Sometimes pipes break or fall out of alignment. In these situations, the most straightforward way to resolve the problem is through the use of drain lining.
There are different kinds of drain lining available. Polyester resin felt liners are often used for pipes all the way up to 600mm in diameter. The liner is inserted into the pipe and then inflated. It is then left to ‘cure’.
Epoxy flexi lines may also be used. These can follow bends, but basically work in the same way. This kind of liner can prove useful where cracks have opened up at joints. The liner will restore the integrity of the pipe and prevent leakage of any kind.
Any pipe treated with a liner will lose a certain amount in terms of its diameter. However, the flow rate should be greater as the pipe is now effectively one solid section, rather than many shorter sections connected together with the associated flaws at each join. While it is sometimes necessary to excavate and replace whole sections of piping, a liner will typically increase flow rate by as much as 15 per cent.
