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If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think about your drains until there’s a problem. And by then, it’s usually too late. One of the most common causes of drain problems is tree roots.

If you’re not careful, those pesky roots can find their way into your drains and cause many problems. But there are things you can do to keep them out.

This post will discuss tips for removing tree roots from your drains. We’ll also talk about what to do if they manage to get there. So whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, read on for some helpful advice!

Tree Roots Grass Backyard

Signs Of Tree Roots In Your Pipelines

Tree roots grow towards moisture, so they often invade underground pipes and cause clogs or leaks. These often show as signs like:

If you think you might have tree roots in your drains, it’s important to call a professional to inspect your plumbing system and remove the tree roots. Problems like tree root incursion can damage your drain sewer pipes and lead to costly repairs. Plus, if you have tree roots blocking your sewer lines, you could also be in danger of potential health hazards.

What If A Pipe Bursts From A Tree Root Blockage?

The first step when dealing with a burst pipe from a tree root obstruction is to turn off the water to the entire house. Next, you should call a plumber to fix the problem.

Taking precautions to prevent tree root intrusion is essential if your plumbing system is susceptible to invasive tree roots. For instance, if your pipes are made of plastic or other susceptible materials). The best way to do this is by installing a drainpipe filter, which keeps debris and roots out of your plumbing pipes and water pipes beneath the ground.

Damaged Underground Pipe

If you want to ensure your plumbing system is properly sealed and screened off from the soil around your home, install a root barrier around the perimeter, and ensure your drainage pipes are properly buried.

Maintain your trees and remove any large branches that could fall onto your drainage pipes. If you have a large tree near your home, consider trimming or removing it.

Pro Tips: From Our Professional Melbourne Plumbers

All the plumbers that provide our Armadale plumbing services have trees in their gardens. We love trees, and we believe in planting new trees. But the roots of trees are the most common cause of blocked drains, so Precision Electrical and Plumbing has a team ready to help if your tree roots get in the way.

It’s easy to see why and how this happens. Quite simply, drains and moisture go hand in hand, and most trees’ root system needs lots of moisture to grow. If you think about it for a moment, every type of drain, be it a stormwater drain, a sewer line or any drain that leads from a house, will attract roots because it has what the roots are looking for – water. Then what happens is that the root will break through the drain. There’s not much you can do about it unless you can replace the drain. We can do this for you, but sometimes it is a significant job.

What happens is that once the roots have accessed the drain, there will be even more water to help them grow. The roots start blocking the space created for water and other stuff to discharge from the drainage system. And this is why tree roots are such a problem. You can clear tree roots by digging into the drain and cutting the offending bits away, but they will grow, and a few months later, you will return to searching and cutting. Since roots usually damage drains when they penetrate the area, you’ll probably also have leaks at this stage, which will likely attract more roots. It’s a vicious circle.

Person Digging Tree Roots Pipelines

What We Can Do For You In Melbourne?

It would help if you started by discovering more about the tree that can cause you the most problems. If you realise that some trees have more potentially damaging roots, you will be a step ahead before you even begin landscaping and planting new trees on your property. And if you move onto a new (even a possibly established) property, you can identify trees that are likely to damage your drainage system.

If you live in the Melbourne area, the most dangerous trees in drains include camphor laurel, fig-trees, rubber plants (did you ever wonder why they grow so quickly and easily?), poplars, alders, and willows.

If you are building from scratch or can replace drains, PVC pipes are a splendid idea. As long as they are laid correctly, PVC pipes are less likely to attract root growth. They are also less likely to collapse if the ground subsides.

If you have a problem with roots, it’s good to call in a qualified and reputable company like Precision Electrical and Plumbing that offers Armadale plumbing services. We can give you a video report that shows how far down the drain the roots have affected the system and indicate which trees are likely to be at fault. Then you can decide whether to take action to clear roots or whether you will need to cut down the “guilty” trees.

Preventive maintenance is always better than the cure, which is true with your house drainage system. We have several options available to maintain your drain. First is our video drain camera, which we push through the length of your drain and provide you, if you wish, with the video file for reference later. The next option is to use a high-pressure (5000psi) water jet to cut the roots from the drain and clean the sides of the pipe. Finally, you can also use a herbicide put through the drain to keep the roots growing back as slowly as possible.

Call The Expert Blocked Drain Plumbers

Tree roots in pipes can be a nightmare, but not when you have the help of experienced professionals. If you need help with a tree root problem, call the pros at Precision Electrical and Plumbing today. We can help you remove tree roots from your plumbing system or sewer pipe and repair any damage!


Photo of Justin Morris

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