How to prevent tree roots getting into your drains.

Got a problem with tree roots getting into your drains? We can help.

But first, why do tree roots WANT to get into your drains and HOW do they get in there?

Apart from sunshine, trees need two things to grow - water and nutrients. Their roots are designed to search out sources of both water AND nutrients.

Tree roots will find these two things in the soil mostly. BUT there is somewhere that has even more water AND nutrients than plain old soil.

Your drains! Particularly your sewer drain, which is where everything from your toilet, sink, shower, bath etc goes. Now you might not think that all this is very “nutritious” but it is for a tree root.

Once the tree roots get into your drains they stay there, sending lots of water and nutrients up into the tree. And if you don’t do anything about the problem, the tree roots grow bigger and bigger and bigger, and longer and longer and longer, as they grow down the drain looking for even more water and nutrients.

Tree roots will also get into your stormwater drains which are the ones that take all the water from your roof gutter and downpipes (and sometimes your garden as well.)

So how do tree roots get into your drains in the first place? All it takes is the smallest crack or gap in your drains for a thin tree root to find its way into your drains. Once the tree root gets into your drain, it grows thicker and stronger and gradually makes the crack or gap in your drain bigger and bigger.

Once you have tree roots in your drains, there are a number of ways to try to fix the problem.

The most severe of course is to cut down or kill the tree. But that is a very brutal solution. And not one to recommend if you like trees!

Next, you can pour substances down your drains that will “kill” the roots. But these are usually quite toxic poisons and once they wash down the drain they can have really nasty affects on other lifeforms along the way. Also, you run the risk of killing the tree by killing its roots.

You can get a plumber to send either a high pressure water jetter or other device down the drain to cut through the roots and either flush them down the drain or cut them free and drag them out the drain.

But this is only a temporary solution as the roots will grow back and the problem will start again unless you also do something to block up the crack or gap in your drains that is letting the tree roots in, in the first place!

Some plumbers will recommend digging up your drains to replace them if they have collapsed or have big gaps and cracks in them. But that can be enormously costly and it can involve digging up your whole garden or backyard, which can ruin it.

The best solution is to get your drain relined. Relining your drain is like putting a whole, brand new drain inside the existing drain. If your drain is a PVC plastic drain, this will reinforce the drain, filling up all the cracks and making the PVC drain more than twice as strong as before. In fact, the lining The Drain Man uses to reline your drain is guaranteed for life, which is a longer guarantee than the original PVC drain.

If your drain is an older style terracotta drain or a cast iron drain or whatever, it might be made up of sections and those sections can come apart causing gaps in the drain.

Also, parts of your drain can collapse, causing gaps and holes to appear that allow tree roots in.

Whatever material your drainpipes are made of, relining the drain from the inside, creates a solid sleeve that lines the drain and closes up all these gaps and cracks. With no gaps or cracks, there is no place for the tree roots to get into your drains and your problems will be gone for life!

So if you have ongoing problems with tree roots in your drains, don’t waste time with other methods. Call The Drain Man on 1800 843 372 and let us come and talk to you about your problem.

We’ll put a camera down inside your drains to do a full inspection of the tree root problem and to identify exactly where the tree roots are getting in. We will clear the drain thoroughly of all the tree roots causing the problems. And then we will reline your drain to prevent them coming back.

We guarantee our workmanship and the materials we use.

So call now or use the enquiry form on this website to send us a request for service.

We look forward to getting rid of tree roots in your drains, for good!