Trees in drains are a nasty problem, especially when there are old clay drains in the ground with corresponding old street trees overhead. A quick CCTV survey will usually reveal the extent of the problem.
How Roots Get Into Pipes
So why do tree roots get into pipes? It’s simple really, roots follow moisture. And where there is a slight leak in a drain then this can become an ‘entrance’ for roots. Lots of research has been done to find out how urban tree roots behave and how they spread. What has been found is that some roots can travel considerable distances through the soil looking for a water source.
What the Camera Finds
The ways in which roots get into drains are shown in stages in the footage from a CCTV drain survey. The first signs of root damage are shown in fine hair-like roots that are entering the drains through cracks in poor joints. These roots can increase in size until they form dense masses within the drain, filling the whole of the pipe bore and often preventing the normal flow of waste, which will become blocked with grease, grit and other solid matter. The cracks and displaced joints in the drains where the roots have entered will also be highlighted.
Judging Severity From the Footage
A Drain Surveyor will grade any Drainage Root Damage that is found during a Drain Survey. Minor root growth through a single joint is far different from a Mass of Roots spanning several meters of a drain. Root Cutting will be required for minor root growth, Patch Lining of damaged joints for medium levels of root growth and full Pipe Renewal where the structure of the Pipe has been compromised.
What to Do After the Survey
If a CCTV Drain Survey Birmingham has found any root damage, a written report complete with a copy of the timestamped footage of your drains will be supplied before any repairs are carried out. If you are looking for CCTV Drain Survey Birmingham, see www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/birmingham.
By knowing what you are dealing with it’s much easier to decide on the correct repair to complete to ensure that you haven’t spent too much money on incorrect repairs.