• November 7, 2020
• IN Blocked Drains

Are Leaves Or Tree Roots Blocking Your Drains?

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There are many different things that can lead to a blocked drain on your property, including leaves and tree roots. Natural debris such as leaves are in fact one of the most common reasons for a blocked drain. They can gather over time and become quite dense with water, causing an obstacle in your drain. At the same time, tree roots can grow quite rapidly making their way through the ground and into your pipes without you noticing. The damp environment inside is the perfect place for them to thrive, and before you know it, they are multiplying and affecting the flow of water running through your drain.

Over time, dirt and leaves can also collect and cause a bigger problem, creating severe blockages. The key is catching it early enough to get the problem fixed before it does permanent damage that becomes a lot more costly over time. There are a number of different signs you can look out for that will indicate if leaves or tree roots are blocking your drains.

1. Abnormally growing trees: trees are a great addition to our natural environment, providing shade, a place to climb, beauty and oxygen. But they can also cause problems too. One of the signs to look out for that you may have a problem is if there is an abnormally growing tree in your yard. It might be growing faster than other trees around it, or appear to be much greener. This could suggest its roots have made its way into your pipes and are using the dampness to boost their growth.
2. Slow flowing drains: if your sinks, shower and other drains are taking longer than usual to drain away, it’s a good indication that there might be a problem there. The first step is to use a plunger to see if you can clear any immediate blockage. If this doesn’t work, there may be a bigger problem in the form of tree roots or leaves in your drains that needs further drain inspection and cleaning.
3. Gurgling noises in the drain: this could be a sign of a very simple problem, such as a build up of hair in the bathroom, or it couldn’t indicate something much more serious going on. This can also be accompanied by a sudden drop in the amount of water available and a bad odour in your home. Any of these signs need to be checked immediately.
4. Sinkholes: if you notice any sinkholes in your backyard, they are a good sign something is going on in your pipes. Large areas of the soil become saturated with water, creating soft mud that can become visible on your lawn. This is due to the roots changing the structure of your pipes internally, leading to external issues.

Preventing Blockages

If you are worried about leaves and tree roots causing blockages in your drains, there are steps you can take to prevent it. Start by regularly clearing out your gutters of leaves and other debris to avoid them making their way down into your pipes. It’s also important to ensure regular maintenance on your drains and pipes to detect any blockages early and get to them before they become much bigger problems. Other tips include:

• Don’t plant new trees or plants near your pipes.
• If your pipes are more than a decade old, be sure to get them checked and even replace if needed.
• Water your trees regularly so they don’t go looking for other sources of water in your pipes.
• If you notice a problem, get on top of it straight away so it doesn’t become a bigger problem over time.

How To Fix It?

The most important thing is to correctly diagnose the problem. If you suspect there are leaves or tree roots blocking your drains, then the team at Zabs Plumbing can help you out. We can use a cctv drain camera to inspect your pipes and determine what the issue is and work out from there what the best course of action will be to unplug your drains.

If you have any concerns at all it is better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to a drainage block. Getting to the problem sooner can save you both time and money in the long run.

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