Very often, the reason your drain is backed up is due to an accumulation of gunk – like food scraps, hair, grease, larger objects and flushed un-flushables. At other times, it’s due to poor plumbing and installation, a simple lack of regular maintenance, or something like a leak or damaged pipe. However, you may be surprised to learn that the number 1 cause of blocked drains in Brisbane and surrounding areas is due to tree roots. That’s why, before you reach for your favourite plumber’s number, we’re going to take a deep dive into how to clear roots from drain pipes.
How do tree roots get into drain pipes?
First things first, though – why on earth are tree roots in drain and pipe plumbing such a big deal? The answer is simple: tree roots simply work their way towards the nearest ideal environment to get the moisture and nutrients they need to thrive. And there’s hardly a ‘tastier’ invitation than a tiny crack in a pipe that guides those tree roots towards what they desire. And once they’ve found their way into the pipe itself, that’s when the serious trouble of tree roots in pipes really starts.
Are tree roots blocking my drains?
Think you might need to know how to clear roots from drain pipes? Watch out for these common signs:
- Drains slow to empty?
- Hearing gurgling sounds?
- Toilet backing up?
- Drains smelling terrible?
- Water pressure suddenly dropped?
- Water bills suddenly skyrocketed?
- Green patches or sinkholes in your lawn?
- Sudden tree growth?
Just before pulling out the number to your trusty local plumber, you might be feeling confident enough to try getting rid of tree roots in pipes with one of the following DIY methods:
1. Can you clear tree roots with chemicals?
How to clear tree roots from drains with things you already have in the cupboard? That’s a tricky one, but there are a couple of chemicals that can act as a root killer for drains. The two below can be used either as a treatment or a preventative measure.
- Copper sulphate: This blue crystal that doubles as a natural herbicide. Simply flush half a cup down the toilet or offending drain and that might be all it takes. Just make sure you don’t flush it down if you have a septic tank.
- Rock salt: It’s almost as effective as copper sulphate but safe even for a septic. There are also a range of foaming agents on the market that can work to create a barrier between the pipe entry point and the root.
If the tree root killer can’t flow through the pipes and contact all the roots, then it can’t poison them all and won’t be effective. Some brands claim to work in 2 days to a week, but this doesn’t help with the broken pipes where the tree roots got into the storm water or sewer pipes in the first place.
2. DIY plumbing
Can you clear tree roots from drains yourself? Without professional gear and experience, there’s unfortunately not a lot more you can do to try to shift those tree roots – especially if it’s a serious blockage. If you’re particularly handy, a blocked stormwater drain can be reasonably easily dug up – but it is so easy to then miss any other parts of the system that are similarly affected.
And then there’s this…
Digging up your garden is never much fun, and you’ll still need a licenced blocked drain plumber in Brisbane or near you to replace the pipes.
3. Professional options
Let’s face it: a serious incursion of tree roots in pipes is going to require something a little more professional. This might include:
- Mechanical solutions: A hand-held plumber’s auger is probably not going to be very effective – but the heavy-duty motorised auger with a powerful rotating head has teeth that can hack through the roots like a saw.
- Drain Pipe Inspection Camera: Did you know the best-equipped plumbers will carry around bespoke CCTV plumbing camera technology to pinpoint with HD-accuracy the precise location of a tree root incursion – even if it’s in the deepest, darkest corner of your plumbing system?
- High pressure water jetter: It’s not just a garden hose on steroids – it’s even more powerful than that. We’re talking tens of thousands of PSI of ultra-high pressurised hot water that would be powerful enough to sear the paint off your car but not at all damaging for your actual pipes.
- Pipe relining: Once upon a time, pipe repair or replacement would involve time-consuming and extremely damaging excavation. But state-of-the-art plumbing technology allows plumbers to get into your pipes via a single opening and ‘reline’ pipe sections damaged by tree roots – all without disturbing your garden beds and lawn even the tiniest bit.
Let the Drain Masters customise a solution for you
But if you choose your local plumber well, they’ll be ready to devise a fully customised storm water drainage solution that is perfectly tailored to your precise property and situation. At Drain Masters Plumbing, we’re the renowned blocked drain cleaning specialists operating all across Brisbane and surrounding areas including Ashgrove, Coorparoo, Kenmore, Wynnum and beyond. We can handle every check-up, unblocking, repair, emergency or custom solution for roots in drains. Get in touch today for guaranteed workmanship and fair, upfront pricing.
