Another year, another open inspection. And another issue uncovered.

This time it was in an unusually lush garden bed on the western wall of a glorious 1920s Glenelg bungalow.

The heat of the afternoon sun was radiating off the sandstone as if it was the walls of an industrial blast furnace. But the plants seemed strangely unaffected.

I pulled out the sunnies and got into the undergrowth to root out the problem.

I’m no green thumb but I’ve been around long enough in the plumbing business to know what was happening.

Yes, dear old Adelaide Plains reactive soils had struck again. A finger poked in the soil revealed moisture. Then the fact that I could pull apart the soil with my bare hands, not a shovel; meant dampness was a chronic problem.

I love Adelaide but it has one of the world’s worst cocktails of reactive soils and climate.

These expand and contract like you wouldn’t believe as our changing four seasons unfold.

As well as undermining foundations, the soil movement cracks drain and pipework.

This encourages the roots of trees and shrubs to force their way in, eventually causing blockages.

If you are lucky it happens outside. If not it’s New Year dollars down the drain as the bathroom floods.

Blocked drains are one of the most common plumbing issues. Happily, they are preventable if piping is installed correctly to provide for our unusual earth movement.

They are also detected early if you detect the symptoms. Don’t ignore that gurgling noise in the shower drain or that constant damp patch in the garden.

Complete failure means complete replacement so have a good look at the next open inspection, so you don’t end up buying someone else’s problems.

Give us a call 08 7160 3670 if you want some expert advice on the matter.