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How Do Tree Roots Get Into Your Drains?

The tree roots gain access to the drain system via the pipe joints, fractures, cracks and through inspection chamber walls and benching. The majority of the drainage systems within the UK are constructed from the collar and spigot vitrified clay pipes jointed using sand & cement, these joints offer little resistance to fine tree roots which once inside develop into tap roots and root masses which then reduce the internal bore of the pipe. More modern systems installed using rubber-sealed couplings are still prone to root ingress. These systems are often not protected by a root barrier or surrounded in concrete, though as modern systems are supposed to be flexible surrounding the joint in concrete is generally frowned upon.

How To Repair Root Damaged Drains?

At flow fast drainage, we have a variety of techniques that we can try out to remove tree roots from drains. If the tree roots have accessed the system via its joints, and there has been no major displacement to those joints, the system can be root cut and in many cases relined. If there has been major displacement to the joints or severe fracturing then excavation may be the only answer. On most domestic systems given the number of bends and junctions you get over fairly short distances, it is often a mixture of the two repair methods are required.

If you have a system that has severe ingress and major displacement of joints, but you can not excavate it, a pipe bursting method can be used, assuming there are no lateral connections or sharp changes in direction and you can winch a line through the system. Read more about our Root Removal services, including detailed descriptions of all the root removal techniques we use.

Why Do Tree Roots Enter Your Drains?

Condensation naturally occurs on the outer wall of the drainpipe, or moisture from leaking drain joints attract tree roots looking for a good nutritious feed, though I still prefer to tell customers that the tree roots find the drains because they can hear the running water inside.

Disturbed ground such as trenches excavated for drains, services and house foundations make easy travelling for a root system compared to the adjacent virgin ground, the same applies for granular and porous sub-bases for driveways and patios.

When we excavate a tree root damaged system even at two or three metres deep you can clearly see where the roots have followed the line of the original trench wall down to the drainage system. You will then often find one large taproot running the length of the drain with smaller roots branching off at each collar.

Are You Insured For Tree Root Damage To Drains?

You should be insured for tree root damage, most major insurance providers will cover this, although, some policies may not include this cover. Tree Root Ingress to drains has always been an insurable risk, however, following the downturn in the economy some insurance companies have been found to try and knock a few tree root related drainage claims back.