Pipe Inspections

When an underground pipe fails, you often face two options: reline it from the inside or dig it up and put a new one in its place, and neither is a safe default.  If you choose relining because it costs less and is minimally invasive, even when the damage calls for a complete replacement, you end up paying for a repair that won’t last long. Similarly, going for a replacement when relining can fix the damage just right, you pay more, dig up more, and wait longer for something that could’ve been a same-day job.  So the right call comes down to the type of pipe, how deep the issue is, where it sits on your property, etc. In this guide, we’ll weigh these factors side by side, along with the cost and lifespan of each fix, to help you decide when you should reline vs. replace your pipes.  TL;DR What Is Pipe Relining? Pipe relining, also known as Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining, repairs damaged sewer pipes without digging. Instead of replacing the entire pipe, plumbers repair it from the inside by creating a new pipe within the existing one.  What Is the Process of Pipe Relining? What Types of Pipes Can Be Relined?  Pipe relining works on almost any drain or sewer pipe, as long as the line still holds its basic shape and has enough structural integrity to support the liner.  The types of pipes that can be relined include:  What Are the Benefits of Pipe Relining? What Are The Limitations of Pipe Relining? What Is Pipe Replacement? Pipe replacement is an invasive repair method that involves excavating the ground, extracting the damaged sewer or stormwater pipe, and installing a new one in its place. Unlike pipe relining, replacement removes the existing pipe rather than repairing it from the inside. What Is the Process of Pipe Replacement? What Are the Benefits of Pipe Replacement? What Are the Limitations of Pipe Replacement? Key Differences Between Pipe Relining and Pipe Replacement Factor Pipe Relining Pipe Replacement Cost (Townsville) $3,000-$10,000+ for residential jobs, starting from around $2,000–$3,500 for smaller 1–2m repairs. Roughly 30–50% less than replacement $6,000–$12,000+, pushed higher by excavation, soil removal, and surface restoration Time on-site 1 day (6–10 hours), covering cleaning, lining, curing, and a final CCTV check 2–3 days, covering excavation, pipe removal, installation, testing, and backfill Lifespan 40–60 years for a properly installed liner 50–100+ years, depending on material, installation quality, and soil conditions Council permit Required for below-ground drainage work over 3m Same requirement applies When Is Pipe Relining the Better Option? Pipe relining is the best option in the following situations:  When Is Pipe Replacement the Better Option? Pipe replacement becomes the necessary choice in the following situations: Final Thoughts: How to Know Which Pipe Repair Option Is Best For You You now know what signs point to relining and what point to replacement. But knowing the signs isn’t the same as knowing which ones are actually true for your pipe. And you can’t settle that from looking at the surface only.  That’s why, at 1Touch Plumbing, we start every sewer/drain repair job with a CCTV inspection to locate the damage. Then use high-pressure hydro jetting to clear roots, scale, and debris so the pipe’s condition is fully exposed. From there we tell you whether pipe relining or replacement will make most sense for you.  Contact us today for honest advice on your sewer/drain pipe repair. FAQs Can a collapsed pipe be relined? No. Relining requires the existing pipe to maintain its shape so the liner can bond to the host pipe during curing. A fully collapsed or missing section leaves no pathway for the liner to pass through and no support for it. Can tree roots grow through a relined pipe? No. A seamless CIPP liner has no joints for roots to enter. It also seals cracks and gaps that allowed roots to enter the original pipe. Can you use your plumbing during pipe relining? No. You cannot use the affected plumbing during active installation and curing, which typically takes 3–6 hours. You may also need to heavily limit water use for 24–72 hours after installation. Your plumber will tell you when you can safely resume normal use. Will insurance cover pipe replacement? Generally, standard home insurance does not cover the cost of replacing the pipe itself. However, your policy may cover resulting water damage when the pipe breaks suddenly and accidentally. Check your policy and speak with your insurer before committing to the repair. 

Pipe relining is a trenchless, non-invasive method to fix damaged sewer and drain pipes. Instead of tearing up your yard, driveway, or floors, plumbers insert a resin-coated liner into the existing pipe. Once it hardens, it forms a strong, seamless pipe within a pipe that can last 40–60 years. It’s commonly used to stop leaks, block tree roots, and improve slow drains without the mess and cost of traditional excavation. In Townsville, this method is especially useful because many older homes have earthenware or early PVC pipes joined in sections. During the wet season, soil shifts and tree roots can push into these joints, causing cracks, leaks, and blockages. Relining solves this by creating a continuous, joint-free inner pipe, so roots can’t get in, and your plumbing flows smoothly. Pipe Relining Cost: What You Should Expect to Pay In Townsville, most residential pipe relining jobs cost between $3,000 and $10,000+. Plumbers typically quote you in one of two ways: Key Factors That Affect Price At 1touch Plumbing, we offer upfront pricing with no hidden surprises, so you can plan your relining job with confidence and know exactly what you’re paying for. How Pipe Relining Works: What Happens Step by Step 1. CCTV Inspection and Damage Assessment The first step is to inspect the inside of the pipe using a specialised drain camera to see exactly what’s wrong and confirm whether relining will work. Here’s what the technician does during the inspection: In these cases, excavation and pipe replacement may be required. 2. High-Pressure Cleaning and Pipe Preparation Once the CCTV inspection confirms the pipe is suitable for relining, the next step is to thoroughly clean and prepare it.  Any grease, roots, or mineral buildup left inside can stop the resin from bonding properly, so the pipe must be cleared before the liner goes in. Here’s how plumbers get it ready: 3. Measuring the Pipe and Preparing the Liner Once the pipe is clean and ready, the plumber prepares the liner, which is the material that will become the new pipe inside the old one.  Here’s what happens: 4. Installing the Liner Inside the Pipe Now it is time to insert the resin-soaked liner into the existing pipe. Plumbers typically use one of two methods, depending on the pipe layout and access points. 1. Inversion method (turned inside out into the pipe) In this method, the liner is placed into a pressurised container called an inversion drum. Compressed air or water pushes the liner into the pipe while turning it inside out as it moves forward. Inside out means the resin-coated side of the liner, which will form the new pipe wall, ends up pressed against the inside of the old pipe, while the plain side faces the centre.  This method is especially useful for pipes with bends, because the pressure helps the liner bend and follow the curves without wrinkling or folding. 2. Pull-in-place method For straight pipes or small repairs, a cable or winch line is first fed through the pipe. The prepared liner is attached to this cable and pulled into the exact position where the damage is located.  Once the liner is in place, the plumber uses the CCTV camera to confirm the liner is positioned correctly and fully covering the damaged section before the curing process begins. 5. Inflating the Liner to Shape the New Pipe Once the resin-soaked liner is in place, it needs to be pressed firmly against the inside of the old pipe so it forms a strong new pipe wall. Plumbers do this by inserting a long inflatable tube, called a calibration tube or bladder, inside the liner. Compressed air or water is pumped into the tube using specialised equipment on the truck at the work site. As the bladder inflates, it pushes the liner tightly against the pipe walls, ensuring the resin spreads evenly and seals all cracks and damaged joints. 6. Curing the Resin With the liner held tightly in place, now it is time to turn the liquid resin inside the liner into a strong, solid pipe lining. In warm climates like Townsville, the resin can sometimes cure naturally over a few hours because higher temperatures speed up the hardening process. However, to complete the job faster and more reliably, plumbers often circulate hot water or steam through the inflated bladder. The added heat helps the resin cure evenly along the entire length of the liner. Once curing is complete, the liner hardens into a rigid, seamless pipe inside the old one. The original pipe becomes a protective shell, while the newly cured lining carries the wastewater flow. 7. Reopening Branch Connections After the new liner is in place, it covers the points where smaller pipes – from toilets, showers, or sinks – connect to the main sewer line. These connections need to be reopened so water can flow from every fixture. Plumbers do this using a small, remote-controlled cutting tool with a camera. The technician navigates the tool to each connection using the CCTV footage and locations from the initial inspection. The cutting head then precisely opens a hole in the liner that matches the size of the branch pipe. This restores the connection while keeping the inside of the pipe smooth and even, so wastewater flows freely without getting caught on rough edges. 8. Final CCTV Inspection and Verification After the new liner is cured, plumbers perform a final CCTV inspection to make sure the repair is done correctly. A camera is sent through the full length of the pipe to check that the liner is smooth, fully bonded to the old pipe walls, and free of wrinkles or gaps. The technician also runs water from toilets, showers, sinks, and other fixtures to confirm every branch connection is open and the pipe flows properly.  Finally, you usually receive a digital recording of the inspection. This acts as proof of the work and is often supported by long-term warranties for both the liner and the installation, giving