Post-Relining Maintenance: Tips for Keeping Your Pipes Healthy

If your pipes have recently been relined, congratulations! Pipe relining is an efficient and effective way to repair plumbing issues and extend the life of aging pipes. By coating the inside pipes with epoxy resin, relining can prevent leaks, blockages, and damage without requiring invasive replacements. However, proper maintenance is crucial to get the maximum lifespan from your newly relined pipes.

Relined pipes still require care and attention to keep them clear and prevent new issues from arising. Skipping post-relining maintenance can lead to costly clogs, leaks, and even failure. The good news is that keeping your relined plumbing healthy is easy when you follow some simple tips.

In this blog post, we’ll share expert advice from plumbers on maintaining your pipes after a relining project. With these practical maintenance actions, your pipes will stay in great shape for decades to come. Read on to learn how to protect your investment and keep your pipes running smoothly.

Monitor Water Pressure

Keeping an eye on your home’s water pressure is important to maintaining relined pipes. Dramatic fluctuations in water pressure can place excess stress on pipes, causing leaks or bursts over time.

Plumbers recommend installing a water pressure gauge on your main water line. This allows you to monitor pressure and ensure it stays within a safe range of 45-60 PSI. Consistent water pressure in this range reduces strain on pipes.

Check the pressure gauge regularly. If you notice spikes, like pressure over 80 PSI, or drops below 40 PSI, this indicates an issue. Work with a plumber to identify and correct the problem. Sources may include faulty pressure regulators, rusty pipes restricting flow, or problems with your home’s water supply.

Stabilising water pressure prevents damage to relined pipes from pressure swings. Monitoring pressure helps you catch problems early before they worsen. With a gauge installed, maintaining healthy water pressure is an easy way to keep pipes in good shape.

Avoid Pouring Fats, Oils, And Harsh Chemicals Down Drains

Oils and fats will gradually build up on pipe walls, causing clogs and blockages. Chemical drain cleaners, bleach, paint, and aggressive soap scum removers will corrode and degrade the epoxy lining.

Instead, collect any used oils and fats in containers and discard them with your regular trash. Scrape plates of fatty foods like meat, butter, and sauce into the garbage before washing. Use safer natural options like baking soda and vinegar instead of caustic commercial products for chemical drain cleaning. Run hot water while pouring mild dish or hand soap to prevent build-up.

Never use harsh chemicals like paint thinner near drains. Always check product labels to avoid those marked “corrosive” or “toxic.” This keeps dangerous chemicals away from your relined pipes.

Following these best practices protects the integrity of the epoxy lining, preventing costly damages or failures. Avoid pouring the wrong liquids down drains to maximise your pipes’ lifespan.

Use Drain Strainers To Catch Hair And Food

Drain strainers are an essential tool for keeping relined pipes clear of clogs. Place strainers in the sinks, tubs, and showers that are most used. These devices catch hair, food scraps, and other debris before it drains. This prevents build-up on pipe walls that could impede water flow.

Clean strainers regularly by removing the catcher and emptying any collected gunk into the trash. Look for larger items like hair scrunchies or wet wipes that could cause a clog.

Use strainers that attach right to the bottom of the drain for kitchen sinks. Empty these strainers into the trash whenever washing dishes or cleaning the sink to catch all food particles.

Using drain strainers develops a good maintenance habit and keeps drains clear. With effortless regular cleaning, strainers stop harmful accumulation that damages relined pipes. Invest in quality strainers and make them part of your routine.

Schedule Annual Drain Cleanings

Even with great maintenance habits, it’s wise to schedule professional drain cleanings once a year. Over time, relined pipes can still collect grease, soap scum, mineral deposits, and other subtle build-up. This slowly reduces drainage capacity.

Annual cleanings prevent minor accumulations from becoming major blockages. A drain technician will snake the pipes, scrub away filmy residue, and rinse with high-pressure water jets. For the most thorough cleaning, have drains cleared before wet seasons when drainage gets heavy use. Schedule appointments in the fall to prepare for winter or in spring to avoid summer clogs.

The small investment of an annual cleaning can prevent emergency drain repairs down the road. It removes grime that regular DIY maintenance misses. Keep your receipts for insurance purposes as well.

Stay ahead of problems with professional drain cleanings and keep your relined pipes cleared for the long haul. Schedule this essential yearly maintenance now.

Watch For Any Leaks And Damp Spots

Keep an eye out for any signs of moisture or dripping around your relined pipes. Leaks indicate a failure in the epoxy coating.

Inspect the areas around water fixtures, pipes, and drains regularly. Look for water spots or drips on walls, under sinks, and on ceilings below bathrooms. Check for damp spots or musty smells, which may indicate hidden leaks inside walls. Watch for warped cabinets, peeling paint, or bubbling on surfaces.

If you detect a leak, take action immediately. Capture any dripping water in a bucket to prevent damage. Turn off the water valves to stop the flow. Call a plumber to identify the leak source and repair the epoxy lining.

Unaddressed leaks can erode pipes and surrounding materials. But by watching for symptoms, you can get them fixed before major destruction occurs. Don’t ignore any signs of moisture. Catch leaks early to keep relined pipes in top shape.

Know The Signs Of Blockages Like Gurgling Drains

Keeping an eye out for any signs of clogging in your newly relined pipes is important. Blockages that restrict water flow can cause problems over time if left unchecked. Be on the lookout for common symptoms of a clog, such as gurgling noises emanating from drains.

This occurs when air pockets form in partially blocked pipes. Additionally, watch for sinks or tubs that drain slowly rather than flow freely, indicating an obstruction. Standing water that takes time to drain from sinks or tubs is also a red flag.

Sewage odours that seem to come from your drains can mean gases from a clog are seeping upwards. Finally, toilets that bubble up or overflow may signify a blockage further downstream.

Don’t ignore these warning signs that a minor clog could soon worsen into a complete blockage. Take action at the very first gurgles you hear to proactively unclog drains and restore proper water flow before an obstruction worsens. Useful methods for clearing clogs include using a plumber’s snake, drain auger, or natural drain cleaners.

Use Root Killers To Prevent Roots From Invading Exterior Pipes

Tree roots pose a common threat to the integrity of exterior water and sewer lines. Seeking water, tree roots can worm into tiny cracks or joints in pipes, leading to leaks, blockages, and pipe damage over time.

For relined pipes, it is crucial to take preventative action against destructive root growth. Applying an annual root killer treatment provides an easy safeguard. Root killers dissolve the intruding roots and create an inhospitable environment inside pipes.

Look for copper sulphate- or sodium hydroxide-based solutions. Follow product instructions for application around the pipe perimeter. The small investment of an annual root killer treatment can prevent thousands in emergency repairs from root invasions down the road.

Be proactive against roots to maximise your relined pipes’ trouble-free lifespan. Maintaining a root-free sewer line also prevents messy sewage backups in your home. Protect your relined pipes with regular rootkiller treatments.

Keep Your Pipes in Peak Shape with Proper Post-Relining Care

Proper maintenance is key to getting the most out of your relined pipes. You can keep your pipes in optimal shape by monitoring pressure, avoiding pipe-damaging products, using drain strainers, scheduling annual cleanings, watching for leaks, clearing clogs quickly, and preventing root invasions. While relining provides a like-new upgrade to aging plumbing, the pipes still require vigilant care and attention.

Following these tips from our professional plumbers at WP Plumbing will help safeguard your investment in our relining services. We want your pipes to provide many more years of reliable service. Don’t let neglect undo the benefits of relining. Take the time to keep your pipes healthy and your home safe.

If you need any help inspecting, maintaining, or repairing your relined pipes, contact the experts at WP Plumbing today. Our skilled team is always available for routine maintenance, drain cleaning, leak detection, and any other plumbing needs. We want to help our customers protect their plumbing investments. Get in touch with WP Plumbing to keep your pipes running like new.