Archive for the 'Environmentally Friendly' Category

What is a blocked drain?

Published on January 4, 2012 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Drain Maintenance, Environmentally Friendly, General, Pipe Damage and Stop tree roots in drains. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , .

A  drain is an outlet where water can be piped away from a plumbing fixture like a toilet or WC, a basin, bath or shower, a kitchen sink, laundry tubs or an external drain, known as a gully.

Stormwater drains can take discharge from roofing guttering and pits and grates installed to take runoff  water collected from hard surfaces.

 

A blocked drain is usually referred to when waste water accumulates around any of the drains indicated and can not be evacuated from this place.

Most drains run to either sewer or stormwater mains that are assets of Water authorities, municipal councils and the cities and towns across the country

Most blockages are generally caused by tree roots, grease, hair, sanitary products, dirt and debris or a multitude of foreign items, even broken pipes.

Blocked drains are the resposibility of the property owners.

This series of blog posts will be aimed at blocked drain basics.

We will discuss who owns the drains, how to maintain them, what you should and should not put in your drains and what to look out for if your drains are about to block up.

We will look inside pipes, show you a drainoscopy or pipe survey so you know what it’s like in the network of pipes under your homes and buildings.

I encourage your feedback, so please ask questions and we will answer them promptly!

Share

Nightmare Christmas…will this happen to you?

Published on December 12, 2011 in Blocked Drains, Environmentally Friendly, General, Pipe Damage and Tree Roots. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , , , , .

Christmas is fast approaching…

…and I’ll let you in on a little “trade secret”…

…that I guarantee will make me very unpopular with a lot of emergency plumbers!

Continue reading ‘Nightmare Christmas…will this happen to you?’

Share

A tale of two drains

Published on October 26, 2011 in Blocked Drains, Cost Benefits, Environmentally Friendly, General, Pipe Damage and Tree Roots. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , , , .

 These 2 sewer drain  pipes with their lids removed are taking the discharge from neighbouring properties. They are surrounded by different species of large trees. Tree roots are growing into the sewer pipe through the pipe joints

The drain on the left belongs to a client who, after many years of tree root blockages to her sewer pipes, grew tired of the sewer overflow running through her home.

The pipeline runs underneath her marble tiled entrance and the suggestion to renew the pipeline would mean excavating the black and white tiled floor. Matching the tiles would be difficult!

The drain on the right is as we found it. We told the owner about Vaporooter!

The images below show the inside of each pipe.

Guess which drain has had Vaporooter?

Share

Applying Root Foam To Pipes And Drains

Published on January 12, 2011 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Root foam kills small root masses, inhibits future root growth and reinforces pipes. It’s low impact on the environment and reduced toxicity make root foam an ideal option for home and business owners plagued by tree roots blocking pipes.

This is one of those ‘don’t try this at home’ situations. Unless you’re a qualified plumber, DO NOT attempt to use jet rodding or root foam application machinery. The process is delicate and misuse of equipment or chemicals could lead to environmental damage or personal injury. Even certified plumbers are required to wear safety equipment during use. Such equipment could include; safety boots, boot proctors, gloves, safety glasses, safety vests and ear protection.

If your intruding tree roots are particularly dense or thick, your plumber may feed a mechanical root cutter or jet rodder down your pipe to clear out the debris before applying the foam.

Drainoscopy Equipment Used In Vaporooter Application

On the other hand, the foam is sturdy enough to kill and flush out many smaller, looser root masses. Your plumber may not have to use a mechanical root cutter.

To start the root foam process, your plumber uses a ‘Root Foamer System’ to mix the root foam chemicals with water to create a frothy mixture. The machine’s even mixing creates a uniform foam.  Consistent foam reduces the chance of harming plants by ensuring that no area receives a highly concentrated dose of herbicidal chemicals.

Your plumber will feed an application tube all the way down the pipe, turn on the feed from the foam mixer and then retract the foam tube. The foam will eject from the tube and evenly coat the inside of your plumbing as it gets pulled back through the pipes.

During the entire process, your expert plumber will constantly take measurements to ensure safe and effective chemical application.

Share

Using Chemical Foam to Treat Tree Root Blockages

Published on December 22, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration, Tree Roots and YouTube Video. 2 Comments Tags: , .

A combination of mechanical root removal and a process known as chemical foaming is one of the cheapest and most effective means of removing root blockages in pipes.

Mechanical removal, known as root pulling or jet rodding, can be used on it’s own for a short term solution to remove tree roots from blocked pipes. This process uses machinery that your plumber feeds down the obstructed pipe. The machinery clears the pipe by cutting away the roots. This leads to clear, useable plumbing, but it won’t last long.

TREE ROOT INSPECTION VIDEO


Clipping roots is just like pruning branches, it encourages tree growth. Without other treatments, roots will grow back into the pipes faster and stronger.

Chemical foam is a sturdy version of herbicide that has the power to clear pipes of small root masses by pushing them out. The foam will then harden, creating a barrier for further root growth that’s both physical and chemical. But, The foam isn’t strong enough to push out larger root masses entrenched in pipes.

That’s why both mechanical removal and foam treatment is an ideal solution. Continue reading ‘Using Chemical Foam to Treat Tree Root Blockages’

Share

Different Types of Tree Root Killing Chemicals

Published on December 20, 2010 in Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 3 Comments Tags: , , , .

We’ve already explained in previous blog posts that physically replacing blocked pipes and removing surrounding tree roots does little to protect plumbing from future root intrusion. Chemical treatment is needed for ongoing fortification against invading tree roots. But, some chemicals not only inhibit root growth, they also may destroy surrounding trees and foliage.

The complete destruction of plants and trees due to chemicals in and around pipes is considered a “worse case scenario” because the root systems near pipes represents such a small portion of the actual tree. However, the threat of foliage destruction does exist and is worrisome to landowners concerned about the aesthetic value of their property. In some cases, the optional destruction of plants is also a concern for government environmental agencies.

Here’s a list of some popular chemical treatments for pipe and their effect on pipes, roots and trees:

Dichlorobenil (a.k.a. Casoron W50): This chemical comes in both liquid and powder forms, that are both effective at killing tree roots. The liquid form does damage trees, but the powder form does not.

Endothal: This herbicide doesn’t harm trees, but it also doesn’t do much to kill root systems. It’s mostly used to eliminate aquatic plants growing in wastewater.

Metham (a.k.a Vaporizer, a.k.a. methylcarbamadithadithioic acid):  Kills some roots when used in low concentration, while higher concentrations increase the chance of killing roots, it also increases the chance of harming the trees. Highly effective when used in combination with Dichlorobenil. However, its adverse effect on trees and other plants has lead to potential banning of use by America’s Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.)

Copper Sulphate: Considered an outdated and harmful chemical treatment, copper sulfate may damage the plants without actually killing the invasive root system.

Glufosinate: Effective in high doses, this chemical is much more expensive than other types of chemical treatments. Despite the expense, glufosinate is a good alternative because is does little to damage trees.

The safe alternative is Vaporooter, proven, tested and guaranteed with more than 40 years of evidence that it does not harm trees, foliage or wildlife.

Share

Chemically Treating Roots in Pipes

Published on December 15, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Clogged Drain, Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 2 Comments Tags: , , .

Tree roots love pipes. Why? Because of the atmosphere. The moisture and rich soil are like mood lighting and jazz music to tree roots. That’s why pipe replacement and other mechanical root intrusion solutions aren’t completely effective. They replace the pipes and kill some roots, but they do nothing about the atmosphere.

Chemical pipe treatments kill tree roots and make the area around plumbing inhospitable to the tree roots. Often, non-chemical pipe treatments kill tree roots in and surrounding the pipes, eventually the dead roots around the pipe decay. That decay is rich food for living tree roots and it attracts them right back to the pipes.

Chemical pipe treatments solve the problem by destroying and inhibiting the growth of plant life, slime and fungus. Unfortunately, many chemicals will also kill the trees connected to the roots.

If you want to save your trees, it’s important to choose your pipe treatment chemicals carefully. Various chemicals have different effect on trees. Some chemicals only inhibit and kill the roots directly around the pipes, while others may attack the tree itself. Even treating pipes that aren’t near root systems could have consequences for you trees, because the roots will inevitably grow towards the pipes.

Copper sulphate, for one, is great at blocking root growth but it travels far up the root system and threatens the tree. Copper sulfate cannot be used on plumbing that contains lead, terra cotta or porcelain because the chemical is corrosive to those substances.

A 1962 test by the Engineering and Water Supply Department of South Australia[i] tested the long-term effect of different chemicals. The test showed that the best tree root inhibitors were; sand set into cement, copper sulfate and a PVC chemical. However effected, copper sulfate is current considered fairly unusable because of it’s negative effects on plant life.

For safe, reliable and guaranteed protection of your beautiful trees, choose Vaporooter to manage tree root growth in your pipes.

[i] http://www.eoas.info/biogs/A001434b.htm

Share

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.

Share

Pros and Cons of Chemical Pipe Treatments

Published on October 18, 2010 in Blocked Drains, Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 3 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Chemical pipe treatments are one way to both remove and prevent tree root blockages, at the same time. These treatments have a combination of binding foam and herbicides. The force of the foam can be enough to extract the roots from your pipes. The foam then goes on to seal cracks in the pipes with a material that repels tree root growth.

On the surface, this seems like an ideal solution, but the truth is a bit more complicated. Here are both sides, the pros and the cons, of using chemical treatments to rid your pipes of roots.

Pros

  1. Gets rid of the tree roots and seals the pipes at the same time.
  2. Just cutting out the tree roots will promote further root growth instead of preventing it. Chemicals treatment will help prevent the tree roots from growing back.

Cons

  1. Doesn’t work if the tree roots or blockage are too big. This means the roots need to be cut first, then the chemical applied in a two-step process.
  2. Has to be done at least once a year, but at least the problem is solved!
  3. The herbicides may harm the trees near the pipes and surrounding foliage, unless applied by a professional applicator, then there is no risk.

It’s a fact that tree root systems will continue to infiltrate your pipes, especially drains made out of older material. Chemical treatments can be heaven-sent for some. You have to carefully look at this option to be sure that it’s the right one for you.


Share

Preventing Damage to Trees

Published on October 12, 2010 in Environmentally Friendly, Root Infiltration and Tree Roots. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

For the most parts, trees are a big bonus to property values. They make the land more attractive, they hold down topsoil and they give shade. Many of the positive qualities of the trees get ignored the second a root system infiltrates a pipeline. Some people will do anything to rid their pipes of root blockages, including the destruction of the intruding tree.

But, what if you want to prevent damage to the tree?

Just to let you know, your trees will be safe if the tree roots are removed by rodding, cutting, or flushing methods. Unfortunately, one of the top reasons for the trees safety is the fact that the cutting is good for the roots, it will cause your tree to flourish, but some of that flourishing may grow right back into the line.

Chemical pipe treatments contain herbicide, but it’s usually in doses that are just strong enough to kill the tree roots inside the pipe and deter further root growth in the surrounding soil.

Real damage to trees only comes when there is multiple blockages, severe root growth, and damaged or crushed pipes. These situations are cause for an excavation of the trees and pipes. Large portions of the tree root system will have to be removed, which may end up killing the tree.

Fibrous tree roots will spread out to about 1 1/2 times the hight of the tree, but they don’t need all those roots to survive. As a rule of thumb, trees generally only need roots that spread out as far as the canopy. Too much tree root removal will make the tree unstable, and it could topple over on your home or property.


Share