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Most of the blockages that occur are in the sewer or stormwater drains and are caused by tree roots.
All of the trees that we have in Melbourne make it a great city to live in and are very good for the environment, but sometimes the roots from these trees do get into cracks in the earthenware drains and cause blockages. Earthenware was the most common material used for drains up until the 1970’s & 1980’s. Some properties also had concrete used for the stormwater drains, as that was the only type of drain pipe available after the second world war.
The tree roots get into the drains through cracks, mainly in the joints. The roots are generally small to start with and then grow larger once in the drain. Tree root growth in the sewer drains is usually noticed and attended to fairly quickly, however, this may not be the case with stormwater drains where the root growth may be quite extensive before it is noticed. O’Shea Plumbing has come across situations where the stormwater drains around the whole house are full of roots. In cases like this, it may be best to replace all of the drains.
PVC drains are much better, because the glued joints generally keep out the roots. It is usually only when a joint has not been glued properly or the pipe has been crushed or not installed correctly, that problems occur.
Other causes of blockages are when prohibited items are flushed or are allowed to go down the drain.
Grease is also a cause of blocked drains and waste pipes. It congeals in the drain and stops the regular flow of wastewater. Grease should not be put down the drain, instead it should be left to set, wrapped in paper and put in the rubbish bin. Cooking oil should be put in a container and put in the rubbish bin.
Breaks and defects in drains are also a cause. These may need to be dug up and a section or all of the drain replaced or relined.
For reliable plumbers Melbourne locals can rely on, call the team of plumbing experts at O’Shea Plumbing on (03) 9888 2887
If you’re experiencing a blocked drain on your premises, contact the professionals at O’Shea Plumbing in Mount Waverley VIC, Wantirna VIC, Bentleigh VIC, and Bundoora VIC. We’ll come running!