may take weeks and is a much more expensive procedure

Schedule a Free Estimate For Pipe Lining

Pipe lining has become popular for being a cost effective solution that will last up to 50 years. 

When you are considering pipe lining, be sure to hire a professional and experienced plumbing company that will do the installation correctly so that your pipe lining will last for as long as possible. 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.