What is Slip Lining?
Slip lining is one of the earliest types of trenchless pipe repairs and it has remained a viable option to repair sewer lines to this day. Similar to cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, slip lining is a “pipe within another pipe” solution for smaller problems like cracks and leaks in pipes that have otherwise retained their structural integrity.
Slip Lining Methods
There are two primary methods for slip lining to perform a trenchless sewer repair. Here is a breakdown of both:
Continuous Slip Lining – as the name suggests, this method uses one continuous piece of pipe made of a variety of plastics. The pipe is then fed through the existing pipe in one go without having to dig to expose underground pipes.
Segmental Slip Lining – this method is largely the same, but instead of one continuous pipe, individual pieces are pushed together.
Slip Lining Advantages
Slip lining has one major benefit over other trenchless repair methods in that it is cost effective and the process is relatively simple. There is also the advantage of being able to use existing pipe infrastructure which makes the process quick and keeps environmental impact to a minimum. Slip lining can add decades to the life of a pipe, so for most pipe damage it is the best route to take.
Slip Lining Limitations
Slip Lining does have a few limitations that may require you to take a different course of action for fixing an old or damaged pipe. Since the new pipe will be smaller in diameter than the original pipe, it can only realistically be applied to pipes that already have a feasible diameter. Flow capacity can be severely limited, which can be a problem.