The single most important thing you can do after CIPP pipe lining is get the post-installation CCTV footage and QA/QC records in your hands and confirm the liner is continuous, defect-free, and fully cured. If the video shows wrinkles, gaps, or cloudy reinstatements, contact your installer right away and save every file and log before anything gets overwritten.
TL;DR:
- Confirm that the post-installation CCTV footage shows a continuous, defect-free liner with properly open lateral reinforcements and no trapped debris or standing water.
- Verify the liner’s cure status by reviewing cure logs and ensuring the full length reached the necessary temperature before inspection, especially for steam or hot water cures.
- Check lateral reconnections for signs of poor sealing, such as discoloration or leakage, and consider resealing or hydrostatic testing if issues are apparent.
- Obtain and retain detailed documentation, including unedited video, cure logs, inspection reports, and as-built drawings, within about 10 working days after installation.
- Schedule a follow-up inspection around 6 to 9 months post-installation to catch late issues and actively document and dispute any defects within the warranty period.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Review the post-installation CCTV inspection
- Step 2: Confirm the cure method and cooldown before inspection
- Step 3: Check lateral reinstatements and end seals
- Step 4: Request pressure, flow, or material testing when applicable
- Step 5: Collect the required documentation and verify the timeline
- When to schedule a follow-up and how warranty coverage works
- What to do if the inspection shows defects
- Standards that define a quality post-lining inspection
- A practitioner’s take on what actually protects homeowners
- Get a professional inspection and remediation if you need one
- FAQ
- Sources
Step 1: Review the post-installation CCTV inspection
A camera run through a newly lined pipe tells you almost everything you need to know, but only if it’s done right, as explained in How Sewer Camera Inspections Work for Homeowners. A quick push-camera pass can miss defects, so the operator should move the camera slowly and useful pan-and-tilt capability to check the entire circumference, not just a straight shot down the middle. Ideally, the person running the camera is PACP-trained, since NASSCO guidance calls for trained inspectors to conduct post-construction CCTV and requires that the footage be unedited.
When you watch the footage or review the report, look for:
- A continuous liner with no wrinkles, voids, lifts, or visible holes
- Clear, fully open lateral reinstatements with no obstruction
- No trapped debris, standing water, or resin pooling along the invert
Pro Tip: Ask for the distance log alongside the video so every defect or lateral connection is tied to a specific footage location, not just a general description.
Step 2: Confirm the cure method and cooldown before inspection
CIPP liners cure using steam, hot water, UV light, or ambient temperature, and each method affects how soon the pipe is ready for inspection. Steam and hot water cures typically need a cooldown period before CCTV work begins, since inspecting a liner that’s still warm can produce misleading readings or even damage the camera equipment. UV-cured liners set faster but still need verification that the full length reached cure temperature.
Before you sign off, request:
- Time and temperature logs or the manufacturer’s cure chart for your installation
- Written confirmation that the liner met the required cure thresholds across its full length
- Confirmation that liner ends were trimmed, finished, and properly sealed to the host pipe or manhole
Step 3: Check lateral reinstatements and end seals
Lateral connections get reopened after lining, usually with a robotic cutter or a dimpling tool that locates the opening from inside the pipe. On a clean installation, the reinstated lateral looks like a smooth, fully open circle with no shredded liner material hanging into the flow path.
Watch for warning signs at these interfaces:
- Staining or discoloration around the connection point, which can mean water is finding its way around the liner
- Continuous flow or dripping through the annulus between the liner and the host pipe
- Loose sealant, gaps, or debris hanging at the manhole interface
If any of these show up, ask whether hydrostatic testing or resealing at the manhole connection makes sense before the job is considered finished.
Step 4: Request pressure, flow, or material testing when applicable
Not every residential job needs lab-grade testing, but for pressure applications or larger commercial and municipal jobs, objective tests back up what the camera shows. A hydrostatic pressure or leakage test holds the line at a specified pressure for a set time and watches for any drop, which would point to a seal or liner failure. Flow testing, sometimes referenced against Hazen-Williams coefficients, confirms the lining actually improved hydraulic capacity rather than just patching the surface.
When a contract specifies physical property verification, installers can pull samples using restrained, plate, or direct-cut methods to check flexural strength and wall thickness. Plate and restrained samples cure next to the installed liner and give representative lab data without disturbing the pipe itself; direct-cut sampling works too, but it requires a small repair afterward and is reserved for cases where the specification calls for it.
Step 5: Collect the required documentation and verify the timeline
Paperwork is where a lot of otherwise solid installations fall apart, because homeowners accept a verbal “it looks good” instead of the actual files. The deliverables you’re entitled to include:
- Unedited, timestamped CCTV video of the full liner run
- An inspection log noting defects, distances, and times
- Cure-temperature and cure-time logs
- Sample or lab reports, if testing was part of the scope
- As-built drawings showing the final configuration
NASSCO specification guidance points to a common practice of submitting this documentation within about 10 working days of completion, and you should get written confirmation once you’ve received everything. Red flags include missing timestamps, video that cuts off mid-run, no cure log at all, or footage with no distance or direction markers tying defects to a location.
Pro Tip: Store copies of every file somewhere outside the installer’s system, since a cloud folder or external drive protects you if a dispute comes up later.
When to schedule a follow-up and how warranty coverage works
Most liners perform well from day one, but some issues, like a partially collapsed section or a slow leak at a lateral, only show up months later. Industry practice points to a visual follow-up inspection around 6 to 9 months after installation, while the standard one-year warranty window from most installers and material manufacturers is still active.
Keep a simple log of what you observe: water flow speed, any odors, and the condition of visible fixtures. If something looks off:
- Document the issue with photos, video, or notes right away
- Notify the installer in writing and reference your warranty terms
- Ask for a corrective action schedule and, if there’s disagreement, request independent testing
Our pipe lining warranty checklist for property owners walks through documenting a claim step by step if you reach this point.
What to do if the inspection shows defects
Finding a problem on camera is frustrating, but how you respond in the first few days matters for both the warranty claim and any later dispute.
- Get a copy of the unedited video and note every defect’s timestamp and distance marker
- Photograph accessible manholes or cleanout interfaces and keep written notes from any phone calls
- Contact the installer, reference the warranty terms, and set a specific written deadline for remediation
- If the cure quality or physical properties are disputed, or if repairs don’t resolve the issue, bring in an independent CCTV inspection or lab test
Acting within days rather than weeks keeps your evidence intact and your leverage strong.
Standards that define a quality post-lining inspection
A compliant installation follows recognized industry benchmarks, not just a contractor’s own judgment of a job well done.
- ASTM F1743 covers pulled-in-place CIPP installations and underpins most project specifications calling for post-install CCTV
- NASSCO guidance calls for PACP-trained inspectors to conduct post-construction camera work, since footage from an untrained operator is harder to trust
- Owners typically retain inspection rights for up to a year after completion, which is why the 6 to 9 month follow-up matters
We build our process around these same documentation habits, backing every lining job with warranty coverage and clear video records so you’re never left guessing about what’s inside your pipe.
A practitioner’s take on what actually protects homeowners
If I had to name the one habit that separates a smooth lining project from a drawn-out dispute, it’s this: insist on the video and the QA/QC logs before you consider the job closed, and put the 6 to 9 month follow-up on your calendar the same week the crew leaves. Paper promises don’t hold up; footage and logs do.
— John
Get a professional inspection and remediation if you need one
If you’d rather have a trained eye confirm your liner passed every check, we offer sewer scope inspections using the same CCTV standards covered above, so you get a clear answer instead of a guess. When footage turns up a problem, our trenchless pipe lining and hydro jetting services can resolve it without digging up your yard.
- Request a camera review through our sewer scope inspection service
- Check your coverage through our warranty lookup
- Clear buildup or debris found during inspection with hydro jetting before any relining
Reach out through our site to schedule an inspection or check your warranty status today.
FAQ
What are the steps involved in the pipe relining process?
The process generally runs from cleaning and camera inspection of the old pipe, through liner insertion and curing, to a final post-installation CCTV check confirming the liner is continuous and defect-free. Documentation like cure logs and inspection video should accompany every stage, not just the final one.
How long does CIPP lining take to cure?
Cure time depends on the method: steam and hot water cures often finish within a few hours, while UV-cured liners can set in under an hour for shorter runs. Actual timing varies by liner thickness and pipe diameter, so always confirm the specific cure chart for your job rather than assuming a standard time.
How long does sewer lining take?
Most residential CIPP jobs, from setup through cure and initial camera verification, wrap up within a single day in straightforward cases. Larger diameter pipes, multiple laterals, or access challenges can extend the timeline, so ask your installer for a job-specific estimate.
How is a CIPP liner installed?
A resin-saturated liner tube is pulled or inverted into the damaged pipe, then cured in place using heat or UV light so it hardens into a new pipe within the old one. Once cured, the ends are trimmed, lateral connections are reopened, and a post-installation CCTV inspection confirms the result before the job is considered complete.
What should I do if the post-lining inspection shows a problem?
Save the unedited video and inspection log, photograph any accessible interfaces, and notify your installer in writing with a specific deadline for remediation. If the issue isn’t resolved or the cure quality is disputed, an independent CCTV inspection or lab test can settle the question.