CIPP lining really is a game changer, but man, that price tag stings at first. I held out for years patching things up with root killers and the occasional auger, but it always felt like putting duct tape on a leaky boat. Once I finally did the lining, I stopped getting those 2am panic attacks every time it rained hard. Only thing I’d say is, make sure whoever does it actually cameras the line before and after—had a buddy get burned by a shoddy job once. Worth every penny if it’s done right though.
Only thing I’d say is, make sure whoever does it actually cameras the line before and after—had a buddy get burned by a shoddy job once.
That’s a solid point about the camera work. I’ve seen some contractors try to skip that step, which honestly makes me nervous. Did you compare quotes from a few places before pulling the trigger? I keep wondering if the higher price always means better quality, or if it’s just markup. Also, did you notice any difference in water flow after the lining was done, or was it pretty much the same as before? Just trying to figure out what to expect if I finally go for it...
Honestly, I’m not convinced the camera thing is always necessary if you’re just dealing with a basic clog or backup. Had a plumber out last year for something similar—he snaked the line and cleared it up, no cameras, and it’s been fine since. Not saying skip it if you’re lining the pipe or doing major work, but sometimes they push those extras to pad the bill.
- Got three quotes last time. The cheapest guy actually did the best job, go figure.
- Higher price doesn’t always mean better work. Sometimes it’s just a bigger company with more overhead.
- Water flow was about the same after, but honestly, I think some of these fixes are overkill unless your pipe’s really shot.
If you’re on a budget, maybe try a good cleaning first before jumping to lining or anything major. Just my two cents…
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a few cases where skipping the camera actually meant missing a bigger issue. Like, one time we thought it was just a clog, but the camera showed a cracked pipe that would’ve kept backing up no matter how many times we snaked it. Not saying you always need it for every little backup, but if it keeps happening, that extra look can save some headaches down the line. Sometimes the “extras” aren’t just upsells… depends on the situation, I guess.
Had a similar situation last year—customer kept getting backups, and every time we’d snake it, things would clear up for a bit, then right back to square one. They were convinced it was just hair or grease, but after the third call I pushed for a camera inspection. Turned out there was a section of pipe that had collapsed under the slab. Not saying cameras are always necessary, but sometimes they really do pay off, especially if you’re seeing repeat issues. Otherwise, you’re just treating the symptoms, not the cause.