Archive for the 'Clogged Drain' Category

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Tree Root Blockages: The Ongoing Problem

Published on October 28, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

So, you’ve called a plumber or expert in tree root blockages, and they’ve cleared the tree roots from your pipe. They may have even replaced damaged pipes. Problem solved, right? Well, not quite because tree root blockages can turn into a constant problem.

Most drain blockage solutions are only short term, there are only a few permanent ways to solve an ongoing root problem.

Some home and business owners choose to replace all their older, metal pipes with new pipes made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). PVC is currently the number one material for preventing the leaks and cracks that lead to root penetration. PVC will virtually guarantee that roots stay out of pipes, but it can get costly. The substitution of old pipes for PVC can be time consuming, and it can cost a fortune.

Another option (one that many folks don’t really see as an option) is removing all trees within the vicinity of the home or business. But, the removal of foliage can cause aesthetic and shade issues, and lower the value of the property.

One solution for many is routine maintenance and pipe clearing. Experts can use simple pipe treatments such as snakes and high-pressure water blasters to remove tree roots before they become a full scale blockage, but that means you keep doing it over and over again.

The best alternative is to treat your pipes with Vaporooter. It’s clean, it’s quick and it’s guaranteed.

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5 Things You Can Do To Prevent Blocked Drains

Published on October 7, 2010 in Blocked Drains and Clogged Drain. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , .

Here are a few measures that go a long way to prevent roots from infiltrating and destroying your pipes.

  1. Use pipes made of Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for new and replacement drains. PVC pipes are strong enough to repel the tree roots. Experts agree that PVC is the best material for reducing the risk of tree root blockages.
  2. Don’t plant trees near pipes. This seems simple enough, but many home and business owners don’t realize what constitutes as ‘near’ when we’re talking tree roots.   Many Australian tree roots have an incredibly wide spread.
  3. Pick proper foliage. Eucalyptus, for example, can have roots systems that spread out as much as 60 meters. Hills Weeping Fig, on the other hand, can have a root spread as small as 6 meters.
  4. Maintain your pipes. Wear and tear, cracks, and leaks can cause nutrient-rich water to seep into the soil around your pipes. This attracts tree roots like mad.
  5. Routinely check and clear your sewer drain. Though roots can be attracted to any type of water-bearing line, they are most often lured towards sewer drains. An expert can come by and clear roots out of your pipes before they become a big problem.


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Tree Roots in Basement Drains

Published on September 29, 2010 in Blocked Drains and Clogged Drain. 1 Comment Tags: .

Blocked basement drain are the sneaky little brother of root blocked water and sewer pipes. It’s much harder to notice a blocked basement drain because they are only used during floods. You’ll notice a problem sooner if you use your basement line to drain the water from a clothes washer.

Basement floor drains are likely to get blocked by roots because they’ve been around longer and are made out of weaker materials. Some basement drainage systems are made out of clay tile, which was standard plumbing when older homes were built.

Roots can easily penetrate the weak walls of older basement drains, and they will grow into them for years. For many home and business owners, a blocked basement drain doesn’t get noticed until a flood occurs.

By the time you’re aware of the problem, it’s too late. Flooded basements have to be pumped out. Once the water is clear, there may be thousands of dollars in property damages to deal with, not to mention the still-blocked drain.

There are few simple ways you can avert disaster by detecting a blocked basement drain before it is a huge issue. First off, listen to your drain. If it makes gurgling noises, especially during rain, it may be blocked.

Second, you can try pouring a few buckets of water down the drain, you’ll know you have a problem if it overflows, or drains slowly. Remember to remove anything that you have stored around the drain before you try this experiment. The last thing you need is water damage that you did yourself.


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Tree Roots Block Drains

Published on September 15, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Did you know that the majority of sewer blockages are caused by tree root systems? A recent study found that tree root are accountable for 54% of plumbing blockages, in some areas of Australia the number is as high as 93%

Plumbing blockages are a heavy price to pay for foliage. A root blocking inbound or outbound plumbing can quickly turn into a watery nightmare for home, business, and building owners.

Luckily, there are trees to avoid and trees that are okay. Trees with fibrous, or “spread out”, root can be dangerous near homes and business with plumbing. Trees with taproots, or roots that grow downward, can be safer for pipes. Also, some trees that are unsafe for plumbing become safer the farther they are away from buildings.

Don’t worry if it’s too late for preventive landscaping, there are several ways to clear those pesky roots from pipes. Experts will use different methods depending on the circumstance of the blockages. Popular methods include rodding, jetting, root cutting, the use of chemicals, and a process called dig and repair.

No matter what the root blockage issue, Australia has a water of tree root and plumbing experts. They help our pipes live in harmony with our world-famous fauna.


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How Blocked Drains Happen

Published on September 8, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain and Root Infiltration. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .

Drain pipes may not be very attractive to you, but tree roots love them. Tree roots are lured towards your pipe because of condensation. Moisture builds up around the pipes, more so in summer because the water in the pipes is much cooler than the surrounding environment . Thirsty tree roots lock on to the trail of dampness and creep toward your pipes.

The roots will grow along the pipes until they reach a crack, they may even pry open a loose joint. Once the pipe is breached, the root will grow into it to take advantage of the nutrient-rich material inside.

As the root continues to infiltrate the pipe it grows a bundle of thin root-masses. These masses make the blockage worse by trapping kitchen grease, food oil, and large pieces of drain debris such as tissue.

The tree roots will eventually exert so much pressure on the pipe that they will sompelstey destroy the section that they have grown into. The pipe may crack or burst from the outside, or it the pressure of the roots on the outside could cause the pipe to collapse in on itself.

Tree roots are not your everyday drain blockage. Most blockages can be quickly snaked out by you local plumber. The blockages caused by roots that grow into pipes are much more complicated. Even if a plumber is able to snake out the blockage, there will still be damage to the line.


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Electric Snakes

Published on August 20, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Electric snakes are tools used by plumbers to clear pipes of debris, but if your problem is roots growing into pipes, snaking is a very temporary solution. Electric snakes are used to buy time until a longer-lasting technique can be used to clear the pipe.

These nifty machines are made of over 60 meters of tubing. The tubing spins at over 500 revolutions a minute. A powerful electric snake is enough to clear regular debris and small, thin root blockages. You’re going to need something stronger for dense root blockages.

Plumbers may still use an electric snake on a dense blockage, with the hopes that it will clear enough of the pipe to make it usable in the short-term. On top of their provisionality, electric snakes pose many other problems.

The tubes are long, cumbersome, space will have to made to fit the equipment into your snakes will be covered in grease and grime. They can make a huge mess in your home if you happen to get careless plumbers. Even the most courteous plumbing experts can still unwittingly leave some muck for you to clean up.

Experts warn against renting or buying an electric snakes and using them to routinely clear pipes. The tube spins so fast that it can be dangerous if you’re not trained in the proper use. Like most complicated devices, the use of electric snakes is best left up to the pros.

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5 Ways to Clear Tree Roots From Pipes

Published on August 17, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 1 Comment Tags: , , , .
  1. Rodding: Plumbers stick a ratchet (a bar with teeth) down your pipe to break up the root block. Then they send another bar down to cut and clear the debris.
  2. Jetting: Plumbers will use a hose with a special nozzle to direct a powerful jet of water at the block. With jetting, there is a big risk that the jet won’t be able to break up the blockage, time and money might have to spent on a more hard-hitting solution.
  3. Root Cutting: This process uses the same high-pressure water as jetting, but in this case the water is more directed, and is used to cut the roots before flushing them out. Cutting the roots usually encourages new root growth. They could grow back faster and stronger.
  4. Chemicals: This treatment is a heavy chemical foam that contains herbicides. How a chemical treatment works depends on how bad the root block is. Less dense root masses can be forced out by the pressure of the foam as it travels down the pipe. More dense masses will have to be jetted first. The foam seals cracks in the pipes cause by the roots, and the herbicides hinder further root growth. You’ll have to treat pipes near root systems at least once a year. Vaporooter is the leading product to get this done.
  5. Dig out and Repair: This method requires excavation of the pipes and roots. Although fairly permanent, its often only used in extreme situations, such as the total collapse of a main drainage pipe. The costs can be quite high when you have to dig to remove tree roots.

Source: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33520788/INVESTIGATION-OF-SEWER-BLOCKAGES-DUE-TO-TREE-ROOTS-Graham-Thomson-/


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The First Signs Of A Tree Root Blockage

Published on August 10, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 2 Comments Tags: , .

The first sign of a tree root blockage is a slow drain.  Simple right? But, this won’t be an average slow drain that can be cured with a plunger or a drain cleaning solution. The blockage may be accompanied by a gurgling sound from within the drain, which can be heard when no water is running.

A quick visual diagnosis will let you know if a tree root block is possible. Any trees that are within 60 meters of the building, or within ten meters of any know pipes, have root systems that might penetrate a line.

Tree roots are more likely to grow into your lines during winter and other cold months. That’s because tree roots have to travel farther for moisture during these months. Older pipes, especially those laid before the 1980s can be made of materials that are easy for pipes to infiltrate.

Some plumbers use high-tech cameras to determine whether a blockage is common, or caused by a tree root system. They attach a camera to a drain snake, and run it down the affected pipe.

Tech savvy blockage experts use this camera to explore every aspect of a blocked pipe.   They’ll take a video, diagnose the problem, and then suggest the best course of action.

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Clogged Drain or Tree Root Damage? Time for Vaporooter

Published on June 14, 2010 in Clogged Drain, General, Pipe Damage and Root Infiltration. 2 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

Vaporooter is the perfect solution to remove tree roots in sewer pipes. When used in repeated applications to remove tree roots from sewer lines, Vaporooter approaches the level of 100 percent effective in tree root control. No process to remove tree roots in pipes and away from foundations has proven to be nearly as effective or efficient.

Vaporooter is delivered in a foam application to prevent tree roots damage. The foam ensures that the combination of herbicides, Metham Sodium (herbicide), and Dichlobenil (growth inhibiting agent) reaches every root surface within the pipes to kill the root and prevent regrowth of the root cells. This effectively addresses the tree root problem within the pipe and eliminates roots in drains.

The use of a foam application also controls the amount of time the herbicide combination is in contact with a tree root. Vaporooter only affects the tree root problem in pipes and does not affect trees or shrubs that are above the ground as it is not absorbed by the tree. No method to remove roots in pipes has proven to deliver the same safe and effective process as Vaporooter.

As a chemical compound, Vaporooter must be applied by a Mini Foamer machine by a licensed applicator. By following this process to address a clogged drain, it helps to ensure the Vaporooter foam safely and truly penetrates the root to remove the roots in sewer pipes.

The machine generates the foam and pumps it to remove tree roots. The technician is trained to ensure this process delivers foam completely throughout the pipe to penetrate roots in drains and prevent their growth. The herbicides in the Vaporooter will penetrate the roots in drains and burst the root, causing it to die and decay. Grease and slime are stripped away from the clogged drain to allow for deep penetration to prevent the tree root problem.

Removing tree roots from a clogged drain must first be done with an auger to clean out the root mass and make way for the proper method to treat roots in drains. Vaporooter should be applied within 6 to 8 weeks of new implementations or fresh root cuts to prevent continued tree root damage. When this process to remove tree roots from pipes is done annually, it can effectively prevent future tree root damage.

No one should have to be at the mercy of an invasive tree root problem on their property. Removing tree roots in sewer pipes and away from foundation walls can easily be achieved with Vaporooter. We can show you how to remove roots in pipes with our licensed applicator and proven Vaporooter method. You no longer have to pay for tree root damage.

Don’t wait for your tree roots to become a problem that costs significant resources to repair. Call a Vaporooter profeassional today to assess your tree root problem and eliminate your clogged drain. They can show you how to remove roots in pipes before they cause a clog and backup your system. Sewer root control is proven and effective with Vaporooter!

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Remove Roots in Pipes with Vaporooter

Published on May 17, 2010 in Clogged Drain, General, Pipe Damage, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 2 Comments Tags: , , , .

As much as trees contribute to the value of property, the health of citizens and the basic aesthetics of the environment, their roots can be extremely intrusive. When this intrusion happens in sewer lines, the tree roots in sewer pipes cause extensive damage. Implementing a process to remove tree roots from a clogged drain is essential in order to ensure the free flow of the waste water collection system.

A tree root problem can result from continuing growth. A root will grow toward moisture through a continuous process. Tree root damage caused by roots in drains is the result of roots that grow one cell at a time, enabling the root to penetrate extremely small openings in the pursuit of nourishment.

Once the root has entered a pipe, tree root damage escalates. A clogged drain caused by roots in sewer pipes is a much more formidable adversary than a basic clog. Once tree root damage occurs and the pipe is penetrated, the root can divide hundreds of times to form an enormous mass of tender root ends.

It is important to remove roots in pipes before a devastating backup can occur. The mass of roots within a clogged drain usually collects a thick coating of grease, causing it to become heavy and hang in the water. This hanging creates grit settlement and shoaling. As debris and sewage solids continue to build in the clogged drain, it piles on the root mass until a blockage occurs.

A common solution is to use an auger on the roots in sewer pipes to remove tree roots from the sewer lines. This process to address a tree root problem can actually allow the tree roots to grow back bigger and stronger before, thereby exacerbating the tree root problem. A better solution that is not only easier to apply, but also ensures roots in drains cannot continue to be a problem is the Vaporooter solution.

Vaporooter is the perfect solution to remove tree roots from sewer lines as it is safe to use and does not hurt trees or other plants above ground. The use of Vaporooter approaches the level of 100 percent effective in the process to remove roots in pipes. In fact, when used in annual applications, Vaporooter has proven to be the safest and most effective process to remove tree roots from sewer lines.

Delivered in a foam application by a certified technician, Vaporooter ensures that your tree root problem is no longer a problem. The foam ensures that the combination of herbicides, Metham Sodium (herbicide), and Dichlobenil (growth inhibiting agent),   reaches every root to address an ongoing tree root problem. The roots in sewer pipes will no longer grow in the pipes to ensure pipes that allow for the free and clear flow of fluids.

The use of a foam application also controls the amount of time the herbicide combination is in contact with a tree root to remove roots in pipes. No method that approaches how to remove tree roots has failed to deliver the same safe and effective process as Vaporooter.

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