How Tree Roots in Pipes cause Drain Blockages in Nearby Sydney

Sydney is filled with lovely tree-lined streets, leafy suburbs speckled throughout. The shade, the atmosphere, the benefit that trees provide for our environment is essential. With the correct planning for new trees and regular maintenance checks of your plumbing system regarding existing trees, both your pipes and your trees can live harmoniously together. Yes, it's possible.

Naturally, your plumbing system is buried underground. In a tree's natural environment. Thus in turn roots are the most common cause of drain blockages in Australia. Once roots enter your PVC, metal, or ceramic pipes... you'll begin to experience the telltale signs of blocked drains .

Unfortunately, tree roots will not stop growing once they've entered your drainage system, potentially damaging your drains, without professional plumbing intervention it could lead to costly repairs if left unattended. ?

Why are pipes so susceptible to roots?

What's the root cause? As mentioned above, our plumbing pipes are buried in the ground, surrounded by nature. A tree’s root system will seek out the nutrients and water needed for its survival. A plumbing pipe will attract root systems. As Condensation forms on the outside of the sewer or stormwater pipes, tree roots are drawn to the water source, especially in the hotter months and throughout the growing season.

Internal Tree Root Entry

If there is a tiny fracture or gap in your sewer pipes or stormwater drains (at the joint or caused by ground movement) fine hair-like roots (fibrous) can penetrate the cracks looking for moisture. Once inside, these tiny roots can grow into a mass, blocking and damaging the drain. This can happen at multiple points of entry, not just once per drain section. Older porcelain or earthenware pipes are famous for having little imperfections like small cracks and thus small invitations to those root systems, potentially leading to severe blockages, as they say... from little things, big things grow.

External Tree Roots

Larger root systems may be drawn to your underground pipes as well. When attracted to the condensation created from the hot water flowing through your pipes, a tree root may attempt to enter the pipes but with no entry point or drain opening, the root will instead wrap itself around your pipes... leading to a constrained and often collapsed pipeline and therefore a blockage is created.

Untreated Blockages

If left untreated solid blockages can develop into serious blockage. Any other debris that make their way down your drains, will be caught up in the root system, putting further strange on the blocked drain. From food scraps, hair, cat litter, coffee grounds, foreign objects, cooking oil, or even wet wipes. A growing root system inside your drains will cause these debris to block sooner and more frequently than expected and in turn affect your plumbing needs.

The longer a drain remains a blocked drain, the greater the professional intervention will potentially be. Enlisting the help of a licensed plumber to rectify the plumbing situation and remove blockages as soon as possible is the best course of action. Call Network Plumbing today to clear your blocked drains.

Please note, be protective of your drains. Don't allow food build up in your pipes. Bottle up, and save yourself the cost of drain clearing. Bin what should be binned, not flushed down the toilet. Baby wipes and sanitary products should not enter your sewage pipes. Bin it, don't flush it.

7 Common Signs of a Blocked Drain & Identifying Tree Roots in Pipes

Here's how drain blockages will present with symptoms once the issue has begun to impede the flow of water.  Whether it's an issue of your water supply travelling into your home, your sewage flow leaving your property, or your stormwater pipe. A blocked drain can happen to all three drain types. Our professional plumber has put together their top 6 signs you have a blocked drain on your property.

If you can identify with any of the above signs, it's time to seek the help of a professional plumber that specialises in blocked drains. Call Network Plumbing to schedule a plumber to assess and fix your blocked drain without delay.

Blocked Drains Solutions Near You in Sydney ?

Don't be fooled by the home remedies or over-the-counter drain cleaner you can pick up from most hardware stores claiming to clear your blocked drain . While boiling water, baking soda, and vinegar poured down your kitchen sink might help relieve a minor grease build-up inside your drains... it is no match for a root system that has entered your pipes causing more severe blockages than hot water and a bit of baking soda can handle.

To clear a blocked drain does require years of training, experience, and the latest plumbing technology.

Why Home Remedies Won't Clear Root Systems In Your Pipe

Myths travelling around about how to clear a blocked drain range from

Please do not do this! Not only is the last one harmful to the environment who knows the extent of the damage these chemicals might do to your drainage system.

Rarely are these solutions worth the time spent on carrying them out , in other words, they are ineffective. Root systems that have made their way inside your drains have found a place to flourish 24 hours a day. If by chance this particular root system dies, another will replace it, probably entering your pipe from the same breeched spot.

However, our plumbers do recommend periodically pouring boiling water down your kitchen sink, as long as your pipes aren't PVC that is. This aims to help loosen any grease build-up that may have occurred. It's not a cure for blockages, more a preventative measure than anything else.

Avoid Over The Counter Cleaners For Blocked Drains

Our plumber recommends saving your money, your pipes, and our waterways by avoiding over-the-counter cleaners for blocked drains. Chemicals like caustic cleaners are dangerous and should not be taken lightly, especially when dealing with PVC pipes. Caustic cleaners can be a health risk and will do little to solve your blocked drains.

A DIY Drain Snake

A DIY drain snake may be a friendlier option but will lack the strength and power required to sufficiently clear sewer blockages, without knowing what kind of damage the drain snake might be doing to your pipes in the process.

None of these over-the-counter cleaners or home remedies are working off exact knowledge about what is causing the blocked drains . Is it a large root system that has completely collapsed the pipe under pressure? Is there lasting structural damage that has occurred to your pipes resulting in burst pipes , flooding, dropped water pressure , extruding foreign objects leading to further property damage? Only a thorough investigation by a professional plumber will be able to answer these questions.

Network Plumbing Specializes Clearing Roots from Drains in Nearby Sydney

Network Plumbing are experts at clearing blocked drains . Our licensed plumber will effectively assess the blocked drain and all the symptoms associated with it.

Our plumbers are equipped with the latest plumbing technology, highly trained, and thoroughly experienced.  By utilising a CCTV drain camera they will pinpoint the exact location of the blockage and visually see an image of what the blockage is. The more information our plumber has, the greater the success.

Gone are the days of a plumber's snake or what is known as an electric eel. Our plumbers employ the use of a high-pressure water Jetter to tackle that blockage. A high-pressure water Jetter pushes pressurised water down and through your pipe, clearing roots, dirt, sand, grease, and debris in one fell swoop. No chemicals, no guesswork, no more blockage in that pipe.

Our plumbers then reinspect the pipes where the blockage was, accessing the structural integrity of the pipework. Are there any openings, cracks, breaks, or compromises?

If so, Network Plumbing can offer a permanent solution to keeping those roots out of your pipes for good, Pipe Relining.

Pipe relining is the process of repairing those damaged pipes without digging up your pipework or your garden. The resin that is used to reline your broken or damaged pipes is structurally stronger than PVC alone once it has cured.

Our pipe relining work is backed with a 25-year guarantee to ‘never have tree root issues again’ within the relined sections of the pipe repair.

Trees And Your Drain Pipes Near Sydney

When dealing with a blockage, as discussed, the most common causes are from tree roots entering your system. Yet, with the latest plumbing technology of assessing inside your pipes with a drain camera , advancements in plumbing options like a permanent solution to restoring your pipework and protecting it from further root infestation with pipe relining , we believe trees and plumbing can coexist together.

However, if you're planning on planting new trees on your property... consider gathering information on where your pipes are with a sewerage service diagram. Sydney Water does recommend planting new trees at least 6 meters away from your services to safeguard your drains.

If you have existing trees on your property and are concerned about root entry, call our highly experienced plumbers today to have your pipes inspected before you begin to see signs of a blocked drain.

If you are already seeing signs of a blocked drain . Act immediately, the longer the blockage continues, the greater the potential repair might possibly be. Protect one of your greatest investments, your home.

Be proactive and inspect your pipes today, call our team on 9023 3232 .