Warning Signs of Blocked Drains

Living in an older home can often lead to serious problems in your drains. The most common problem is tree roots damaging your drains. Below, we’ve complied a list to help you prevent these problems from happening.

Warning signs that your drains are blocked or damaged by tree roots.

There are plenty of ways to determine whether you’ve got tree roots in your pipes. If you notice a bad smell coming from your drains, or if your toilet gurgles when flushed and takes too long to fill back up; these are signs of a bigger drain problem. If any of these problems occur if’s a good idea to call a plumber before the problem gets worse.

In older buildings, the pipework itself is often a huge problem. Clay pipes were often used for underground drainage, and are much less reliable than the PVC pipes used today. Subtle movement can cause pipes to shift or crack, leaving them vulnerable to tree root invasion. Houses built post 1980 have resolved this problem by installing PVC pipes which are flexible and more resistant to cracks.

Repairing the damage caused by tree roots

At Ruttley, we use a camera system which is inserted into the drain. A high pressure jet is used to clear the pipe, and a camera is inserted afterwards to find where the roots are invading from. The best option is often to reline the pipe, as this can be carried out without the need to excavate.

It’s important to investigate any warning signs early, as this will benefit in the long run. If there are any complications call a licensed plumber to come in and take a look. They’ll advise you on the best way to fix the problem.