Having trees on your property around your home can significantly enhance its curb appeal. Certain trees can also help improve your home’s energy efficiency by blocking the sun in the summer and allowing it through in the winter. However, no matter what type of trees you have on your property, they all come with a risk to your plumbing system. Here are five ways that trees can adversely affect your home’s plumbing. We’ll also discuss some of the ways to address plumbing problems related to tree roots.
1. Creating Clogs
As a tree grows, its need for water can increase exponentially. As a result, most trees grow vast root systems that can dwarf their above-ground parts. Since tree roots aren’t visible, it’s often difficult to gauge their spread, though. However, you should know that a tree will routinely grow roots that penetrate up to 12 feet below the ground. And, a tree’s root system may spread up to four times the diameter of the tree’s crown. As they grow, the roots will gravitate toward any nearby moisture. That makes sewer pipes an attractive target.
Tree roots will often find minor defects in a sewer pipe and exploit them to reach inside. There, they proliferate to extract as much moisture as possible. Unfortunately, thick tree root growth can act like a net. That means it will often trap solids traveling through your sewer line, creating a clog. Your first indication of a problem may be gurgling noises coming from multiple drains. Eventually, it can lead to slow flushing toilets and standing water in your sinks.
2. Increasing Water Pressure
When tree roots get inside sewer lines, they may not always cause a noticeable clog. Even if they don’t, however, you wouldn’t want to ignore the problem. The reason is that tree root infiltration can also lead to an increase in water pressure inside the pipe. As the roots grow denser, they narrow the effective diameter of the pipe. When that happens, water begins filling up the pipe as it waits to pass through the narrowed section. Occasionally, that pressure increase will rupture the pipe elsewhere, letting water escape.
When it comes to sewer lines, that can lead to significant problems. It can cause soil erosion under the surface of your property. Eventually, that can lead to sinkholes and other collapses. Plus, the escaping contaminated water can wreak havoc on your soil, potentially killing grass and landscaping in the process.
3. Collapsed Drain Lines
Tree roots don’t always have to infiltrate your drain lines to cause a problem. They can also lead to a partial collapse of the drain line. If a root grows below a buried pipe, it will start exerting upward pressure on it. Since the pipe can’t displace the soil above it to relieve the pressure, it may collapse instead. A similar thing can happen if a tree root grows above a drain line. In that case, it can cave in the pipe as the downward pressure increases.
4. Septic Tank Damage
If your home has a septic tank, it can also be vulnerable to tree root damage. Tree roots grow toward septic tanks for the same reasons that they seek out sewer lines. When roots find their way inside your tank, they cause a variety of problems. For instance, they may decrease your septic tank’s capacity if left unchecked. Or, they could lead to a blockage of the tank’s outlet pipe, causing it to fill up quickly.
5. Interfering With Drain Fields
Tree roots are also problematic if they grow too densely in your septic system’s drain field. There, they may have numerous unwanted effects. One is a partial blockage of one or more of the perforated pipes in your drain field. When that happens, the remaining pipes may experience an increase in water pressure, resulting in higher flow rates. Before long, parts of your drain field may become waterlogged. Alternatively, they can block the flow of water into your drain field, thereby halting the septic system’s function.
Preventing Tree Root-Related Plumbing Damage
It is possible to have trees on your property that coexist safely with your plumbing. It just takes a bit of planning and preventative maintenance. The following are some key actions to take.
Plant Trees Strategically
The best way to protect your plumbing from tree root damage is to confine your trees to areas of your property that do not have plumbing. Generally, it’s advisable to plant trees at least 50 feet away from sewer lines or septic systems. That’s far enough to allow for root growth that won’t jeopardize your plumbing.
Schedule Proactive Rooter Services
If you already have trees near buried plumbing, take steps to minimize root incursions. The simplest way to do that is to schedule proactive rooter services. A yearly visit from a professional plumber should prevent any excessive root growth in your sewer line or septic system. Depending on the type of pipe, our plumber may select a power auger or hydro jetting to do the job.
A power auger is a long line with a cutting head attached to its end. To clear out a pipe, our plumber would feed the line into the pipe while a motor rotates the cutting head. That can pulverize tree roots and allow their remnants to pass through the sewer line. Hydro jetting, on the other hand, utilizes a high-pressure water stream to clean the interior of the sewer line. The high-pressure water can destroy tree roots inside the sewer line without harming the pipe itself.
Consider Pipe Relining
If your property has a sewer line that experiences frequent problems with tree roots, preventative treatments may not be sufficient. In such cases, your sewer line likely has multiple cracks or separations that provide easy access for encroaching roots. To solve the problem, consider pipe relining. It’s a method of effectively replacing your vulnerable sewer line with minimal digging required.
There are two methods, but both involve inflating a flexible epoxy liner inside your sewer line and curing it in place. Then, after removing the liner, you’re left with just the epoxy, which forms new interior pipe walls. Since a relined pipe has no gaps, it will do a much more effective job of keeping roots out.
Root Killer and Inhibitor Treatments
Finally, you can opt for periodic treatments of sewer lines and septic systems using root-killing chemicals. They can dissolve roots without harming your plumbing and without substantially affecting your trees. Additionally, many include a residual effect that inhibits root regrowth for several months.
Trusted Local Plumbing Experts
For over three decades, Rosenberg Plumbing & Air has been the go-to plumber in San Antonio, TX. Our expert plumbers have extensive experience cleaning drains and maintaining septic systems. They can be your best ally in the fight against tree root incursions. Additionally, we’re a winner of the Angi Super Service award and are Better Business Bureau accredited with an A+ rating. We also have thousands of positive reviews from satisfied local customers. If you suspect your plumbing has issues related to tree roots, contact Rosenberg Plumbing & Air today to schedule a sewer repair appointment!
Tags: Drain repair, Plumbing tips