Blocked or overflowing outdoor drains can be hectic to deal with. Not only does it involve clearing up the gunk that has overflowed, but it also requires finding the right tool or chemical to dislodge the offending blockage. Doing this as a DIY job can be costly and harmful to your health.
More severe blockages may even see you having to call the emergency plumber Sydney residents call in times of plumbing crisis. Fortunately, these experts are not only skilled in removing the blockage but can also provide you with the main reason for recurring clogs. If you have a recurring drain blockage, this post is a must-read.
Not Always an Internal Factor
When you first notice a blocked drain, your first thought may be that it’s a result of something that a family member has flushed. This may result in you becoming stricter with family members about what can and can’t be flushed. Noticing that your drain is still getting blocked, and nothing seems to be working, may be an indication that the problem is not internal.
A common external culprit for blocked drains is tree and shrub roots. A little-known fact is that some tree species can have roots that easily spread at least four times the breadth of the tree’s canopy. While trees and shrubs can seem far enough from the house, the roots can easily reach into or around older or worn drain pipes.
Roots are attracted to the nutrients found in the sewage and water that leaks out of tiny cracks in the pipes. This encourages the roots to continuously reach for these water sources, sometimes wrapping themselves around or through your plumbing infrastructure.
Fortunately, expert plumbers have specialised tools and equipment that can check if roots are to blame. They will also be able to highlight where the roots are crossing over into the plumbing pipe’s path. This means that you will be able to remove the roots without having to dig up the entire garden looking for them.
Know What Signs to Look For
Since not every blocked drain issue is a result of a misguided tree root, it’s essential to rule out other potential issues. It’s also important to know what a few of the signs are that indicate a potential tree root problem. Here’s what you should keep an eye out for.
1. Recurring Drain Blockages
The most common sign that you may be dealing with a tree or shrub root issue is recurring blockages. Your first course of action should be to ensure that the blockages aren’t coming from a flushing problem in the house. Clean your drains regularly, as this will loosen any minor blockages, making it easier to see what you’re dealing with.
Speak to your local plumber for an assessment of your outdoor plumbing system. They will use CCTV cameras to detect the cause and location of the clogs. You mustn’t try to remove the roots without consulting the plumber. Doing so could cause more damage to the pipes.
2. The Garden Seems Greener than Usual
If roots are the cause of drain blockages, they may already be inside your pipes or feeding off of water leaking out of cracks. A clear sign of this appears in the form of growth spurts in your garden. In many instances, the increased greenery might lead you directly to the culprit roots.
3. Outdoor Drains Have a Foul Odour
Drains that have tree roots growing through them somewhere along the sewer line may be causing smaller clogs. This happens when drain debris latches onto the roots and gets stuck. Having a root invasion in your plumbing infrastructure often displays as a sulphur-like smell which moves up the pipes and into your drains.
In more severe instances, the smell will be detected from indoors. Our plumbing team recommends pouring a solution of baking soda and vinegar, followed by boiling water down the drain every few days. If the smell in your drain doesn’t clear up, it means that the clog is somewhere down the line.
4. Indoor Drainage is Slow
No matter how small your trees and shrubs are, their roots are always looking for areas where there are nutrients and moisture. When the tree roots sense nutrients, they send out smaller sensory roots commonly known as feeders.
These thinner roots can get into the smallest cracks in plumbing pipes and can cause additional blockages higher up in the pipes. These clogs cause water to drain more slowly than usual. Be sure to tell your plumber about the slow drainage so that they can check the entire infrastructure for clogs.
Final Thoughts
There’s no reason for you to deal with ongoing plumbing issues or to eradicate your whole garden. Speak to an expert plumber about checking for the cause of recurring drain issues. If roots prove to be the culprit, plumbers can use specialised equipment and techniques to remove the roots and repair the drain. Doing this ensures that having to deal with drain blockages will soon become a thing of the past!