The trouble with most pipes is that they are located in awkward places, often out of sight. They are put there intentionally because they exist to do a job, and not to be admired. That’s fine in the normal way of things, but when a pipe is damaged, it can go undetected for a long time – until things turn unpleasant. So, what are the signs a drain needs relining?
Let’s clear up the wording here. Relining? Yes, relining. This is the state-of-the-art way of fixing a broken pipe. In many cases you don’t have to dig down to get at it, you just seal it from the inside. That’s called relining. We’ll come back to that in a minute, but first: signs a drain needs relining. In other words, signs a drain pipe is cracked or broken.
When a drain pipe is damaged, the signs aren’t always obvious at first. Slow drainage, frequent blockages, or water backing up in sinks, showers, or toilets can all indicate an issue. Unpleasant odours coming from drains are another red flag. This often means wastewater isn’t flowing as it should, possibly due to cracks, tree root intrusion, or a collapsed section of pipe.
Gurgling sounds when water drains can also be a warning sign. This happens when air gets trapped in the system due to cracks or blockages. In some cases, you might notice damp patches in your yard or water pooling near outdoor drains, suggesting a leak underground. Ignoring these problems can lead to more serious issues like soil erosion or structural damage. That’s why it is so important to look for leaks and to notice and deal with any you find by calling a plumber.
If you’re experiencing any of these warning signs, it may be time to consider drain relining before the problem worsens.
In the case of a clean water pipe, which is likely to be taking water into the house, you may experience a drop in pressure. There just isn’t the lively water action when you turn on the tap or the shower. When this happens, most people think it is just one of those things: the water company must be having problems. Development in the area may be increasing demand and there is only so much to go around.
If you’re the sort of person who likes to solve things and believes it’s usually something simple, you may check that the stopcock is fully open, even if you don’t know who would have been messing with it. But if the low-pressure problem persists and there is no logical explanation, you might want to start looking for other signs. If there was a leak indoors you would soon know about it, because water spreads quickly and can cause all sorts of damage. That’s why it is so important to look for leaks and to notice and deal with any you find by calling a plumber. Is there a gurgling sound when water goes down the drain? Is the drainage inconsistent or slow?
Telltale Signs Outside the Building
But what about outside? If there is a wet patch in the yard or garden where it is usually dry, there might be a leak under there. Sometimes you can see signs of a leak (including cracks caused by water destabilising material and then drying; other times you can hear something. You might also be able to smell it. If it is clean water, you may just smell some mould or decay where water is getting into areas it shouldn’t. If it is grey water (from the shower, washing machine, washing up etc) there may be that unpleasant but not foul sort of grey “drain” smell. Worst of all, of course, is if it’s an effluent pipe, in which case the place may start to smell like a particularly foul farmyard.
How Drain Relining Minimises Disruption
Relining a drain may just be the most innovative development in the plumbing industry in history. How it works is the contractor works inside the pipeline, from a convenient point. They coat the inside with a resin that seals cracks and breaks and is then “cured” or hardened, so what you get is effectively a new pipe inside the existing one. Not only that, but the resin lining is stronger than the sort of PVC pipes that are commonly used these days. It can last more than 50 years.
As a bonus, drain relining doesn’t require a lot of excavation, so you won’t have diggers wrecking your lawn or driveway in a good cause. They may have to do a little digging to establish a good place to work from, but from there on it’s internal, like keyhole surgery.
So if you find signs a drain needs relining, don’t worry, this won’t hurt a bit.
At J.O. Plumbing we are experts in relining pipes and drains. Request a quote today to see if drain relining in Melbourne is the right option for you.
