Once the plumbing pipes in your Chicago building are lined, you can expect them to perform just as well as a new plumbing pipe. However, you may also have some questions when it comes to common problems experienced with epoxy lined pipes and how to perform maintenance on your lined pipes. Here are a few common questions we receive about the end of the epoxy lining process.
1. When can I expect my epoxy lined pipes to experience problems?
Epoxy lined plumbing pipes rarely experience problems. However, if problems are going to occur, it’s usually during the installation process. For example, not getting the pipe clean all the way down to the pipe wall can result in the epoxy liner or coating failing to adhere properly to the host pipe. Once the epoxy liner is in place and cured, there’s really nothing that’s going to break it apart. This is because once the epoxy has cured, it’s extremely hard and durable.
2. How do you know that the pipe has been sufficiently cleaned?
After we finish with the cleaning process, we perform a camera inspection of the pipe. If there are no rough bumps and we can see the pipe walls, the cleaning process is complete. If we see sections that are not completely clean all the way down to the pipe wall, we clean the pipe again and perform another camera inspection.
3. How do you ensure the epoxy liners are properly cured and in place?
After the epoxy has cured, we use a digital camera in order to view the inside of the pipe. This allows us to view the final product and ensure that it has properly cured and is in the correct place. Water service is only restored after the final camera inspection has been completed and no installation errors were found.
4. Do epoxy lined pipes ever need cleaned due to corrosion buildup?
Once your pipes are lined, your risk for experiencing future corrosion is eliminated. This is because corrosion is the result of water interacting with the metal of the host pipe. Since the water can’t interact with the host pipe due to the epoxy liner, there is no risk of further pipe corrosion or buildup.
5. Will the chemicals in the epoxy leach into my water?
The epoxy we use does not leach chemicals into the drinking water, and it doesn’t deposit chemicals into wastewater. This means that epoxy liners are environmentally friendly and will not pollute nearby waterways, creeks or streams if that water happens to leave the municipal plumbing system.
6. Do I need to change my maintenance routine for my drain lines?
You do not need to change your drain line maintenance. If you regularly have your drain lines hydrojetted, you can still hydrojet your drain and sewer lines. However, for the lined sections of your pipes, you won’t need to clean them as often. Instead, what you are really cleaning are the unlined sections of your drain pipes if you didn’t have all your drain pipes lined.
7. Can epoxy lined pipes be cut into in order to install new fittings and connections?
You can cut through an epoxy lined pipe in order to install new fittings and connections. Cutting through the epoxy will not cause delamination of the epoxy. However, we do recommend that you use mechanical fittings to connect the new pipes and fittings to the existing epoxy lined pipes. If you do need to cut into an epoxy lined pipe, you can always give us a call and ask us the proper way to attach new fittings and pipes to a pipe that has been lined.
8. How do other plumbers and contractors know that the plumbing pipe has been lined with epoxy?
Once we finish the pipelining process, we attach stickers to the outsides of the plumbing pipes in order to let future contractors and plumbers know that the pipes have been lined with an epoxy liner or coating. This alerts other plumbers and contractors who may be working on the pipe that it has been lined.
9. How long can I expect my lined pipes to last and do you offer a warranty?
Epoxy lined pipes can last anywhere from 30 to 50 years, which is comparable to having new pipes installed. When you choose to line your potable water and drain lines with Nu Flow, you can expect a no-hassle, 10-year warranty on parts and labor. That means that if anything goes wrong with your lined pipes, we will come out and repair them free of charge. If you feel like you need a longer warranty for your newly lined plumbing pipes, we can work with you to find an extended warranty solution.
10. How long has Nu Flow been in business in Chicago?
Nu Flow, serving Chicago and the greater Chicago area, has been around since 2012. We are authorized to work on indoor and outdoor plumbing pipes in the state of Illinois and Chicago, and we have a licensed plumber on staff to ensure that the pipelining process goes as smoothly as possible. Our licensed plumber can replace any pipes that are too weak to withstand the lining process and install new shutoff valves as well as access panels.
11. How do I learn more about the pipelining process and schedule an estimate?
Our pipelining technicians would be happy to talk to you about lining your existing potable water, vent stacks and drain lines. To learn more about our services and to schedule an estimate, call us at 815-790-9000.
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