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glenn@blockageking.com.au

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Vaporooter FAQ's

What is Vaporooter? Vaporooter stops tree root damage to your pipes. It prevents tree roots from crushing, cracking or blocking your sewer pipes.
Is Vaporooter Safe? Yes,Vaporooter is 100% safe and effective. It has been safely and successfully used all around the world for over 40 years.
Will Vaporooter kill my trees? No, Vaporooter only kills tree roots, not trees and plants.
Does Vaporooter come with any kind of guarantee? Yes, Vaporooter comes with a 12-Month Guarantee. Which means that if your drains have a blockage caused by tree roots within 12 months of being treated with Vaporooter, we will gladly clear the blockage for FREE! (Does not cover collapsed or broken pipes).
Are your staff qualified to apply Vaporooter? Yes, all our technicians are fully trained and certified.
Are Tree root blockages in drains and pipes a common problem? Yes, up to 80% of residential plumbing emergencies are caused by tree roots  blocking drains and sewer pipes.
Who is most at risk of experiencing tree root damage to their pipes? If your property, your neighbour’s property or the public land around your property has trees on it, you are at risk, but if you live on a tree-lined street with long-standing trees, you are at an even higher risk.
How much does Vaporooter cost? Vaporooter protects your pies and gives you complete peace of mind for less than $1.50 a day.
Wouldn't it be cheaper to just fix the broken pipes when the need arises, because this problem may never happen to me? As you sleep, your trees, the trees on the public land and your neighbours’ tree roots are making their way to your pipes. The question is not if they will crush or damage your pipes, but WHEN. Vaporooter as prevention is less expensive than repairs.Following costly tree root damage to their pipes, property owners unanimously agree they would have preferred paying a fraction of the cost for a hassle and damage-free Vaporooter treatment.
How do I know if I have a blocked drain or pipe due to tree roots?

Here are some symptoms to look for:

  • Slow draining or build up of water (sometimes ankle deep) in your shower or bath.
  • The excessive rise or fall of the water level in your toilet. We call it syphoning and it comes with it’s own sound effect that sounds like “glug glug glug”.
  • You find toilet paper remnants or dirty water around your sewer surcharge overflow gully in your garden.
  • Swarms of sewer flies around your drains.
  • Smelly drains are a sure sign that your pipes are becoming blocked.
  • Dirty or smelly water leaking from retaining walls or garden beds that may conceal sewer pipes.
  • Waste water leaking from pipes around and under your home that don’t normally leak.
My drain is blocked by tree roots. Can I apply Vaporooter today?

No, you cannot have Vaporooter applied by a certified applicator today. There’s a process you have to go through to ensure the problem is fixed properly. Firstly, your blocked drain needs to be cleared and surveyed with a drain camera  by a licenced Vaporooter applicator. He will cut out the tree root blockage with a drain cleaning machine. The survey will  inpoint the tree root points of entry into the pipe. The action of cutting the roots makes the tree roots “sap” to heal  he wound. We wait 6-8 weeks to allow the roots time to “relax” and re-shoot into the sewer line seeking moisture and nutrients. This is the optimum time to apply Vaporooter to your pipes to prevent further tree root ingress.
Will Vaporooter destroy the roots in my sewer pipes that cause sewer Blockages? Yes Vaporooter has a herbicide that will destroy all roots it comes in contact with.
Will Vaporooter stop roots from growing back? Yes with repeated annual applications the roots will stop entering the pipe.
How does it do this? Vaporooter has a root growth inhibitor Dichlobenil 50W that attaches to organic material and terilises the soil where the roots enter the pipe.
Will Vaporooter harm my plants and trees near the sewer pipe? No Vaporooter is a non systemic herbicide, meaning it will only affect the root material it comes in contact with and only travel a very short distance up the root.
Is Vaporooter safe to use? Yes Vaporooter is safe to use and the main ingredients of Vaporooter are commonly used on food crops to control weed growth.
Why does Vaporooter foam up? Roots typically enter the pipe at the sides and top of the sewer pipe. The foam is used to carry the ingredients of Vaporooter to the roots at the top of the pipe where the roots enter. The foam also controls how long Vaporooter is in contact with the root mass.
Can we just pour it down the toilet and flush? There is no control over how long the chemical is in contact with the roots if it is poured into the toilet like some caustic and copper sulphate products.
Can I apply Vaporooter myself? No Vaporooter is applied with a Mini Foamer machine by a licensed applicator. The machine generates the foam and pumps it into the sewer. The applicator is trained to ensure the pipes are completely filled with the foam to ensure good contact with the roots.
Can I use my plumbing while the application process is being done? Yes the foam holds the Vaporooter in place and the waste water flows under the foam.
How long does it take to apply Vaporooter? The application process takes less than one hour but depends largely on the length of the pipes.
How long does Vaporooter take to work? Vaporooter begins destroying the roots immediately. The roots in the pipe, in the pipe wall and just outside the pipe die, rot and drop off into the flow. This allows ground pressure to assist closing the cracks and gaps in the pipe caused by the root growth.
Why do we have to wait 6 to 8 weeks after clearing a blockage before treating the pipes with Vaporooter? When roots are cut out with an electric eel or jetter while clearing a blockage the roots respond very quickly by “bleeding” a sap that assists healing and regrowth. This retards the intake of any chemical for a period of days. When the “bleeding” stops, nutrients start travelling up the root system, promoting growth. After 6 to 8 weeks fine white root stems have formed that absorb the Vaporooter herbicide very efficiently maximising the effectiveness of the Vaporooter process.
If I have to treat the line annually with Vaporooter why don’t I just wait for the pipe to block and then call a plumber? Once trees have entered your sewer line you unfortunately have an ongoing problem. Usually sewer blockages occur when the plumbing system is being heavily used. When there are a lot of people at home like school holidays, Christmas and Grand Final day. This will result in inconvenience and a  costly call out fee to a plumber.
If I have to treat the line annually with Vaporooter why don’t I just have a plumber come on a regular basis to keep the pipe flowing? The process of clearing a sewer pipe, particularly with a rodding machine is an abrasive action on your sewer pipes. While essential to clear a blockage this process can deteriorate the condition of the pipe when ripping and cutting the roots. Each time the plumber clears the roots out of your sewer the plant responds by growing thicker and more vigorously, just like pruning a hedge. This thicker growth opens the cracks and joins where the roots enter the pipe. This allows more sewerage to contaminate your soil and attracts more roots into the sewer pipe to enjoy the warm and nutrient rich environment your sewer offers. This reduces the time period between each blockage.
Will Vaporooter stop the tree roots smashing the pipes? Yes Vaporooter will destroy the roots in the pipe and in the pipe wall. The roots will not grow back through the cracks and defects in the pipe. This will allow ground pressure to assist in closing the cracks and maintaining the condition of your sewer pipes