By Matthew Baring-Gould, Kingscliff-based drainage plumber. Servicing Tweed Heads for 4 years. 5.0 stars across 173 Google reviews. Licensed NSW 383340C and QLD 15036450. ABN 74 605 392 348.
90mm PVC should never be laid in the ground. This one was, and the tree roots finished it off. Cleared what we could, quoted the proper fix.
Why not 90mm
90mm has thin wall thickness relative to its diameter. Under driveway or garden-bed loads, it compresses over time. Any ground movement or tree-root pressure cracks it. We will not spec 90mm in the ground on any drainage job, residential or commercial. 100mm costs marginally more and lasts.
What we did
- Hydrojet attempt to clear.
- CCTV survey, line was heavily root-affected and the pipe was already cracked in multiple places.
- Not realistic to simply clear and move on; the next blockage was weeks away.
- Quoted the full repair with 100mm replacement.
Takeaway
If you have 90mm in the ground on your property, you are on a clock. Replace proactively on a timeline that suits you, or wait for an emergency and pay the surcharge.
Call Matty on 0447 188 394 for drainage work across Tweed Heads, the Northern Rivers, the Gold Coast and inner Brisbane.
Customer names and addresses have been withheld. Individual results vary. Drain Masters Plumbing is licensed in NSW (383340C) and QLD (15036450).
Frequently asked
How do I know what size my drains are?
A CCTV inspection confirms both the diameter and the material. If your property was built in the last 20 years and nothing has been upgraded, 90mm is a reasonable default assumption.
Can 90mm be relined instead of replaced?
If the structure is still intact (just cracked at joins), reline can work. If the pipe has deformed or collapsed, dig-and-replace is the only option.
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