Blocked drains and sewers are among the most common plumbing problems faced by home and business owners in Sydney. Often property owners take to plungers, drain rods, and chemical openers to unblock overflowing toilets and sinks. Such DIYs may offer a temporary respite to the blockages, but it usually pushes the blockage further down the pipes, escalating the issue until it comes back with a vengeance.
Sewer drain blockages, if ignored, eventually damage pipes, widening cracks and causing breakages. Recurring drain blockages must be inspected by a professional plumber who can get to the root of the issue with a CCTV drain camera inspection. It locates the source of the blockage that may be caused by accumulated dirt, debris, waste, or tree root intrusion.
At this stage if you’re already calculating the thousands of dollars you will need to replace or repair damaged sewer pipes, then you can relax. Now you have an affordable alternative to broken and leaking pipes with the no-dig sewer pipe relining technology!
This technology gives you a perfectly repaired sewer without excavation at half the cost of traditional pipe replacement. From repairing isolated sections of your sewer pipes to pipe rehabilitation for old and worn-down pipes, it’s the best solution for damaged sewer pipes.
What is Sewer Pipe Relining?
Sewer pipe relining involves creating a new pipe inside your old one by inserting an epoxy-soaked liner. The liner hardens and sets, covering the leaks and breakages to give you a fully repaired drain pipe 4 times stronger than PVC.
How Does Sewer Pipe Relining Work?
The process is surprisingly straightforward but must be handled by a licensed, fully-trained professional to ensure a long-lasting result. Here’s how the typical pipe relining journey unfolds:
Inspection:
A CCTV drain camera is first sent down your pipes to pinpoint the exact source and location of the problem—be it a stubborn blockage, cracks, or tree root intrusion.
Drain Clearing:
Once the culprit is identified, high-pressure water jets or other pipe-clearing tools are used to remove debris and obstructions. A second inspection ensures the pipe is spotless, which is essential for a strong bond with the new liner.
Relining Preparation:
A felt liner is saturated with a special epoxy resin. This resin is the magic ingredient that will form your new, ultra-durable pipe within the old one.
Insertion:
Using a specialised inversion drum, the resin-soaked liner is carefully blown through the damaged pipe. As it unrolls, it’s inverted to fit perfectly along the internal walls.
Curing:
The liner is left to cure—either at room temperature or with the help of hot water or steam. As it hardens, it forms a seamless, watertight barrier inside your existing pipe.
Finishing Touches:
Any junctions or inspection pits that have been covered by the new liner are cut out and cleared, restoring full function to every branch and connection.
Final Inspection:
A last camera check confirms that the relined pipe is smooth, strong, and leak-free—ready to serve your home or business for decades to come.
As long as the pipe’s outer shell is intact, and the water flow function is not disrupted, sewer pipe lining provides the most effective solution to repair damaged drain pipes. When the pipe is crushed, broken, or has shifted away from the main line, excavation and pipe replacement are more feasible.
Are There Any Limitations to Pipe Relining?
While pipe relining technology is a game-changer for most damaged pipes, it does have its limitations. If the damage is too extensive—such as large internal gaps, severe misalignment, or major sections missing—the liner simply can’t mould itself into a stable structure. In these cases, a traditional dig-and-replace method is unavoidable.
For pipes with only minimal damage or smaller isolated gaps, a process known as pipe patching can be used. Pipe patching targets specific trouble spots, sealing them without the need for full relining or invasive excavation. This makes it a practical option for localized repairs when the rest of the pipe is still in good condition.
Why Should Pipe Relining Only Be Done by Licensed Professionals?
While pipe relining offers an excellent, long-lasting fix for damaged sewer pipes, it’s not a job for just any handyman with a toolkit. Relining requires specialised skills, advanced equipment, and a trained eye to ensure the process is carried out safely and correctly. Mistakes during installation—like improper liner placement or using the wrong materials—can lead to leaks or even necessitate costly future repairs.
Licensed professionals bring technical expertise and follow strict industry standards to get the job done right the first time. By choosing a certified pipe relining specialist, you not only protect your plumbing system but also ensure that your investment in trenchless technology delivers all its promised benefits.
How Long Does Sewer Pipe Relining Take?
One of the biggest advantages of sewer pipe relining is the speed of the process. In most residential and small commercial cases, the entire relining procedure can be completed in a single day. This means you won’t be dealing with ongoing disruptions or long-term mess. Once the new liner is inserted and cured, your pipes are ready for use—no waiting around for days on end like with traditional excavation and replacement methods. This quick turnaround gets your plumbing back to normal faster, so you can get on with your day.
What is Pipe Patching—and When is it the Best Option?
While pipe relining is a powerful solution for many damaged drains, it isn’t always suitable for every scenario. If a sewer pipe has major internal gaps or sections that have collapsed, relining might not be possible because the liner can’t form a stable structure.
But what happens when the damage is less severe? That’s where pipe patching steps in. Pipe patching is ideal for pipes that have minor cracks, holes, or small gaps. Instead of lining the entire pipe, the repair focuses just on the problematic section. A resin-soaked patch is positioned over the damaged spot and allowed to harden, sealing the issue without the need for digging or replacing the whole pipe.
In short, pipe patching is a targeted fix for localized damage—quick, cost-effective, and designed to keep your drains flowing smoothly without major disruption.
Why Get Trenchless Pipe Repair For Your Sewer Pipes?
1. A Permanent Solution for Damaged Pipes
Relining sewer pipes offers a permanent solution to repair broken or leaking pipes. It has a life expectancy of 50 years, giving newly reinforced pipes at half the cost of new pipe replacement. Pipe rehabilitation gets rid of recurring drain blockages caused and leakages caused by holes, cracks, and tree root intrusion.
2. No Need For Expensive Excavation
Pipe relining technology is trenchless. The pipes can be accessed via the drain opening, a manhole, or a small temporary opening that can be closed after the work is completed. That means there’s no need for expensive excavation equipment and thousands of dollars in labour costs to reach the underground pipes.
3. Improved Functionality
When the existing sewer pipes are relined, it creates a smooth surface that fills in all the gaps and cracks, providing improved functionality and durability. It minimises the chances of root intrusion, leaks, and blockages for a longer period, improving water flow and performance.
4. Cheaper Than Conventional Pipe Repair
Convention pipe replacement is costly and time-consuming. While the actual replacement process may be cheaper than the pipe relining equipment, the labour and excavation cost alone is double that of the entire pipe relining process. It also does not include the damage to your gardens, yards, pavement, and driveway.
Pipe rehabilitation is not only quick but a more economical and long-term solution to pipe repair and replacement.
5. A Complete Repair Solution
Trenchless sewer pipe repair is versatile and flexible. It can be done on lateral, horizontal, and vertical pipes and isolated sections or patches with junction and joint repair. Pipe relining technicians use state-of-the-art technology like robotic cutters, CCTV cameras, and hydro drain jets to cut through obstructions and prepare a smooth surface for the relining process.
Sewer Pipe Relining Specialists Sydney
Ready Set Reline are Sydney’s leading pipe relining experts. We use the latest Brawoliner pipe relining technology compliant with Australian Standards for flawless and long-term results. If you’re looking for reliable sewer pipe relining services near you, get in touch with us for quality services that guarantee satisfaction.
