Root Cutting in Drains
What is tree root removal for, and when is it needed?
One of the most common causes of drain damage is tree root ingress. Roots damage pipes in a number of ways and can block drains.
Removing tree roots in drains is usually the easiest and most cost-effective way to address this problem.
Tree's large root systems can cause major damage to drain pipes. It is important to deal with root ingress problems as soon as possible, as they can quickly worsen.
If left to grow, they can damage pipe joints, leading to the entire pipe needing excavation.
If caught quickly, such problems can be addressed efficiently and cost-effectively with root cutting.
How do tree roots damage your drains?
Roots from nearby plants can grow inside the joints connecting pipes or find small cracks to enter the pipe and grow.
When a tree root grows inside the pipe, it can quickly expand and slow the water flow through the pipe.
Beyond this, it can trap leaves and other detritus, gathering them into a blockage that can ultimately restrict the pipe's flow—or block the pipe simply by growing to a sufficient size.
As we will discuss below, a number of different factors affect whether or not a root cut is an appropriate solution to this type of blockage.
The experts at Lanes Drainage Services have significant experience tackling these drain blockages.
Roots are a particular problem for highway drainage, but they can also affect foul water and surface water drainage pipes on domestic systems. Hence it’s important to be flexible in our approach to the problem.
Root cutting is typically a more cost-effective method of dealing with root infestations than excavating or replacing a drain. It can often be performed without digging up the ground, meaning it is possible to remove blockages with minimal disruption.
When is tree root removal in drains a suitable fix for blockages?
Root cutting is usually a good first step toward drain repairs that address a blockage within drainage systems caused by root ingress. However, it will usually be necessary to survey the problem before the best solution can be determined.
A CCTV drain survey is usually the least invasive and most convenient way to understand the causes of any blockages in your drainage system.
In more extreme cases—for example, where the roots are deeply embedded within the pipe, causing significant displacement—it may prove impossible to remove them with root cutting successfully, and you may instead need to remove and replace the affected section of the pipe.
However, if the problem is detected early, in most cases, it can be addressed by simply cutting away the invading roots and repairing the drain's entry point.
To ensure the correct procedure is undertaken to fix a blockage caused by tree roots, we suggest that you undertake a thorough drain survey and work to understand the cause of the problem before opting for a solution.
Roots grow in drains often, and typically, a fix requires using a high-powered water jet as a cutting tool to sever roots that have protruded into the drain.
Our drain jetting service can fix this problem for you with our high-powered jets.
These are then removed using a jet vacuumation system to ensure they do not create additional blockages further down the drainage system.
If the wrong solution is used, the process can become significantly more expensive. Excavating the drain pipe may also be necessary, which will also introduce delays.
Searching for a drain root cutter?
At Lanes Drainage Services UK, we offer several root-cutting drain services. We often use different-sized tools that use both jet vacuumation and mechanical cutting.
As a result, you can be sure we will tackle the problem effectively.
It is important to survey your drain pipes to determine which solution will be most suitable. This will ensure the best chances of success with a root-cutting operation and avoid the possibility of tree roots causing severe fractures of your drainage systems in the future.
If you are experiencing a blocked drain and suspect it results from root damage, contact us to learn how we can help.
Call us on 0800 526 488 or use our online enquiry form to request a callback at your earliest convenience.