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Spring brings shoots and tree roots

Spring in Australia brings new growth to our trees and shrubs. New shoots above ground means the trees are growing underground as well, and new tree roots means blocked drains.

As Australia’s leading authority on tree roots in drains, with over 15,000 blocked drains under my belt and I’ve used all kinds of drain cleaners, its safe to say I know a lot about fixing blocked drains.

Having said that, I can tell you that there is a simple way to Stop Tree Roots in Drains. It’s called Vaporooter!

Over the next few weeks I’ll share some of my blocked drain experiences and how you can prevent them from happening at your place ever again!

New Shoots

No more Blocked Drains?

Did you know……….

85% of all blocked sewer drains are caused by tree roots?

Simply put, there is a way to prevent blocked drains from happening ever again.

It’s easy, it’s safe and it Works!

It’s called Vaporooter

Tree Root Photo-1

How can Vaporooter help save time and money?

Vaporooter eradicates tree roots in drains, while inhibiting their future re-growth.

The cost saving is significant.

The Vaporooter process provides a simple Guarantee:

“If your drains, treated with Vaporooter, have a blockage caused by tree roots, We will clear the blockage for FREE”

Vaporooter kills tree roots in drains – Period

Sanafoam Vaporooter II is a foaming mixture of herbicides which stops and prevents drain line blockages produced by tree root penetration through the pipe joints. This technology tackles the problems caused by live root infestation by attacking the roots inside the pipe.

The foam containing the combination of Metham Sodium (herbicide) and Dichlobenil (growth inhibiting agent) is introduced in the sewage pipe, so that it can have direct contact with the intrusive roots. The treatment softens and kills the live roots, leaving them to naturally disintegrate within six months.

If the pipe blockage is in a very advanced stage and requires the cutting of tree roots, a period of at least six weeks should be left between the cutting and the Vaporooter treatment, so that roots have time to regrow.                      

Did You Know Blocked sewer pipes blow the Council budget?

Did you know many blocked sewers are caused by the tree roots from Council street trees?

This is becoming a very big issue for many local councils. The council owned trees that make some of our more sought after suburban streets very special, are creating havoc underground by repeatedly blocking the sewer pipelines from many of the homes in those streets.

Councils are fighting a losing battle trying to bring the tree roots under control. The budgets of many local councils are strained as they just can’t keep up with the demand of their ratepayers to attend to their sewer blockages, caused by these street trees.

Vaporooter Kills Roots. Period!
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Any Questions about Vaporooter?

Every situation with tree roots in sewer pipes is different!

As a regular reader of this blog you already know there are several ways to Stop Tree Roots in Drains. If you know that tree roots are causing your blocked sewer pipes but you’re not sure Vaporooter will work in your situation, I want you to ring and ask me personally.

Root cutting: Makes the roots grow back Thicker and Stronger!
Pipe excavation: Damages gardens, lawns and footpaths. It is messy and can be very expensive!
Pipe relining: Is expensive!

Vaporooter will do what all these processes will do …..at a fraction of the cost!

No matter where you are in Australia, if you have a blocked drain caused by tree roots and you want to discuss your particular blocked drain situation, please ring me on 1800 637 600.

Council street trees and blocked sewer drains

Many of our clients say that local council street trees are the cause of their blocked sewer pipes.

Beautiful specimens like the London plane tree, Hills weeping fig (ficus microcarpa. var.) and Paperbark (melaluca)  all have extensive tree root systems that thrive on the moisture and nutrients flowing through our household sewer pipes out to the sewer mains in the street.

 

The roots from the council trees are growing in through the pipe joints.

Some councils offer their ratepayers a drain cleaning service at “no cost” as an acceptance of responsibility for the damage caused by the council trees.

We all know there is no such thing as a free lunch………………….. or drain clean.

Ratepayers are obviously “paying” for this service through their quarterly levies and at some point these local councils will put rates up or put the responsibility of drain maintenance back on the ratepayers.

Many homeowners, upon finding out council trees are blocking their pipes, insist they will lobby the council to cut down these beautiful trees to stop their invasive roots from blocking the sewer pipes. I have seen council street trees cut down because they continue to block the sewer pipes of the nearby homes.

So who wins here? Beautiful tree lined streets are raped by a chainsaw gang.

Not to mention the dramatic de-valuation of the homes that have had the street trees removed.

In one comical instance, the beautiful (but invasive) tree that was removed by the chainsaws and 4 weeks after the stump grinder churned through, was replaced by a junior version the same species. Now call me crazy……

So, I’ve got another idea!

If you’re one of these ratepayers with drains affected by council trees, next time you get a blockage and the council plumber clears your blockage for free, look for your local Vaporooter applicator to do a Drainoscopy of your sewer pipes.

If it’s suitable, have him apply Vaporooter to your pipeline.

You will be amazed with the results.

Vaporooter Stops Tree Roots in Drains!

All ratepayers keep their council trees, the council saves your money,  you maintain the value of your home and still have a free flowing pipe system!

Win Win Win Win

 

What is a pipe drainoscopy?

If you’re a regular visitor to this blog, you’ve heard of a Drainoscopy!

So what is a drainoscopy?

A drainoscopy is when our technicians survey the inside of your drains with our high-tech specialised camera equipment.

The drainoscopy equipment is inserted into your drains through a suitable opening. Having a drainage diagram on hand will help us find that suitable opening.

Via the connected cable, the camera sends pictures from the camera head to a screen set-up near our technicians chosen site.

Most property owners can’t believe what they see in their pipes and sewer. We encourage them to look over our technicians shoulder whilst he carries out their drainoscopy.

If you can’t be on-site when we are doing your drainoscopy, dont worry. We can record your drainoscopy and send you a link via email so you can see it anyway!

Click here to see a “typical” drainoscopy!

Symptoms of a blocked drain

As our summer rolls on and the Easter break approaches and we get together with our family and friends, keep an eye out for some of those vital symptoms that indicate you have a slow or blocked drain.

Make it a holiday break  to remember for the right reasons,  rather than needing to call an emergency plumber to rescue you and your family from a sewer blockage.

Keep an eye out for:

  • The excessive rise or fall of the water level in your toilet. We call it syphoning, and it comes with a Glug Glug Glug sound.
  • Slow draining water or ankle deep water in the shower or bath.
  • Swarms of small flies  or sewer flies around smelly drains.
  • Your kitchen sink, waste disposal unit or dishwasher are slow to drain.
  • Toilet paper or dirty water around your sewer surcharge gully in the garden or yard.
  • Dirty water leaking from a retaining wall or garden bed that conceals sewer pipes.

These are signs of a blockage, and your pipes are trying to tell you that all isn’t well.

When the extra guests arrive you will know because the additional load on your sewer pipes will bring any blockage to a head.

So have a look around you home for the symptoms of a blocked drain and please don’t ignore them.

If you are unsure, contact your friendly plumber for help and some drain maintenance advice.

 

What is a blocked drain?

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 and can not be evacuated.

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 including broken pipes.

Blocked drains are the responsibility 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!