Guides · Drains
Pinelands is known for its trees. The suburb was laid out on the old Uitvlugt forestry farm, where thousands of pines had been planted, and it became Africa's first garden city, with the first homes occupied in 1922. A century later, the tall trees are one of the things people love about living here. Underground, they're also one of the most common reasons a drain blocks.
How roots get into a drain
Roots go looking for water, and a sewer or stormwater pipe carries a steady supply of it. Older pipes are laid in short lengths with a joint every metre or so. Where a joint has cracked or shifted, fine roots find their way in and then thicken, until they form a mat that catches everything else flowing down the pipe.
It rarely happens overnight. More often the drain slows down for months before it finally stops.
The warning signs
- Gurgling when a basin, bath or washing machine drains.
- Slow toilets that rise in the bowl before they go down.
- An overflowing gully outside after heavy use or rain.
- A smell near the inspection chamber in the garden.
- The same drain blocking again soon after it was cleared.
Why clearing it once often isn't enough
Rodding or jetting will open a root blockage, but the roots are still growing through the same damaged joint. Cleared and left alone, they usually come back. A lasting fix depends on what's actually happening inside the pipe, and the only way to know that is to look.
What we do
We open the drain first, so the house is usable again. Then we run a drain camera through the line to find where the roots are getting in and what condition the pipe is in. You get a photographed report, recorded on site in our own app, with the cause of the blockage stated and an itemised quote for the options: regular clearing, repairing the damaged section, or replacing it.
If you'd like to try the simple things yourself first, our blocked drain guide covers what's safe to do and what isn't.
Thatched roofs and older wiring
Pinelands is also known for its thatched houses, and new thatch hasn't been allowed for many years because of the fire risk. If you live under an older thatched roof, the wiring in the roof space deserves a proper look. Cables, lights and fittings near thatch have to meet specific requirements, and they're part of what an electrical inspection checks, whether you're selling or simply want peace of mind.
Drains, plumbing and electrical in Pinelands
We work across Pinelands, from Old Pinelands around Mead Way to the rest of the suburb, and in neighbouring Mowbray, Observatory and Rondebosch, all on one flat call-out rate.
Common questions
Can tree roots really block a sewer pipe?
Yes. Roots get in through cracked or loose joints in older pipes and grow into a mat that traps waste. In leafy suburbs they're one of the most common causes of repeat blockages.
Will clearing the roots fix the problem?
It clears the blockage, but roots usually grow back through the same joint. A camera inspection shows whether the pipe needs repair or replacement for a lasting fix.
Who is responsible for the drain, me or the City?
Generally, the drain pipes on your property are the owner's responsibility up to where they connect to the municipal sewer. If the blockage is in the City's sewer, it should be reported to the City.
Do you use a drain camera?
Yes. After clearing a blockage, we can camera-check the line so you know exactly what's causing it before deciding on a repair.