Unfortunately, growing trees often means growing roots, and that can cause a lot of extensive and expensive damage to our drains and pipes.
But how do pipes find their way to our drains to cause damage? Trees need water, nutrients and oxygen to thrive and survive. So, when warm water runs through our drains and pipes and the vapour escapes, it makes its way to nearest cool soil. Vapour will often escape from a pipe because of cracks or fractures, and tree roots will grow towards it.
Tree roots are extremely strong and durable, which means they can grow inside pipes, thus decreasing their carrying capacity and putting pressure on the entire system.
Luckily however, any damage created by tree roots can be repaired. Many people opt to remove the tree itself, though in most cases the damage will have already been caused and pipes and drains will continue to leak and attract roots from elsewhere.
Calling in a professional team to replace the damaged drain or reline them is the only way to get them back to full working order. Relining drains will help to build their strength and does not require underground digging, meaning this will cause minimum disruption to your home.
With Drain Checker UK, our professional team can use their skills, expertise and up-to-date equipment to unblock any drains and carry out any necessary repair work to your pipes. Some pipes will require the use of drain jetting to flush out any stubborn blockages. Others may benefit from a CCTV survey to determine the issue before the best cause of action is decided.
Once your drains and pipes have been cleared or repaired where required, you should schedule regular drainage maintenance with a professional. You’ll be able to ensure no further problems arise without being prepared first.
If you are planting trees within your garden, you should ensure that they are at least 10 metres away from any pipes, drains or sewer lines. You should also consider choosing trees that grow slowly, as these will have roots that cause less destruction.
If you think tree roots are causing damage to the drains and pipes in your home, Drain Checker UK can help. If you’d like to talk to a member of the team, you can get in touch today by giving us a call on 0800 849 8099 or via our contact page.