Is relining or replacing your pipe better?

Introduction to Pipe Relining vs Replacement

As pipes age and deteriorate, property owners must decide between relining or fully replacing them.

Pipe relining, an innovative trenchless method, renews old pipes and avoids the extensive excavation associated with traditional line replacement. The resin forms a smooth, protective barrier, ensuring the relining job inside the pipe seals cracks and holes, offering a wide range of benefits. Pipe replacement, rather than relining, involves digging to remove and replace broken pipes completely.

This article from Pennant Hills Plumbing will delve into everything you need to be informed about pipe choices—relining vs pipe replacement, pointing out pipe relining as a key focus. We’ll outline each process, delineate the pros and cons of pipe relining and full replacement, and provide tips on what may best suit your Sydney home’s plumbing needs.

Overview of the Pipe Relining Process

Pipe relining is a trenchless method of renewing a used pipe without the need for excavation. It involves inserting a resin-impregnated liner into the existing pipe and curing it to form a new pipe within the old pipe. The liner bonds to the inner walls, sealing cracks and holes to restore full plumbing drainage integrity and prevent leaks.

Pipe relining has been successfully used for over 25 years to renew old, deteriorating pipes, positioning it as a viable option for pipe restoration. It is generally well-suited for pipes made of materials like concrete, clay, iron or PVC. Key benefits include:

• Minimal excavation needed, often resulting in repaired pipes that are stronger than new PVC, without the need to dig trenches or jackhammer floors.
• Less disruption - Quicker than replacement with less impact on surrounding areas
• Cost effective - Around 50% cheaper than full replacement
• Longevity - Make your pipes stronger, extending their lifespan by over 50 years

Pipe relining, often an essential sewer repair option, is excellent when pipes are damaged but still structurally sound. It prevents the need for full-scale pipe replacement projects, making it very popular for residential and commercial plumbing repairs.

Pipe Relining Procedure Step-by-Step

Outlined below is a step-by-step guide to the relining process used by plumbing professionals:

1. CCTV pipe inspection - First, a technician will thread a CCTV camera through the pipes to assess damage and determine if relining is suitable. The inspection also maps the pipe layout.
2. Pipe cleaning - The pipes, including sewer storm water conduits, are thoroughly cleaned using high-pressure water jets. All debris, including tree root intrusions, and rust buildup are removed to prepare the inner walls for relining.
3. Bypass pumping/flow diversion - Flow diversion temporarily reroutes sewage away from the section being relined to maintain service during repairs.
4. Liner installation - A technician inserts a fibreglass liner coated with epoxy resin into the pipe via an access point, using an inflatable bladder to position it correctly.
5. Liner curing - The epoxy resin is cured using hot water or steam, hardening the liner. The curing process can take just a few hours, streamlining the operation.
6. Service reconnection - After curing, lateral connections to branch lines are reinstated, restoring full functionality to your sewer system.
7. Final CCTV inspection - A camera ensures proper installation and smooth flows through the renewed pipes.

The complete sewer pipe relining process was efficient, usually being completed within one to two days and with limited disruption. There’s no significant digging or demolition required, making it a quick, effective pipe repair method.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pipe Relining

Why you should choose pipe relining: It offers several key advantages over full pipe replacement:

• Less expensive - Pipe relining costs are up to 50% less than the costs of traditional pipe replacement.
• Minimal digging - No need for the hassle of jackhammering floors or digging up deep trenches
• Faster installation - Can often be completed in 1-2 days
• Extended lifespan - A relined pipe lasts upwards of fifty years, comparable to new pipes
• Far more tidy - Causes less damage to your garden, landscaping, and structures

Potential pros and cons pipe relining techniques include:

• Higher upfront cost - Despite long-term savings, pipe relining materials can have a higher upfront cost than standard PVC.
• Limited sizes - Some larger pipes may need replacement
• Access required - Entry points like manholes are needed for installation

Overall, being informed about pipe relining reveals it as an affordable, long-lasting solution for your plumbing issues. It prevents the major demolition and repairs required with full pipe replacement projects. For residential plumbing issues, seeking pipe relining instead is what many professionals would highly recommend as the preferred trenchless repair method.

When Pipe Relining is Recommended

Pipe relining is recommended when:

• Pipes have minor cracks, pinholes or small root intrusions
• Joints are misaligned but overall pipe integrity is intact
• There are isolated breaks or leaks in sections deemed repairable by pipe experts

In these cases, the existing pipes are still structurally sound enough to support a trenchless relining. Your plumber at Pennant Hills Plumbing can use CCTV pipe inspection to thoroughly assess your damaged area and determine if relining is suitable.

Other good candidates for relining include pipes with:

• Buildup of mineral deposits or light corrosion
• Damage from freezing and thawing cycles
• Signs of early wear like discoloration or cracking

Catching pipe problems early allows drain relining to renew pipes before major collapses occur. Relining, especially when we employ used pipe relining techniques, is effective in how avoid future plumbing complications and extends the lifespan of pipes that still have many years of service left if repaired proactively.

For severely damaged or blocked drains that may damage your home’s infrastructure, full replacement may be needed. But in many situations, Choosing relining more often provides an affordable, minimally disruptive way to restore your plumbing system and prevent further damage.

Overview of the Pipe Replacement Process

Traditional pipe replacement involves the complete removal and installation of new pipes, presenting an alternative to pipe relining.

It is the more traditional method compared to trenchless relining.

Pipe replacement requires precise excavation to access, detach, and install a new segment of pipe.

This requires significant demolition of driveways, landscaping, floors, or walls depending on the method pipe repair location.

• Blocked broken pipe segments that are severely misaligned or shattered into fragments
• Pipes made from materials less durable than new PVC that cannot be relined
• Extensive damage or corrosion that has compromised structural integrity
• Failed relining attempts where the liner did not adhere properly

Replacement is often necessary for extensive water pipe systems, including sewer line mains that connect to municipal lines. Relining limits on material thickness can make it impractical for very large pipes.

Replacement’s primary advantage is the installation of new, durable pipes, although it is more expensive, disruptive, and time-consuming compared to other methods.

An expert assessment will select between pipe relining or replacement based on their differences to determine the optimal solution. Here at Pennant Hills Plumbing, we know We utilize in-depth CCTV inspections to provide an accurate diagnosis.

Pipe Replacement Procedure Step-by-Step

Replacing a pipe is a complex, multi-step process requiring proper planning and execution. Here is an overview of the full pipe replacement procedure:

1. Site evaluation - The site is thoroughly assessed to locate all pipes, determine pipe material and size, and identify any access challenges like landscaping or structures over the pipes.
2. Permit approval - Any required permits for excavation, traffic disruption, waste disposal etc. must be approved by local authorities.
3. Excavation - The ground is carefully dug out, got job done by exposing the full run of pipes to be replaced. This may require jackhammering right at your floors or cutting through landscaping.
4. Pipe detachment - The old pipes are disconnected from the plumbing system. Any liquid content is pumped out.
5. Pipe removal - The old pipes are extracted and disposed of properly.
6. Pipe installation - New pipes are lowered into the trench and put together segment-by-segment with fitted joints.
7. Pressure testing - The new pipes undergo pressurised leak testing before backfilling.
8. Trench backfilling - The trench above your sewer line is filled, providing a stable base for the old one with compacted gravel and soil.
9. Site restoration - Driveways, floors, and landscaping are cleaned up and restored to match the pre-existing conditions.

Full pipe replacement projects typically take several days to several weeks, depending on the pipe size and site conditions. They are highly involved, destructive processes compared to minimally invasive trenchless relining.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Pipe Replacement

Though more costly and disruptive, pipe replacement can offer some key advantages over alternative methods:

• Brand new pipes - Replacement provides fully new PVC pipe, long-lasting with a 50+ year lifespan.
• Ideal for severe damage - Total replacement is sometimes the only option if pipes are severely misaligned or corroded.
• Versatile materials - Pipes can be upgraded to better materials like PEX or copper.

The main downsides of pipe replacement include:

• Higher costs - Replacement averages around $150-$250 per linear foot, making it necessary to get job done effectively, 2-4 times more than relining.
• Major excavation - Significant demolition of driveways, walls and landscaping is required.
• Longer downtime - Projects typically take days or weeks versus 1-2 days for relining.

In summary, pursuing trenchless pipe relining more often provides a less invasive alternative, improving your life, whereas drain replacement brings the benefits of new pipes but at a higher cost. Relining offers major cost and disruption savings in scenarios where it is feasible. A professional inspection by a trusted plumber like Pennant Hills Plumbing is recommended to determine the best solution for your home or business.

When Pipe Replacement is Recommended

There are certain situations where full pipe replacement is the only viable solution, including:

• Complete pipe collapses or sections that have fully disintegrated
• Extensive damage from tree roots or ground shifting that has caused major misalignment
• Corrosion damage that has eaten away over 50% of the pipe wall thickness
• Asbestos cement pipes that have deteriorated to an unsafe level

Replacement may also be recommended, more often than not, if:

• The original pipes were poorly installed and now have major leaks or breaks
• You want to upgrade old metal pipes to more modern PEX or PVC piping
• Relining attempts have failed and the issues continue to persist

In these scenarios, the structural integrity of your piping is too compromised for relining to be effective. Complete removal and installation of new piping ensures the plumbing system will function reliably for decades.

Although pipe replacement costs considerably more than relining, it provides the peace of mind and long-term robustness that prompt many to consider pipe relining. The team at Pennant Hills Plumbing can perform a great job when inspecting your pipes and advise whether replacement or relining is the right solution.

Comparing Cost, Time and Longevity of Relining vs Replacement

When comes to deciding whether to reline or replace pipes, the three key factors to compare are cost, project duration, and lifespan.

Cost

Pipe relining costs approximately 50-60% less than full replacement. On average, relining costs $40-100 per linear foot compared to $150-250 per foot for replacement. For a 50 foot section of pipe, relining would cost $2,000 - $5,000 while replacement would be $7,500 - $12,500.

Project Duration

Pipe relining can usually be completed within 1-2 days with minimal disruption and no additional cost to the surrounding areas. Replacement projects typically end up consuming more time, often several weeks, due to the excavation and demolition involved.

Lifespan

Both relined and new pipes have lifespans exceeding 50 years if installed correctly, offering long-term reliability without frequent replacements. Epoxy resins create a lasting barrier, a pipe inside another, while new piping is equally durable.

In summary, the benefits pipe relining provides include significant cost and time savings over replacement, with comparable long-term performance. Relining, as a trenchless method of pipe repair, can reduce the need for major excavation while restoring pipes for decades of further service.

At Pennant Hills Plumbing, we ensure thorough diagnostics to establish if your blocked or damaged pipes might necessitate use them again are suitable candidates for our trenchless relining solutions. This minimally invasive option frequently renders it the preferred repair method for residential drain pipe systems.

How to Decide Between Relining and Replacement for Your Home

When faced with pipe issues, many Pennant Hills homeowners struggle to determine whether pipe relining or having their landscape dug up for full replacement is the best solution. Here are some tips on making the right decision for your plumbing system:

Start with a thorough pipe inspection. Well check for root intrusion, corrosion, cracks, misalignments and more. Our comprehensive diagnostics identify the exact locations and severity of any problems.

Pennant Hills Plumbing uses high-tech CCTV cameras to assess damage and determine if your pipes are structurally sound for relining.

Clay, concrete and galvanised steel pipes in underground sewer lines are top candidates for relining.

Compare costs. Weigh these potential savings against pipe damage.

Relining averages $40-$100 per linear foot while replacement runs $150-$250 per foot. For a 50 foot section, relining saves $2,500 to $7,500.

Ask about timeframe.

Discuss long-term outlook. Both relining and replacement have comparable 50+ year lifespans when done properly. This longevity means whichever option you choose, your pipes should last for decades.

The experienced plumbers at Pennant Hills Plumbing will provide the guidance we love to share on whether pipe relining or replacement is best for your home; give us call for further support. Contact us today for a personalised consultation about renewing your plumbing system.