Tree Roots and Adelaide Drains: How to Know If Roots Are Causing Your Blockage
If your kitchen sink is draining slowly or the toilet keeps backing up, it’s easy to assume there’s a simple blockage somewhere in the pipe and sometimes there is, but if the problem keeps coming back, particularly around an older Adelaide home, the real reason for the blockage could be tree roots.
Tree roots naturally grow towards moisture and underground pipes can provide just that. When there’s a small crack, a loose joint or a section of pipe that has started to deteriorate it becomes easy for roots to find their way inside and once they do it’s easy for them to spread through the pipe and gradually restrict the flow of wastewater.
The tricky part? You might not see anything wrong until the blockage starts causing trouble inside your home.
Why Tree Roots Cause Problems in Adelaide Drains
There are many well-established areas in Adelaide with older gardens, mature trees and houses that have stood for many decades. Although those trees add character to a property, their roots may cause issues with underground plumbing.
Because joints can move over time, creating tiny openings for roots to penetrate, older clay and earthenware pipes are especially susceptible. Fine roots can develop inside the pipe through even a little gap. They eventually become a much larger obstruction as they spread and collect toilet paper, waste and other debris.
It doesn’t necessarily mean the tree itself is the problem as in many cases it’s the roots that are simply taking advantage of an existing weakness in the pipe.
4 Signs Tree Roots Could Be Blocking Your Drain
- Your drains keep blocking up
One of the clearest warning signs is a blockage that returns soon after being cleared. If you’ve had a plumber attend to the same drain several times, it’s worth investigating what’s happening further down the line.
- More than one drain is affected
Have you noticed the toilet gurgling when the shower drains or water backing up in a floor waste when you flush? When several fixtures start playing up at once the problem may be in a shared drain rather than an individual pipe.
- You hear unusual gurgling sounds
Bubbling or gurgling sounds coming from a drain may be a sign of restricted airflow or a partial obstruction. The sewage system has to be examined more closely by a professional to see if roots are the sole cause of the problem.
- There’s a persistent sewage smell
An unpleasant smell around outdoor drains, the yard or inside your home may point to a drainage problem. If wastewater isn’t flowing properly or a damaged pipe is allowing sewage to escape, the odour can become difficult to ignore. Don’t put it down to the weather or garden alone.
Can You Clear Tree Roots Yourself?
Store-bought drain cleaners may seem like a simple solution but they won’t replace damaged piping or eliminate an established tree root problem. Stronger chemicals might potentially cause further issues if they are poured down the drain without addressing the root reason.
As your local plumbing experts we highly recommend having a licensed blocked drain plumber Adelaide evaluate the drain blockage and find out what’s going on inside the pipe. Professionals come equipped with the right tools, specialised equipment, experience and knowledge to fix any drain problem without needlessly excavating the garden or your property. Highly advanced technology like a CCTV drain check can assist detect root growth, cracks, dislocated joints and other damage without causing any additional work on your property.
The plumber can suggest a suitable solution once the problem has been identified. If the line has been damaged, this may require replacing the pipe or making repairs after using a specialised high pressure water jet to remove the roots.
When Should You Call an Adelaide Blocked Drain Plumber?
Don’t wait until wastewater starts spilling into your bathroom or backyard. Repeated blockages, several slow drains or a sewer smell that won’t go away are all good reasons to arrange an inspection.
For homeowners dealing with recurring blockages, aba PLUMBING + GAS can help investigate drainage problems and identify the cause. Finding tree roots early may save you from repeated call-outs and more extensive repairs down the track.
If your drains have been giving you grief, it’s worth finding out what’s actually happening underground. A blockage might be the symptom, but the real problem could be growing quietly out of sight.
