Vaporooter Australia

The name Coogee is said to be taken from a local Aboriginal word koojah which means “smelly place”

And yesterday, the beautiful Coogee Beach in Sydney lived up to its indigenous name for all the wrong reasons.

The sewer overflow that caused the closure of Coogee beach on a glorious April afternoon was not the way to end a beach lovers summer.

News crews looking for “The one that got away”

Beachgoers and holiday makers enjoying our seemingly endless summer conditions were advised to clear the water after a blocked Sydney Water sewer main in Dudley Street, Coogee overflowed into the Randwick Council stormwater pipes that carried the filthy stream  of raw sewage into the ocean at Coogee Surf club.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

“The blockage was caused by tree roots in pipes, which were cleared on Wednesday morning. A spokesman said the overflow was contained quickly and the area was sandbagged to capture run off.”

The Ross Jones pool next to the surf club was closed and drained for swimmers safety.

24 hours on, as I went to the beach this morning thinking how to Stop tree roots in pipes, I was met by that sewer smell I know only to well that still hung heavily in the damp morning air.

News crews were looking for the one that got away but all they found was a deserted beach and a couple of stalwarts who declared “I’m not swimming today!”

Many of the trees  mentioned in an earlier post bear fruit which are eaten by birds.

New trees are often sewn in bird droppings. Trees don’t need much to survive.

Sun, a little soil and some moisture is all they need to get started. Once the new growth is established, the tree roots spread out in search of moisture and nutrients.

Imagine how much easier the tree root system will flourish when it’s drinking in your sewer pipes.

Vaporooter is specialised technology that stops tree roots in drains and pipes and prevents further tree root damage. Some of our customers worry about tree roots crushing or blocking their sewer pipes.

They suspect trouble because they either have trees in the garden or their neighbour does. Others have experienced a blockage in the pipes; they see water backing up out of the toilet or sewer pipes or hear a gurgling sound when they’re in the shower. So they suspect tree roots to be the culprit.

They may be right, and the best way to find out for sure is to eliminate guesswork. The way we do that is by inserting a special waterproof camera into your pipes to confirm the health of your pipe system.

The camera will show any potential tree roots growing inside the pipe’s line. If tree roots are confirmed as the cause, our technicians will answer any questions you might have about our Vaporooter technology.

Our technology is designed to stop the roots from growing into your pipes again and causing further damage. Your other option is to cut the trees. If you’d like to keep the trees, then our technology will train the tree roots not to grow inside your sewer pipes and drains.

Vaporooter only kills tree roots, not trees and plants

Using this technology, you can still enjoy the lush green trees in your garden, and we will protect your pipes. Provided that we treat your pipes using Vaporooter before the tree roots get way out of control causing some serious damage to your pipes, we can often prevent costly plumbing repairs.

We also give our customers a 12-month Guarantee: “If your drains have a blockage caused by tree roots within twelve months of being treated with Vaporooter, we will gladly clear the blockage for FREE.”

This generous guarantee obviously doesn’t cover collapsed or broken pipes – or objects like nappies, shoes and bowling balls! We hope you understand.

All our boys are fully trained certified applicators. They are experienced plumbers trained in the correct treatment of plumbing drains and pipes.

Contact us now to arrange for a preliminary inspection of your pipes to determine the best way to solve your pipe blockage, quickly and efficiently.

Some folks are begging for trouble.

They often ignore the fact that planting trees close to sewer pipes can spell trouble. Perhaps not right away but tree roots depend on water for survival. Tree roots are very persistent, and they will search for any trace of moisture they can find. Planting trees too close to plumbing pipes is not recommended.

If you have faulty, cracked or broken sewer drains or pipes, then it may be only a matter of time before tree roots exploit the opportunity. Tree roots can be very aggressive, and some species of trees can cause some serious damage to your plumbing.

We recommend that you take a good look around your backyard to make sure that suspect trees are not too close to your sewer pipes and drains.

What species of trees should you pay special attention to?

While most tree roots may present a threat to sewer pipes, some are especially dangerous. For example:

The following trees should not be planted closer than 5 metres from your sewer pipes:

Banksia
Grevillea
Hakea
Hawthorn
Durant Teatree
Wattle / Acacia Yellow Throat

These trees should be planted at least 10 metres away from sewer pipes:

Almonds
Apricots
Cypress Ash
Barberry / Berberis
Boobialla
Camellia
Cherries
Christmas Bush
Crepe Myrtle
Ebony Tree
Flame Tree
Frangipani
Hibiscus
Irish Strawberry
Lilly Pilli
Myrtle
Plums
Silver Leaved Mountain
Weeping Pittosporum
Yorrell

The following trees are not recommended for planting:

Athel Tree
Bamboos
Bottlebrush
Brush Box
Camphor Laurel
Chinese Hawthorn
Coral Trees
Liquid Ambar Magnolias
Mango Tree Oleander
Pepper Tree
Pine
Eucalyptus
Flowering Crabs
Jacaranda
Rubber Tree
Silky Oak
Tipuana Tree
Umbrella Tree
White Cedar Willow Wisteria
The cost of doing nothing

If you’re considering planting the above in your garden then make sure they are not planted too close to your sewer pipes – they’re a threat!

What if the tree roots are already causing a problem?

We use special technology to help you stop tree roots in pipes and drains. The beauty of this technology is that it kills the tree roots that are in the pipes without killing the tree. This is a great option for those customers who suspect tree roots in their pipes but don’t want to harm the tree.

Yes, you can still enjoy the beautiful and magnificent trees!

Contact us to learn more.

If you have trees growing in your area, and you worry about your plumbing, then your worries may be warranted. Tree roots can dislodge concrete walkways, and they may also cause serious plumbing damage.

As soon as the water begins to leak out of your pipes, it won’t be long for tree roots to crowd around your faulty pipes looking for ways to get in. Once they get in, they grow and expand rapidly.

A simple solution is to cut the trees. Provided that tree roots will die with the tree, you should be able to solve your tree root nightmares. While this may sound like an easy way out, it’s probably not a sensible one–we need trees.

Cutting the suspect trees may not be possible since the trees may be on council land or your neighbour’s property. According to this source some tree roots have been reported to grow to over 33 feet (10 meters), and another to a depth of 174 feet (53 meters). So even if you have no trees directly on your land, you may still have a tree root problem.

So if you can see trees close by then, chances are their roots are hugging your pipes scooping for faults and tiny cracks, looking for a way to get in.

If cutting the tree is not possible or sensible, then consider replacing old plumbing pipes with new PVC or UPVC pipes. We also recommend pressure seals, as they tend to last longer. Compaction of backfill around plumbing works may also help you prevent root growth. While this is a great option, it may set you back some thousands of dollars. So it’s not a cheap option.

Alternatively you may consider our cutting-edge stop-tree-roots Vaporooter technology that is designed to stop roots without killing the tree. That’s exactly what most of our customers want – remove the problem, not the tree.

Vaporooter is a revolutionary pipe treatment that stops tree root blockages in pipes and drains and prevents further tree root damage to your plumbing works. Our technology is safe for children, pets and plants, and it has been in use for more than 40 years so you can rest assured knowing that it works.

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you stop tree roots in drains!

Trees don’t have evil plans of cracking, blocking or even crushing your sewer pipes. But they are designed to seek water and will go anywhere to find it.

How tree roots enter sewer pipes

Tree roots enter sewer pipes through tiny cracks and breaks and even joins in the pipeline. They have no eyes, night vision or X-ray instruments scanning the pipeline works. Instead, they wait patiently until pipeline work gives its weak spot away. With water, that’s easy.

Rubber seals or pipes are not bulletproof. They age faster than you think especially when the ground begins to move. Once a sewer pipe cracks, water begins to evaporate at first and then to leak out into the soil.

Faulty sewer pipes invite trouble

A leaking pipe is like a hot chick in a mini skirt walking down the highway five minutes past midnight. She is a magnet for trouble! With trees close by, it’s only a matter of time before tree roots discover the fault and go for the kill.

Tree roots divide rapidly. First, a tiny shoot enters a crack then another one will find a way in and soon you have a network of living cables forcing their way in. As soon as they are in, they divide exponentially.

Trees roots may look harmless but don’t forget they possess mighty muscles enabling them to shift heavy driveways, walkways and other structures.

So, believe me when I say, if they can find a tiny little crack in your pipes or plumbing joins, they will figure out the rest using their smarts.

Tree roots usually enter pipes that have a fault. This is usually true in the case of old pipes, faulty seals or pipes that have cracked due to ground movement.

Leaking joins can also spell trouble.

Tree root blockage only gets worse with time. So if you suspect trouble then give us a call, and we will come out and give you a second opinion.

Better to be safe than sorry!

Trees provide us with the oxygen we need to enjoy life.

They inhale pollution and puff out clean oxygen, and all they ask in return is some sunlight and a bit of water.

Sounds like a fair deal to me.

But if you live too close to them, then they may come knocking on your sewer pipes–especially if they smell some moisture.

Of course, you won’t hear them knocking because our green friends are masters of disguise! While you sleep, tree roots are moving under your driveway, by your bedroom window all the way to your sewer pipes.

If you think this sounds like a horror movie, then relax. They aren’t after you my friend; they just want to get to your pipes! And if a friendly knock won’t get them invited then they may rip their way inside causing some serious damage. Water means survival and discovering your sewer pipes is like locating a pub where all drinks are on the house.

Of course, tree roots just keep growing and expanding and dominating the little space in your sewer pipes to the point of blocking them and even crushing them.

How do you know when tree roots are clogging your drainpipes?

If you live close to large trees and smaller trees with deep roots, and you can smell a bad whiff coming from the sink or toilet, that may be a sign. You see, a foul sewer pipe smell is often an early warning sign that something is brewing in your sewer pipes.

Another sign is water backing up out of the toilet or sewer pipes, or if you hear a gurgling sound when you’re in the shower; that means your sewer pipes are getting a little overwhelmed.

The poor things do such a noble job of transporting away your dirty water, but sometimes they need some love.

If you suspect trouble, and you have trees in the area (even small ones) then give us a call – we will come down and inspect your sewer pipes.

As soon as tree roots enter your pipes, they divide rapidly.