Blocked sewer and tree roots Gold Coast
Tree roots are one of the most common causes of a blocked sewer that keeps coming back. They get in through tiny gaps at pipe joints, and once inside they grow into a net that catches everything.
- Roots cut and flushed out
- CCTV shows where they get in
- Relining to stop them returning
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How tree roots get into sewer pipes
Older sewer lines were laid in short lengths of clay or earthenware pipe, joined with rubber rings or mortar. Over decades the joints loosen, and roots find the moisture and nutrients leaking out.
A root hair through a joint becomes a mat within a season or two. Toilet paper and wipes catch on it, and the line blocks. Clearing the roots works, but they grow back through the same gap until the joint is sealed.
Clearing roots and keeping them out
Cut and jet
A root cutter on an electric eel, then high-pressure jetting to flush the pieces away. Gets the drain flowing on the day.
CCTV inspection
Shows which joints let roots in, how many there are and how deep the pipe is.
Relining
A liner seals the joints from inside so roots can't get back in, without digging up the tree or the yard.
Your sewer or the council's?
On the Gold Coast, responsibility changes at the property connection.
- Your side
- Pipes from the house to the property connection are the owner's responsibility, including roots in them.
- The City's side
- The City of Gold Coast maintains the sewer from the main to the property connection, or one metre inside your boundary if the connection can't be found.
- If it's the main
- Your plumber reports it on 1300 000 928 the same day. The City may reimburse the cost, usually capped at $300 including GST.
- Not covered
- Blockages from wet wipes or from drains that don't meet the plumbing code aren't reimbursed.
Common questions
Do I need to remove the tree?
Usually not. Relining seals the pipe joints, so roots can't get in even with the tree still there.
Do root-killing chemicals work?
They may slow root growth for a while, but they don't seal the joint, so roots return. Ask a plumber before putting chemicals into the sewer.
How often will roots come back?
It depends on the tree and the pipe. Many homeowners find the same line blocking every few months to a year until the joints are sealed.
Related services
Sources: City of Gold Coast, Sewer blockages
Need a plumber for this today?
Get a blocked sewer on the Gold Coast cleared, and find out whether the roots will come back. Or leave your number and they'll ring you.
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