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Tree roots in drains start out small
Do you know how small tree roots are when they enter your sewer drains?
Believe it or not, the tree roots that enter your drains through the small cracks in the pipe joints are finer than the hairs on your head or the purest Australian wool.
Once they find their way into the cracks and pipe joints they multiply.
How tree roots get into pipes #2
In my last post I described how tree roots can easily travel through soil that has been loosened by excavation to accommodate your pipe installation.
Do you know why tree roots grow in sewer pipes from the top of the pipe joints?
Condensation is formed when we run water from our water pipes, through our drains; especially when we have a hot shower, wash our clothes or dishes in hot or warm water.
When the warm water enters the drains buried in the cold earth, condensation is formed, and it gathers on the inside top of our sewer pipes and drains.
The tree roots moving through our already loosened soils can now move along the top of the pipelines and are attracted to the warmth and moisture inside. All they need now is a way into the pipe.
This 1.58sec clip shows how.
Tree roots will travel to find your pipes
Quite often a sewer blockage can be caused by the roots from trees that are not even on your property.
Tree roots will travel great distances to seek moisture and nutrients readily found in sewer pipes, especially during periods of extended drought. Amazingly in some cases the roots will travel from the base of the tree up to 3 times the height of that same tree. So a 15 metre high tree will spread its roots up to 45 metres from the base of the tree.
Check out this Youtube video to see how far tree roots travel to find sewers and pipes just like yours!