Are your tree roots blocking your pipes?

While you battle through the winter months, you may have noticed your pipes blocking up more frequently – this could be tree roots growing into your pipes, causing blockages.

Trees in outdoor spaces of your home can provide shade and enhance the natural beauty and value of your home. However, its roots can sometimes grow into your pipelines – causing major and expensive plumbing issues.  

While winter may seem like a time when trees go dormant, it’s actually the opposite. During winter, tree growth is focused on its roots instead of the branches and leaves. These roots naturally seek out water and nutrients, and even a small leak in your pipe can cause the roots of a tree to seek out that water and grow around them or break right through. Eventually, these roots will multiply and block your pipes or drains completely.

How can I detect a blocked pipe this winter?

Early detection can solve emergency plumbing issues and save you a lot of hassle! Here are some signs that you can look at to determine if your tree roots are blocking pipes in your home:

1. Abnormally growing trees – If a tree seems to be growing more quickly or seems greener compared to the other trees, this could be a sign of a plumbing problem.
2. Nasty odours – If you smell unpleasant odours around the drain areas in your home, you may be dealing with a drainage problem from excessive tree root growth.
3. Backed-up sewer – If you notice water draining slowly from the drains or if there is a backflow of sewer water in your toilet or shower areas, try clearing it with a plunger first. If this doesn’t solve the problem, there may be tree roots blocking your drains.
4. Sinkholes – In some cases, the tree roots may have compromised the structural integrity of your home’s pipelines, and you’d notice large areas of soil being saturated with water. This will eventually result in sinkholes or soft mud, with visible sunken spots on your lawn.
5. Gurgling noises in drains – Gurgling noises can be a sign of a blocked pipe, which is probably tree root related or a build-up of soap scum and hair in the bathrooms. Kitchens are also susceptible to a build-up of grease and food grime, so you should take note if you notice any sounds.

Maintaining your drains and pipes this winter

Regular maintenance of your drains and pipes will ensure any blockages are detected and prevented. Our top tip this winter is to check your stormwater drains, sumps, and downpipes for any blockages. Additionally, clearing your gutters can also prevent unwanted blockages from occurring in your drains.

Here’s how you can maintain and prevent plumbing problems from tree roots during the colder months:

• Regularly fertilise and water your plants so they do not search for other water sources and nutrients.
• Avoid planting trees with aggressive roots like oaks, willows, and holly.
• Avoid planting new trees or shrubs around pipes or water lines
• Have old pipes checked, repaired, and replaced regularly.
• Ensure your pipes and drains are checked by experienced professionals, like Seaview Plumbing!

How Seaview Plumbing Can Help  

Seaview Plumbing is the plumbing expert in Adelaide. Whether it’s a clogged drain or a blocked toilet, we’re available to attend to all your gas and plumbing needs. Here are some of the ways we can help you this winter:

Tree roots in a pipe

Our experienced plumbers recently attended a call out where tree roots had made their way into a broken pipe. For the homeowners, the flooding from the broken pipe was only discovered after a big downpour.

Without regular maintenance, what was meant to be an easy drain clean turned into an excavation and repair. With the help of our camera, we could identify the problem, show it to our customers, and speedily fix the issue.

Blocked Pipes

After a storm, leaves and debris can get washed into drains, causing blockages. If you suspect you’ve got an unwanted build-up in your drains, pipes, or gutters, call Seaview Plumbing before the blockage causes serious damage.

Most of the time, clearing the blockage is as easy as using an electric drain cleaner. However, we use other tools such as the Hydro Jet and Camera/Locator for trickier problems and recurring issues. Our experienced team will assess the situation and determine the right method for the job. 

Blocked Pipes

After a storm, leaves and debris can get washed into drains, causing blockages. If you suspect you’ve got an unwanted build-up in your drains, pipes, or gutters, call Seaview Plumbing before the blockage causes serious damage.

Most of the time, clearing the blockage is as easy as using an electric drain cleaner. However, we use other tools such as the Hydro Jet and Camera/Locator for trickier problems and recurring issues. Our experienced team will assess the situation and determine the right method for the job.

This winter, give your drains some love sooner rather than later! Once the downpours begin, it will be a little too late – and tree roots in pipes are more common than you’d think! Prevention and regular maintenance can result in fewer headaches in the future.

If you have any problems with blocked drains in your home or want to simply maintain your pipes, call Seaview Plumbing for all your plumbing and gas needs. Alternatively, you can also send us an email or reach out to us on Facebook.