In most cases, yes. If your pipe is cracked, leaking, root-damaged or corroded, but still holds its shape and can be reached from an access point, it can usually be relined. Relining won't work on a pipe that has collapsed, crushed or lost a section.
If you've had the same drain blocked for the third time this year, you've probably wondered whether there's a better fix than another clear-out. There often is. This guide explains what can be relined, what can't, and how to find out for sure before you spend a cent on the wrong repair.
Sydney Drain Surgeons always explains the process of pipe repair service. It is also called a sewer reline or cured-in-place pipe lining, which creates a new pipe inside your old one. It's a type of trenchless pipe relining, which means the repair happens from inside the pipe, instead of by digging a trench along its length.
In simple terms, here's how it works:
The finished liner has no joints for roots to enter, and its smooth surface helps waste move through. You can see the full process on our pipe relining Sydney page.
Whether your pipe qualifies depends on three things: its condition, its shape and whether the liner can get through it. Here are the common problems, and whether relining is usually the answer.
| What the camera finds | Can it be relined? | Notes |
| Cracks and hairline fractures | Usually yes | A classic relining job. The liner seals the cracks |
| Leaking or open joints | Usually yes | The liner covers the joint, so water and roots stay out |
| Tree root intrusion | Yes, after clearing | Roots are cut and jetted out first. See how tree roots get into sewer pipes |
| Corroded or scaling cast iron | Usually yes | The liner restores a smooth, sealed surface |
| Minor misalignment or small offset joints | Often | Depends on how big the step is. The camera decides |
| Sagging pipe that holds water (a "belly") | Not on its own | A liner follows the old shape, so the dip stays. That section may need replacing |
| Fully collapsed or crushed pipe | No | There's nothing sound for the liner to bond to |
| Broken or missing section | No | The section has to be replaced first |
common pipe materials
Most common drain materials can be relined, including clay, concrete, PVC, copper and cast iron. Many older Sydney homes have clay or cast iron sewer lines laid decades ago, and those are the pipes that tend to crack, corrode or let roots in. The right resin and liner depend on the pipe's condition, diameter and environment, which is another reason to start with a camera.
An old pipe doesn't automatically need to be dug up and replaced. What matters most is the condition of your pipe as it is now, not how many years it has been in the ground. A pipe that's decades old but still sound can often be relined, while a younger pipe with serious damage may not be.
Inspection comes first. Before anyone recommends relining, the pipe needs to be inspected so the location and extent of the damage are known. That's why we start with a camera, and why we'd rather show you the footage than guess from the age of your house.
Relining suits pipes that are hard or expensive to dig up, such as:
If your problem is recurring blockages, it's often a good fit. See our guide to blocked sewer repair for what else can cause repeat blockages.
A good plumber will tell you when relining isn't the right fix. A liner needs a sound pipe to bond to, so relining won't work when:
In those cases, spot excavation and replacement of just the failed section is usually the answer. Often the rest of the line can still be relined, so you only dig where you have to.
Start with a CCTV drain camera inspection to show if the pipe material, cracks, roots, offsets, sags and blockages, and it's the only reliable way to tell a relining job from a replacement.
See our CCTV drain camera inspections for what to expect. Signs that it's time to book one include:
We are drainage specialists serving Sydney and Wollongong. Our pipe relining always starts with a camera drain inspection to see exactly what's going on and whether relining will work or it needs replacement.
Get in touch with our Sydney local plumber for all your pipe issues. Enquire today.
