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Clay drainage pipe and sewer pipe problems

The use of clay drainage pipes dates back to those marvels of plumbing, the Romans. The clay pipe system was easy to manufacture, straightforward to lay and, for the most part, reliable. If correctly installed with a solid base, clay drains could last up to 100 years. However, due to the rigid and brittle nature of clay or terracotta pipes problems can begin to occur over time.

Clay Drainage Pipe Problems

Problems with terracotta pipes

Terracotta drainage pipes (sometimes referred to as clay or vitrified clay pipes) can experience issues just like other types of pipes. Some complications which can occur with clay drain pipes include:

  • a slight movement or settling in the ground around the pipe can disturb couplings and potentially create water leaks
  • subsequent water loss can wash away pipe bedding causing more drain movement
  • because of the shatter-able nature of the clay, cracks or breaks can occur from shocks or impact damage
  • misalignment allows debris to be snagged on the inside of the pipe eventually causing a partial or full drain blockage
  • one misaligned pipe can then nudge the next pipe out of place and so on, causing more and more issues along the drain length
  • heavy vehicle movement over pipes under driveways or roads can cause cracks or even total drain collapse
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Tree root ingress in clay pipes

Clay drain pipes are especially susceptible to tree root ingress. Roots work their way into the drain via couplings experiencing mortar shrinkage, cracks or fractures. This is especially prevalent if an effective root barrier system was not installed when the pipes were laid or large trees have been planted too close to the drain pipe.

Repairing clay drain pipes

The good news is there's a lot you can do to extend the life of your clay sewer pipes. Modern pipe relining and pipe patching techniques offer 'no dig' drain repair options which remove the need for extensive digging to replace broken drain pipes. Even badly cracked or broken pipes, as well as joint damage and misaligned pipes, can be fixed with trenchless pipe repairs . The new pipe patch or reline will provide a strong layer inside the terracotta pipe adding up to 50 years to the life of the drain.

Removing potentially damaging trees from the area around the drain will prevent roots from causing blockages within the pipes.

Keep your terracotta drainage pipes healthy

Worried about the health of clay drain pipes on your property? Our team of pipe relining specialists use the latest in drain camera technology to uncover any issues with your drains plus we offer 'no dig' drain repairs so you won't need to remove large areas of the garden, driveway or road. Give Reline Solutions a call at 0403 355 550 or complete our service request form today.

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