It’s very common to have plumbing or drainage issues that are caused by tree roots. If there are trees near your drainage system or sewer lines, their roots will eventually find a way towards the pipes and cause damage. That’s because tree roots crave water and oxygen, and they find both of these where your drainage lines are.
What can you do to prevent tree roots from damaging your plumbing and drainage?
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Find out where your drainage and sewer lines are
If you’re building a new home on a clear section, this will be an easy task. Make sure your builder and landscaper talk to each other so proper plans are in place regarding where the plumbing lines will go and where the trees will be planted.
If you’re moving into an existing property, have a look on the plans to see where the sewage lines and drainage pipes are. The Land Information Memorandum (LIM) report will show where the private and public stormwater and sewerage drains are. It may also show any special plumbing or drainage approvals or consents that were needed when the property was built.
- Hire a plumber to map out your sewage lines
If you’ve bought an existing home and don’t have plans that show where the underground sewage drainage lines are, give us a call. We can map out for you where your plumbing lines are and where there are access points to the sewage system. We can often tell just by looking at the trees on your section where there may be tree roots that will interfere with your plumbing.
If we suspect the tree roots are affecting the plumbing and drainage for your home, we have state-of-the-art CCTV cameras that we run through the pipes to get a clear picture of what’s going on under the surface. It’s a great idea to have this CCTV inspection done before there are any drainage issues. Like anything, prevention is always easier and cheaper than fixing a problem after it’s occurred.
- Have a CCTV inspection done
Also known as a video drain inspection, this involves using a closed circuit (CC) drain camera to inspect the drains, pipelines, sewer and storm water lines outside or underneath your property. We run a camera through the drainpipes in order to determine whether any tree root cutting is needed and assess the cause of any drain blockages that may be occurring.
- Carefully consider the type of trees you plant
If you are building on a new section, the size of the land will be one of the factors that determine what type of trees and other vegetation you decide to plant. You might think about the size of the trees you’re planting in regards to shade and privacy. But it’s also important to consider how much space the trees need below the surface. If this isn’t your area of expertise, consult with a professional gardener or landscaper and find out if there will be enough room for roots to expand as your trees grow. They will be able to tell you what species of trees or shrubbery need more room for root growth than others. Don’t just think about how the trees fit on your section now – consider how much room they’ll need both above and below ground as they grow.
- Have regular root cutting maintenance work done
Roots often penetrate drains in search of water and, once they find it, they get denser. If they’re not cut back on a regular basis, tree roots can cause a blocked drain and inevitably, as they spread, they can cause a cracked or burst pipe. With our tree root cutter equipment, we can clear the roots away where they are causing drainage problems or blockages. We do this using either high-pressure water or our specialist root cutting bladed machinery. We take special care to avoid damaging the pipes. Additionally, we always aim to remove the roots in such a way as to minimise further spread towards the pipes, while preserving the health of the tree(s), shrubs or other vegetation affected.
If you have any concerns about the plumbing and drainage in your home or on your property, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the friendly team at Sumich Plumbing & Drainage. We’re here to help prevent those unwanted plumbing emergencies and we’re always happy to come and take a look over your property to give you peace of mind.