I hear you on the environmental side of things—less digging is a big deal, especially if you’ve got landscaping you want to keep. But I’ve noticed with liners, if the prep work isn’t spot-on or the installer cuts corners, you’re way more likely to get those failures at the joints. PVC’s not perfect either, but at least you can see every connection as it goes in. Guess it’s a tradeoff... depends on how much you trust the crew doing the job.
“PVC’s not perfect either, but at least you can see every connection as it goes in. Guess it’s a tradeoff... depends on how much you trust the crew doing the job.”
That’s exactly what made me nervous about liners. When we had our old clay pipes relined, I spent way too much time hovering and asking questions—probably annoyed the crew, but I wanted to see how careful they were with the joints and curing. I’ve read too many stories about rushed prep leading to leaks or even collapsed liners down the line.
On the flip side, I get what you mean about PVC. During a neighbor’s replacement, you could literally see every joint and check for gaps or bad glue jobs before they buried it. But then you’re tearing up the yard, and in my case, we’ve got native plants I really didn’t want to lose.
Did you notice any difference in how the liner handled root intrusion over time? I’m curious if the seamless aspect really holds up, or if roots eventually find a way in at the connections anyway.
Honestly, I’m a bit skeptical about the “seamless” liner claims too. I’ve seen a couple jobs where roots still managed to sneak in at the transition points, especially where the liner meets the old pipe or at the cleanout. Prep work is everything, but it’s tough to know for sure unless you’re watching like a hawk. PVC isn’t perfect, but at least you can inspect every connection before it’s covered up. Sometimes I wonder if the disruption is worth that peace of mind...
PVC isn’t perfect, but at least you can inspect every connection before it’s covered up. Sometimes I wonder if the disruption is worth that peace of mind...
I get where you're coming from, but honestly, the liner was way less hassle for me than digging up half the yard. I watched the install pretty closely and made sure they sealed the ends tight—no roots since (knock on wood). With PVC, I’d have had to tear up my driveway. For me, the mess wasn’t worth it. Guess it depends how much you trust the crew and how bad the roots are.
I totally get the appeal of not having to dig up the whole yard—my neighbor went with a liner too, and his place looked untouched after. I’m just the type who likes to see every joint before it’s buried forever. Maybe it’s paranoia, but I’ve seen one too many “mystery leaks” pop up years later. If I ever go the liner route, I’ll probably hover like a hawk during install... just in case.
