Cured-in-place liners have come a long way compared to what they were 10-15 years ago. Early on, there were a lot of failures—bad installs, resin issues, you name it. But the materials and methods have definitely improved. If your liner's lasted six years without trouble, that's not just luck in my experience. Most reputable suppliers now offer warranties for at least ten years, sometimes more.
One thing to watch out for: if the pipe's already collapsed or severely misshapen, CIPP isn't a magic fix. It needs some structure to bond to. And roots can still be an issue if they're not properly cut out before lining—I've seen liners get punctured by aggressive roots when the prep wasn't done right.
But for Orangeburg replacement? It's honestly one of the better options if you can't or don't want to dig everything up. Just make sure whoever does it actually knows what they're doing... that's where most problems start.
Had a liner put in after roots wrecked my rental’s old clay pipe. Installer did a solid job with the prep—snaked and hydro-jetted everything first. Six years later, still no issues. I do wonder if it’s just luck, or if the new resins are that much better now.
I do wonder if it’s just luck, or if the new resins are that much better now.
Honestly, a bit of both. The newer resins are way tougher than what we had even a decade ago—think superhero suit for your pipes. But prep work is still king. Hydro-jetting and snaking before lining? That’s like flossing before you brush—makes everything stick better.
Seen liners last 10+ years easy when installed right, but I’ve also had to dig up “miracle” liners that failed in half that time because someone rushed the cleaning. Roots are stubborn little jerks, but if they can’t get a grip, they usually move on to torment your neighbor instead.
Six years without issues is a good sign you’re not just lucky… unless you’ve got a four-leaf clover growing over your cleanout cap.
Yeah, six years is nothing to sneeze at. I’ve seen liners start failing around year three when the prep was half-baked, so you’re definitely ahead of the curve. I think you nailed it with the combo of better resin tech and solid prep—one without the other just doesn’t cut it.
I remember a job a few years back where we had to go in after someone skipped the jetting step. Looked fine at first, but roots found the tiniest gap and just went wild. Had to basically redo the whole thing. Since then, I’m borderline obsessive about cleaning before lining.
If your pipes are still clear after all this time, you’re doing something right. Maybe a little luck, but mostly good work and the right materials. Those roots are persistent, but they’re not magic.
Couldn’t agree more about the prep—skipping jetting is just asking for trouble. I’ve seen folks try to save time and then end up with a root jungle a year later. Honestly, I think people underestimate how sneaky those roots can be. Six years clear is pretty impressive. Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket... or just enjoy some root-free plumbing for a while.