Trees have the potential to cause devastating issues when it comes to your sewer lines and drainpipes. Roots are strong enough to enter and damage your system, and costly repairing is the general end result. Unfortunately, not everyone is aware of the complications trees can cause, and it damage to drains happens far too often.

blocked drains from trees

With some caution and preparation, you can avoid expensive restoration of your sewer system in your home on the Gold and Tweed Coast.

Defective sewage systems are the most common cause of blocked drains and in many cases, house owners don’t notice it’s not the drain; it’s actually their trees. We recommend getting professional advice when you have trees near your house.

What You Can Do

First, it´s important to understand that all trees that are close to your home can harm your property. Contrary to what people say, there are no exceptions. But there are few trees that have a bigger potential to penetrate your sewage pipes. These trees are the fast and large growing ones.

Tree roots don’t set out to destroy your sewage system. It’s the way of nature for roots to seek water. They can ‘sense’ it and will enter your tanks and pipes through weak and seeping spots. In most cases, only the top 60 cm of soil is affected.

But you don´t want to risk it, do you?

Some trees are considered aggressive when it comes to the search for water. You want to avoid those trees in your garden at all cost.

What Can You Do To Avoid Root Problems?

It starts with a carefully planned system for your house. If you have an existing home, you want to check the plans and see where your pipes and sewage drains are lying under the ground. Don´t plant new trees near your lines and carefully watch the size and growing speed of those trees that are already there.

clearing a blocked drain

If you still want to plant trees in your garden, or close to your home, decide on a planting area far enough away from your sewage system. Even if you consider planting slow and small growing trees, you’ll need to keep those away from your drain pipes too. These are the best choice in any case.

Nevertheless, all trees need to be regularly replanted every 8 to 10 years. Or your tree is going to out grow its planting area.

Tree Problem Already?

But maybe our post comes too late, and you’ve already got a root situation. In this case, you should always seek advice from a professional like us. There are different ways and methods to prevent further damage, and should you try to repair the issue yourself, you could run into further issues, costing you more money.

You could use slowly releasing chemicals to “scare away” tree roots from seeking further water. Barriers made out of plastic or metal can be somewhat effective too. But in any case, those methods are just short-term solutions and are not guaranteed to work in the long run. They may also harm your trees and your other plants.

Seek professional help and call our friendly team today to discuss your immediate drain clearing needs.