Drains are a vital part of our homes and offices, flushing water away and into the sewage system. Unfortunately, all drains can get blocked from time to time.
One of the ways that this can happen is root ingress. In other words, the pipes can get blocked when the roots of nearby trees manage to enter in via cracks or gaps in the drainpipes and take root, growing and filling out the space until water is unable to get through.
According to the Arboricultural Association, trees usually only find their way into drains which already have some small cracks or holes. Therefore, removing the tree is not a solution in itself since the roots in the drain are likely to stay where they are and continue to cause problems.
Diagnosing the problem
If you can’t see the blockage from outside, it may be difficult to know what is causing the problem with your drains. That is where CCTV drain surveys come in. With advancements in technology, technicians are able to use CCTV to have a closer inspection inside the drains, checking out where any root ingress has taken hold and allowing them to make decisions about how to fix this efficiently and quickly.
A CCTV drain survey Nottingham from skilled surveyors such as https://www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/cctv-drain-surveys-nottingham is an accurate and quick way to diagnose and repair the damage caused by root ingress in your drains.
Fixing root ingress in drains
The CCTV drain survey mentioned can accurately give technicians information on how to repair the problem. If the joint casing of the drain has not been damaged by the root ingress, it will simply be a case of cutting the roots away and relining that section of the drain to repair and strengthen it.
If the tree roots have caused more substantial damage to your drainage system, however, it may be that pipe excavation or even pipe bursting will be necessary. Just like it sounds, this involves taking away or ‘excavating’ the damaged pipes and replacing them with new ones.