Coogee beach closed by sewer overflow

Thursday, April 14th, 2016

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"

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!”

Tree roots need a little moisture

Thursday, January 7th, 2016

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.

Tough tree 1 1

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

Stop tree roots in pipes and drains!

Wednesday, November 18th, 2015

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.

Keep these trees away from your sewer pipes!

Sunday, November 15th, 2015

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.

How to prevent tree root damage to your sewer pipes

Thursday, November 12th, 2015

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!