Residential Sewer Pipe Lining in Mundelein, IL: How It Works

What pipe lining is

A lining is a resin-soaked felt tube that is pulled or inverted into the old pipe. It is then inflated and cured with hot water, steam or light. The resin hardens into a new pipe inside the old one. The result is a smooth, jointless liner that seals cracks and root entries.

The old pipe becomes the host, and the liner provides the flow surface. Because the liner has no joints, roots have fewer places to enter.

When lining fits

Lining works best on pipes that are still round and aligned but cracked, leaking at joints or invaded by roots. Clay and cast iron laterals under yards, driveways and landscaping are good candidates, because digging would damage a lot to fix a little.

It also helps when the line runs under a slab, a deck or a mature tree you want to keep.

When lining does not fit

A collapsed pipe, a pipe with a severe offset or a belly that holds water cannot be lined successfully. The liner would follow the defect. Those failures need a spot dig or a full replacement.

A camera inspection decides this before anyone writes a price. A plumber who quotes lining without a recent camera video is guessing.

Cost and what to compare

Lining costs depend on length, diameter, access points and prep work. Cleaning the pipe, cutting roots and installing cleanouts add to the base price. A lining job usually costs more than a short spot repair and less than a long excavation under landscaping.

Compare warranty terms, resin type and whether the quote includes a post-lining camera video. Ask for a copy of the video.

Root control after lining

A lined pipe is smooth and sealed, but roots can still push at the cleanout or at connections. Many owners add a yearly cleaning of the line to keep roots from reaching the ends of the liner. The camera after each cleaning is a record you can share with a buyer.

Plant trees well away from the lateral. A tree planted a few feet from a line will eventually find it.

Disclosure and resale

A lined lateral with a transferable warranty and a clear camera video is a plus when you sell. Keep the paperwork. Many buyers hire an inspector to scope the line, and a recent video avoids surprises.

If you plan to sell soon, ask your plumber for the video and the warranty documents in a single package.

Choosing a contractor you can trust

Lining is specialized work. Ask how many jobs the crew has done, who does the camera work and whether the same crew handles clean-up and reinstatement. Insist on a written scope, a warranty in plain language and a copy of the final video.

If a company asks for a large deposit before it has viewed your line on camera, be careful.

Questions about disruption

Lining is less disruptive than digging, but it is not invisible. Expect a day of limited water use, a camera crew in your basement or cleanout area and some equipment in the yard. Landscaping is generally untouched except at access points.

Plan to be home or to give access, and tell neighbors if a street connection is involved.

What happens at the cleanout

A cleanout is a capped pipe that gives access to the sewer lateral. Lining crews often use it as the entry point. If your house has none, one can be added, and that makes later cleaning and cameras far easier. Keep the area around it clear.

A clear cleanout is also useful in an emergency, since it lets us relieve a backup without opening a floor drain.

Codes and standards

Lining is a pipe repair method, and sewer work falls under the Illinois Plumbing Code, the state standard (Title 77, Part 890 of the Illinois Administrative Code). Resin liners are commonly tested against ASTM standards, so ask the contractor which standard applies to the product.

What to expect during the job

We clean the line, run a camera and mark the access points. After the liner is placed and cured, we reopen any lateral connections and run a final camera. Most jobs finish in a day, and you will have limited water use during the work.

Before lining, ask about reinstating a cleanout. Having an accessible cleanout makes future service quicker and cheaper.

Where lining sits in a repair plan

Start with an inspection. See sewer inspection for what the camera shows, then choose between sewer line repair and sewer line cleaning depending on the findings. Clean, inspect and then decide.

Homeowners in Libertyville and Hawthorn Woods with older lots face the same choice, and the same camera answers it.