Blocked Drains

The most common cause of blocked drains; tree roots can occupy an area 2 to 4 times the diameter of the crown of the tree. Particularly in the established suburbs of northern Sydney and beaches, blocked drains and sewers due to tree root ingression is a regular occurrence.

Tree roots are opportunistic and will seek air and moisture wherever it is. Just as tree roots seek air and moisture under a footpath and cause it to raise up, tree roots will seek air and moisture that is found along a pipe. Even when the pipe has no leakage, roots will be there because the pipe temperature is most likely different than the soil temperature and water vapour will condense along the pipe surface.

Traditional earthenware pipes were generally installed with a weak cement seal on the joints, which cracks and breaks away over time, creating a leak at the joints of the pipe. Air and nutrient rich water can then seep from the pipe, creating an ideal growing medium for tree roots.

Tree roots will penetrate any leakage point, fill the pipes with a root mass and eventually, exert enough pressure to spread the crack, increase the leakage and worsen the problem.

Often tree roots from several trees will disturb pipes in their quest for water, so removal of trees to alleviate future problems can prove problematic, if not impossible.

MT Plumbing has the cost effective solution to this problem.

Initially, the pipes will be cleared of roots and blockages with a hydro-pressure jetter and then treated with a root inhibitor to slow the growth of tree roots. The permanent solution is to replace earthen ware pipes with PVC Pipes. In many circumstances, MT Plumbing can offer our pipe relining service.