Drains can become blocked for lots of reasons, but tree roots intruding in them is among the most common. Often these cannot be seen externally, which makes it difficult to diagnose the problem and treat effectively.
Nature’s Damage
Tree roots usually grow close to the surface, which means they sometimes develop under hard surfaces. Normally the damage is only superficial, but if tree roots ingress into a drainpipe, it can lead to large cracks. They usually only get into drains which are already leaking and damaged, but once they’re in, you’ll have to call a drainage company to deal with it.
Diagnosing the Problem
As pipe damage cannot be seen from the surface, you will more than likely want to have a CCTV drain survey. This is when a camera on a flexible rod is placed down into the drain and feeds live video footage of the pipe interiors. It will show where any damage is, including whether any tree roots have invaded. If you are looking for a CCTV drain survey Birmingham, there are several companies such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/birmingham that provide expert advice.
A CCTV drain survey can pinpoint the exact location of any problem and assess the damage before the inspector advises what should be done to solve it.
How to Fix
There are several ways that damaged drains can be repaired and protected from future tree root intrusions. Once the pipes have been repaired, the drain should function properly again. Relining the drain is a good way of dealing with minor damage and doesn’t require excavating. Existing pipes are relined with materials that are durable and seal off any cracks to stop any more roots getting in.
Where there is extensive damage, you may need a complete drain replacement, with new pipes installed to form a whole new drainage system.
Although tree root intrusions can be responsible for drainage system problems, with expert advice and technology all issues can be resolved and you can take steps to prevent them happening again in future.