You’ve just had your pipes relined, congratulations, you’ve made a smart, long-term infrastructure investment. Now what? Most people assume “set and forget”, and largely that’s correct for a properly installed liner. But the first 12 months include a few practical steps that protect your investment and catch any installation issues while the warranty is fully active.
The quick answer
In the first year after drain relining: keep your warranty documentation safe, avoid chemical drain cleaners for at least 30 days, run a follow-up CCTV at 3-6 months if the contractor didn’t provide one, and adopt the simple drain-care habits that prevent future blockages. Other than that, a well-installed liner needs no ongoing maintenance.
Immediately after the job: what the contractor should give you
Before the contractor leaves, you should have received:
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Post-reline CCTV footage | Evidence of installation quality at time of job |
| Written warranty documentation | Your legal entitlement if defects emerge |
| Liner specification sheet | Records what product was installed (for future reference) |
| Job completion report | Maps the work done, pipe lengths, diameter, access points |
File these documents with your property records. If you sell the property, this documentation is valuable to a buyer. If you make a warranty claim, you need this paperwork.
The first 24-48 hours after relining
Avoid using drains during cure period
Your contractor will advise you when the cured-in-place liner is ready for service. For:
- UV-cured liners: Ready for use within 30-60 minutes of installation
- Steam-cured liners: Ready for use within 2-4 hours
- Ambient-cured liners: Full cure typically in 12-24 hours at 20°C+
Follow your contractor’s specific instructions. Using toilets, running water or doing laundry before the liner is fully cured can compromise the cure process in ambient-cure systems.
Check all fixtures are working
After the curing period, run all fixtures, every toilet, sink, basin, shower, bath and laundry tub, and confirm they drain freely. Report any fixture that drains slowly to the contractor immediately; it may indicate a junction hasn’t been reinstated.
The first 30 days
Avoid chemical drain cleaners
Commercial chemical drain cleaners (sodium hydroxide / caustic soda products, sulphuric acid products) should be avoided for the first 30 days after relining. The epoxy resin is chemically resistant once fully cured, but the first 30 days represent the period when any residual cure is completing. After 30 days, the cured liner is resistant to all standard household drain chemicals.
Note: Chemical drain cleaners are also generally not recommended in older pipes at any time, they can damage old clay and AC cement pipe sections upstream of the liner.
Check the overflow relief gully (ORG)
After any drain work, check that your ORG (overflow relief gully) in the yard is accessible, at grade and has its grate in place. If the grate was removed during the job, confirm it’s been replaced. See our ORG guide.
Look for any unusual odours or slow drains
If a drain that was flowing freely post-cure becomes slow within the first week, contact your contractor immediately. This could indicate a junction reinstatement issue or liner fold that wasn’t visible in the post-reline CCTV.
3-6 months: follow-up inspection
Optional but recommended: follow-up CCTV
Many contractors offer or recommend a 3-6 month follow-up CCTV inspection. This inspection:
- Confirms the liner has remained adhered throughout normal operation
- Checks that no end delamination has occurred
- Confirms all junctions are clean and fully reinstated
- Provides you with a current, dated record of pipe condition
If the contractor includes a follow-up CCTV in the job scope, schedule it. If they didn’t include one but you want confidence in the installation, a third-party CCTV costs $250, $450 and gives you independent documentation.
6-12 months: establish your ongoing maintenance plan
Drain care habits
The liner doesn’t need maintenance, but your drain system does. These habits protect the entire system, not just the relined section:
| Habit | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Flush only toilet paper (no wipes, nappies, sanitary) | Prevents blockage downstream of liner |
| Wipe greasy pans before washing | Reduces grease build-up in sub-branches |
| Use drain screens in shower and bath | Catches hair before it reaches the drain |
| Run hot water after kitchen drain use | Keeps grease in suspension |
| Check outdoor pit lids are in place | Prevents debris, vermin and soil entry |
Note: the liner doesn’t prevent blockages in sub-branches
The liner is installed in the main sewer run, typically from the house to the inspection shaft. The sub-branches (individual fixture connections) are not usually relined unless specifically included in the scope. Sub-branch blockages (hair in shower drains, grease in kitchen sub-branches) can still occur. These are cleared by standard drain maintenance, not relining.
What doesn’t need to be done after relining
| Action | Status |
|---|---|
| Annual chemical treatment | Not needed |
| Root killing agents in toilet | Not needed (roots can’t enter a lined pipe) |
| Annual jetting of the relined section | Not needed |
| Regular camera inspection of the liner | Not needed for 5-10 years if installed correctly |
| Pressure-limiting water supply | Not needed |
The main-run drain relining genuinely eliminates the recurring maintenance burden for the relined section. This is a significant quality-of-life improvement for property owners who have been managing annual root clearing events.
Annual maintenance tasks (ongoing, not reline-specific)
These are standard drain maintenance tasks that apply to any property:
| Task | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Visual check of ORG accessibility | Annually |
| CCTV inspection of sub-branches (if slow drains occur) | As needed |
| Stormwater pit cleaning (leaves, debris) | Annually (especially after autumn) |
| Grease trap service (commercial kitchens) | As per schedule (monthly to quarterly) |
| Hydro jet of sub-branches (older connections) | Every 3-5 years or as needed |
When to call the contractor under warranty
Contact your relining contractor promptly if:
- Any drain that was flowing post-cure becomes persistently slow within the warranty period
- You notice sewage smell from the relined pipe area
- A follow-up CCTV shows liner delamination or bypass at a junction
- You have a back-surge event in the relined section
Document every event (date, symptom, what you did) before calling. This helps the warranty claim process.
A simple 12-month checklist
| Timeframe | Action |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | File warranty and job documentation |
| Day 1 | Confirm all fixtures flowing freely |
| Day 1-30 | No chemical drain cleaners |
| Day 3-7 | Check ORG is accessible and grated |
| Month 3-6 | Follow-up CCTV (if included) or arrange independent |
| Month 6 | Review drain care habits, instruct household/tenants |
| Month 12 | Confirm warranty documentation is safe and accessible |
| Ongoing | Standard drain care habits, no special maintenance required |
Frequently asked questions
How long until I can do heavy laundry loads after relining? For UV and steam-cured liners, normal use including laundry can resume as soon as the contractor advises (typically 1-4 hours). For ambient-cured liners, wait for the full cure period specified by the contractor.
Should I tell my tenants anything after relining? Yes, give them the same drain care guidelines you follow. Emphasise: no wipes down the toilet, no grease down the kitchen sink. If it’s a holiday rental, add it to the guest information pack.
Is there anything specific I should do differently for a coastal property? Not specifically. The liner performs equally in coastal high-water-table conditions as inland. Follow the same maintenance checklist.
Can the relined section be hydro jetted in the future? Yes, a cured CIPP liner can be safely hydro jetted. The liner surface is actually more resistant to jetting than old clay or AC cement. If sub-branches are being cleared in the future, the jetting hose will pass through the relined section without damage.
What if I lose my warranty documentation? Contact the relining contractor for copies. Keep at least one copy with your property title documents and one digital copy in cloud storage.
Just had your pipes relined and want to make sure everything is in order? Book a follow-up CCTV inspection.