If you live in a wooded lot or a house that’s 20 years old or older, and you live next to large trees over the area in your yard where the main drains are located, you may have tree roots in your drains. Roots in the main drain are a pain. Fixing them by removing and replacing the drain is very costly and costs several thousands of dollars, depending on how much needs to be replaced and how easy it is to access the drain. These drains are usually buried quite a bit underground, and since roots are involved, it may be tougher under a main tree root or two. It’s a big job. Tree roots work through cracks or joints in older clay or cast iron drains. These materials are rarely used anymore because of the loose-fitting joints that tree roots can penetrate.
Tree roots in sewer and stormwater drains have been a big problem for homeowners for over a century, and tree root technology has only recently advanced to the point that cleaning out a blockage can be done without severe excavation. The drain snake, a rotating auger affixed to a flexible cable, runs through your drain and rips through the roots. When the snake is retracted from the drain, it will have roots tangled on the end of it, which is why it has been replaced in recent decades into such a valuable and fantastic tool.
If your drains are blocked, you need to get a plumber in to clean or replace them, but that will only last so long. You will need to prune and remove roots near the drains and install a root barrier to prevent this from happening again.
It’s a good idea to call a drain cleaning company and schedule a yearly drain maintenance session if you’ve had root blockage problems. Call a Gold Coast company like Jetset Plumbing that uses a high-pressure water jetter to blast any tree roots and debris out.
