The problem: a line that leaks but could be left in place
Opening a slab to reach a pipe is disruptive. Lining is a way of treating the pipe from the inside so that it need not be removed. A coating or a liner is applied to the inner wall of the existing line, with the aim of sealing it and protecting it from further wear.
It is an option a technician may raise when the pipe and the leak suit it. It is not a universal fix, and some lines cannot be lined at all. This page describes the idea in general terms. The technician describes what applies to a specific home.
In general terms, how it works
The details depend on the system the technician uses. In outline:
Confirm the leak and the line. The leak is located and the line is identified. The technician judges whether it is a candidate.
Access the line at its ends. Small openings are made at points where the line can be reached, such as fixtures or accessible sections.
Prepare the inside of the pipe. The line is cleared and cleaned so a liner or coating can bond.
Apply the lining. A liner or coating is applied along the length of the pipe, which is then left to cure.
Test and reconnect. The line is pressure tested, then returned to service.
Options and price before work begins.
Call for Upfront PricingWhen it may be considered
It may be raised when the line is in reasonable condition apart from the leak, when it runs under floors that are costly or hard to match, or when the layout makes a reroute difficult. It is more often discussed for lines that are long or that run beneath fixed structures.
It tends to be considered in homes where the existing pipe has a consistent diameter and accessible end points. Florida's older slab homes sometimes fit that description, though each line is different. A technician does not assume. See copper pipe leaks under the slab.
When it may not apply
Lining is not for every line. A pipe with severe damage, a collapsed section or a break may not take a liner. A line with many bends, fittings or changes of size can be difficult. Some materials and some conditions suit it better than others, and access points matter.
Lining also has a different relationship with the old pipe than the other options. It keeps the old line in place and treats it, and it does not replace it. The technician will say if another option is more appropriate, and why. The comparison is on repair options compared.
Ask whether lining is offered in your area.
Speak With Someone LocalWhat steers the choice
The condition of the pipe along its whole length. Whether the line can be reached at both ends. The type of material and the layout. The floor above and whether opening it is acceptable. Whether this is a first leak or a repeat. The owner's preferences about disruption. And price and timing, set out before work.
It may be that a technician in your area does not offer lining. If it is not available, they can still discuss the other options.
What to do and what not to do
Until a technician has seen the line, close the main if the leak is active and you can reach it safely, keep clear of wet areas and move valuables. Tell the technician what you know about the age and any previous repairs.
Please do not pour any product into your plumbing, and do not attempt to seal a leak yourself. Products sold for this can interfere with a proper repair. If you smell gas, leave and call the gas utility and emergency services from outside.
Repeat leaks are a common reason to compare options.
Another Slab Leak? Call UsWhy testing comes first
A technician cannot say whether lining suits a line without locating the leak and understanding the pipe. The usual sequence of isolation, pressure testing, acoustic listening and thermal imaging gives the position and a sense of which line is involved. See how slab leaks are found.
Some technicians also inspect the inside of a line to judge its condition before recommending a method. Ask what they have seen, and what it means for the options.
Afterwards
After lining, the line is tested for pressure. Ask the technician what the guarantee on the work covers. We do not give lifespans, and nobody can promise that another leak will not happen elsewhere in the home.
Keep the record of which line was lined and where it runs. If another leak appears later, whether on the same line or another, see repeat slab leaks. Drying and cleanup of wet flooring are handled by restoration companies.
Access points and preparation
Lining needs a way into the section of line, usually at each end, so a small opening is made at an accessible point. The inside of the pipe is then cleaned so the coating can bond. The technician explains where the access points will be and what finish they leave behind.
Ask how the line is tested afterwards and what the technician can and cannot confirm about the sections that were not lined.
Questions worth asking
Is the line a good candidate, and what in the testing suggests so? What would stop the technician recommending it? What happens to fittings and branches along the section? How is the result tested? Clear answers to these tell you more than any general description of the method.
If the answers are vague, ask for another option to compare.
What owners should expect to see
Lining work usually involves a visit with equipment set up at the access points, some time with the water off, and a test afterwards. There is less cutting of the floor than in some other options, but there is still an opening at each end of the section, and the technician explains where.
After the work, ask for the test result and for a note of which sections were lined. Branches, fittings and the remaining parts of the line are not covered by the lining, and the note makes that clear for later.
If the technician decides that lining does not suit your line, that is a sensible outcome of the testing, not a failure. Another option can then be discussed.
Ask how long the technician advises waiting before the water is used normally, and whether any fixtures need flushing first. These practical details are easy to forget on the day.