Root Cutting in Drains

What is it for and when is it needed?

One of the most common causes of damage to drains is ingress by tree roots. Roots damage pipes in a number of ways, and can cause blocked drains. Removing tree roots in drains is usually the easiest and most cost-effective way to address this problem.

Trees can cause major damage to drain pipes with their large root radius. It is important to deal with root ingress problems as soon as possible, as they can quickly get worse. If left to grow they can damage pipe joints and that can lead to the entire pipe needing excavation.

If caught quickly, such problems can usually 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 that connect pipes together or find small cracks through which to enter the pipe and grow.

When a tree root grows inside the pipe, it can quickly expand and slow the flow of water through the pipe. Beyond this, they can trap leaves and other detritus, gathering them into a blockage that can completely restrict the flow of the pipe – or, block the pipe simply by growing to a sufficient size on their own.

There are a number of different factors that affect whether or not a root cut will be an appropriate solution to this type of blockage, as we will discuss below. The experts at Lanes for Drains have significant experience in tackling these drain blockages.

Roots are a particular problem for highway drainage, but can also affect foul water and surface water drainage pipes on domestic systems, so 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, and it can often be performed without digging up the ground, meaning it is possible to take care of 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, although it will usually be necessary to survey the problem before it is possible to determine the best solution. 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 major displacement – it may prove impossible to successfully remove them with root cutting, 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 entry point of the drain.

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 the use of a high-powered water jet as a cutting tool, to sever roots that have protruded into the drain. 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 and may ultimately result in a need to excavate the drain pipe, which will also introduce delays.

Ensuring the correct solution for a root ingress problem is applied

At Lanes Group, we have a number of root cutting drain services, often using tools in different sizes that use both jet vacuumation and mechanical cutting. As a result, you can be sure that we will tackle the problem effectively.

It is important to survey your drain pipes to ensure you are aware of which solution will be most suitable, to provide the best chances of success with a root cutting operation, and also potentially avoid the possibility of tree roots causing severe fracturing of your drainage systems in the future.

If you are experiencing a blocked drain and suspect it is the result of 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 call back at your convenience.