Your toilet starts gurgling.
The shower drains slowly.
Then one morning the sewer overflows into your yard.
You call a plumber, the drain gets cleared and everything seems fine.
Six months later, it’s blocked again.
Sound familiar?
If you’ve experienced recurring blocked drains, there’s a good chance tree roots are the real problem.
The blockage you can see isn’t the problem
Most people think the blockage is toilet paper or waste.
In reality, those materials are just getting caught on something else.
Tree roots enter your drain through tiny cracks or loose joints and begin growing inside the pipe. They create a dense web that acts like a fishing net, trapping everything that flows past.
Every flush adds another layer.
Over time, a small root becomes a solid mass that restricts the entire pipe.
The blockage you experience is simply the symptom.
The root system is the cause.
Why traditional drain clearing often fails
Many drain clearing methods simply punch a small hole through the blockage.
Water starts flowing again, so the problem appears fixed.
But the root system is still alive.
Within weeks or months, it grows back across the pipe and starts catching debris all over again.
This is why so many homeowners experience the same blocked drain year after year.
Step 1: CCTV drain camera inspection
Before removing the roots, we first need to know exactly what we’re dealing with.
Using a high-definition CCTV drain camera, we inspect the entire pipeline to identify:
- The location of the root intrusion
- The severity of the blockage
- Cracked or damaged pipework
- Broken joints
- Pipe collapses
- The overall condition of the drainage system
Without a camera inspection, you’re simply guessing.
Step 2: High-pressure water jetting
Once the problem has been identified, we use a high-pressure water jetter to remove the roots and clean the pipe.
Unlike older methods that simply poke a hole through the blockage, water jetting cleans the entire internal diameter of the pipe.
Powerful jets of water travel in all directions, cutting through root masses while flushing away grease, silt, toilet paper and accumulated debris.
The result is a drain that’s cleaned from wall to wall, restoring maximum flow.
Step 3: Reinspect the pipe
Once the drain has been cleaned, we run the CCTV camera through the line again.
This second inspection is often the most important part of the process.
Now that the roots have been removed, we can clearly see:
- Where the roots entered
- Whether the pipe has cracked
- Whether joints have separated
- If repairs or relining are recommended
Many companies stop after clearing the blockage.
We believe the customer deserves to know why it happened in the first place.
Why roots almost always come back
Tree roots don’t remember where they entered.
They simply follow water.
If the damaged section of pipe remains, moisture will continue escaping into the soil and roots will naturally find the same entry point again.
That’s why blocked drains caused by tree roots are often recurring problems.
Unless the point of entry is repaired, the roots will return.
Long-term solutions
Depending on the condition of the pipework, long-term repairs may include:
- Pipe relining
- Localised excavation and pipe replacement
- Joint repairs
- Drain reconstruction
Every property is different, which is why a CCTV inspection is essential before recommending a solution.
Why acting early saves money
Many homeowners wait until the sewer overflows before taking action.
Unfortunately, by that stage the roots have often caused significant damage to the pipework.
A recurring slow drain or occasional gurgling toilet is often the first warning sign.
Investigating the issue early can prevent emergency call-outs, excavation costs and major repairs later.
The Projection Plumbing approach
At Projection Plumbing, our goal isn’t simply to clear your drain for today.
Our goal is to identify the cause, restore the flow and provide clear advice on the best long-term solution.
We believe every customer deserves to know:
- What’s causing the blockage
- Why it happened
- Whether the pipe is damaged
- What options are available to prevent it happening again
Because the cheapest blocked drain is the one that never comes back.
If your drains keep blocking, don’t just clear the symptom.
Find the cause. Fix it properly. Protect your home.
