It sounds like the perfect sales pitch: "We can fix your collapsed sewer line without digging a single hole in your beautiful lawn or expensive new driveway."

This is the promise of Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP), commonly known as "pipe relining." It is a genuinely revolutionary technology that has saved homeowners millions of dollars in restoration costs.

But here is the uncomfortable truth that many aggressive sales-plumbers won't tell you: It doesn't work for everything.

At True Plumber, we believe CIPP is an amazing tool in our toolbox, but it is not a magic wand. Relining a pipe that is past the point of no return is an expensive mistake that will only lead to another blockage down the road.

Here is the honest breakdown of when trenchless relining is a miracle, and when it’s a mistake.

What is CIPP Relining?

In simple terms, we take a felt tube saturated with a special epoxy resin. We pull or blow this tube into your existing, damaged pipe. We then inflate it like a long balloon, pressing the epoxy against the old pipe walls. Once it cures (hardens), you have a brand new, seamless, rock-hard plastic pipe inside the old one.

It’s like putting a stent in an artery.

When It WORKS (The Ideal Scenarios)

CIPP is the undisputed champion for pipes that have lost their integrity but kept their shape.

Corrosion and Leaks: If your cast iron pipe has thousands of pinhole leaks or the bottom has rusted out, a liner will seal it completely and stop sewage from leaking into the ground.
Minor Root Intrusion: If roots are getting in through joints, a liner creates a seamless pipe from one end to the other. Roots cannot penetrate the new epoxy wall.
Cracks and Fractures: A liner can bridge gaps and seal longitudinal or circumferential cracks, restoring the pipe's structural strength.
When Access is impossible: If the pipe is under a neighbor's pool, a protected oak tree, or a major highway, relining is often the only viable option.

The Upside: It’s fast (often done in a day), requires almost no digging, and the new liner has a 50+ year lifespan.

When It FAILS (The "Hard Truths")

This is what you need to pay attention to. A liner is a sleeve. It follows the path and shape of the existing host pipe. It cannot fix the pipe's geometry.

Collapsed or Crushed Pipes: You cannot inflate a balloon inside a flattened straw. If a section of your clay or Orangeburg pipe has completely collapsed, a liner cannot pass through it. That section must be dug up.
A Sewer "Belly" (Sag): This is the most common reason relining fails. If your pipe has settled and holds water in a low spot (a "belly"), the new liner will simply conform to that sagging shape. You will have a shiny new pipe that still holds water and debris, leading to constant clogs.
Severe Misalignment (Offset Joints): If two sections of pipe have shifted so they no longer line up, a liner may not be able to make the turn smoothly. It can create a lip or wrinkle that catches toilet paper, causing backups.
Diameter Shrinkage: Relining reduces the inside diameter of your pipe slightly. If your 4-inch pipe is already partially choked with rust, the new liner might make it too narrow to function properly.

The "Honest Plumber's" Test

How do you know if you're being oversold?

Never, ever agree to a pipe relining job without a thorough, recorded camera inspection FIRST.

An honest plumber will show you the video footage. They will point out the bellies, the collapses, and the offsets. They will look you in the eye and say, "We can line from here to here, but this 10-foot section in the middle absolutely has to be dug up and replaced."

If a company guarantees they can fix a major disaster without seeing it first, run the other way.

Conclusion

CIPP pipe relining is a game-changer, but it is not a cure-all. It is the perfect solution for the right problem.

Don't let anyone sell you an expensive "trenchless" solution for a problem that requires a shovel. Get the truth about the condition of your pipes before you sign the contract.

Not sure if your pipes are candidates for relining? Schedule an Honest Camera Inspection & Assessment