Brisbane’s Terracotta Drain Legacy Sparks Problems for Investors

Investors in Brisbane’s older areas face plumbing challenges from eighty-year-old terracotta clay piping. Blocked drains.  Brisbane real estate investors all know this costly problem.  In areas with terracotta drainage, the risk is significantly higher.

Warning Signs

By knowing the early warning signs that a drain or waste pipe is on its way to becoming blocked, you should be able to get on top of the problem early and call a plumber before it gets worse. As always, a little prevention is better than a lot of cure!

A sink that drains a lot slower than usual is usually a sign that something might be amiss further down the line. Similarly, gurgling noises that weren’t there before, or knocks and thuds after a lot of water is drained after washing dishes or when the dishwasher or washing machine is draining, are also early warnings to listen out for. An abnormally draining toilet where the water rises first (where it didn’t do this before) or any “washing back” of flushed material is also a warning sign.

Causes of Blocked Drains and Pipes

The two most common causes of blocked drains in Brisbane are tree roots and collapsed drains.
In many of the older areas of Brisbane a lot of the drain lines are old earthenware, or clay pipes. Some of these pipes can be up to 80 years old.  This makes them vulnerable to not only the usual blockages but also infiltration by tree roots and damage due to weight above the ground, and general wear and tear.

Not just terracotta

Foreign objects flushed down the toilet can also be the cause of blockages. While toilet paper is obviously dissolvable and fine to go down toilets, there is a far wider range of things being flushed than that.
The most common foreign object to cause blockages is the wet wipes, that are growing in popularity as an alternative or as a supplement to toilet paper in residential and office bathrooms.

Because of their high durability and materials used in them, wet wipes do not dissolve or disintegrate over time, even when wet. That means that when flushed, they clump together at bends and joints in the drain and slowly build up into a dam-like blockage. Other things like sanitary items can also cause problems if they are used and flushed in conjunction with wet-wipes.

In Queensland, an estimated 120 tonnes of wet wipes and debris are removed from sewage systems each year. New South Wales local councils have been forced to spend over $8 million fixing  Sydney drain blockages of this nature.

In the kitchen, food scraps and other solids mixed with grease and oil (which solidify at lower temperatures or when mixed with other substances) are a main culprits of blockages. Kitchen pipes are often much smaller in diameter than other pipes, which means that much smaller amounts of material are needed to cause problems.

Preventing Rather than Fixing A Blockage

If you have seen a slow draining sink or toilet at an open home, or can hear noises in the pipes, like gurgling or knocking, then you would be well served by calling a plumber to check things out and take a look.  Getting a pre-purchase plumbing inspection can help you assess the potential costs of repair and renogiate the purchase price.  Note that the standard Brisbane building and pest inspection doesn’t cover drainage issues – you’ll need a plumber in Brisbane who offers the service.