Is Your Growing Garden Growing Into Your Indoor Plumbing?
Trees, like humans, need water and nutrients. Unlike humans, trees spend a large portion of the year asleep while they wait for winter to pass. As the springtime comes and trees wake up, they are bound to grow. As they grow, they constantly search for new water and nutrients, leaving underground plumbing particularly vulnerable. If tree roots can detect the water in underground plumbing, they can find weaknesses in the pipes, including weak joints or small cracks, and invade. What could start as a small invasion of the underground plumbing could soon become a big problem as the tree roots are unlikely to stop if they continue to find water and nutrients to aid growth.
The Not-So-Innocent Intruding Roots and the Ripple Effects
Tree roots that invade or intrude on pipes can impact the plumbing system even more. Some of the biggest issues that they can cause in the underground plumbing system are:
- Clogs: Roots growing inside pipes become like a sieve for water passing and can create huge clogs. They could create persistent clogs and blockages of water in the house. Even if the clog doesn’t get to the point of being persistent and unyielding, the net-like pattern of the tree roots can cause water pressure to be much slower, meaning that water drainage might become much slower and lead to more water back-up.
- Leaks: Roots will inevitably test the boundaries of the pipes they are in, meaning that they might grow against the pipes making them weaker or even causing them to break open and cause leaks. These leaks could have even larger consequences, including yard flooding or structural damage.
The Superhero Solutions To Avoid and Treat Root Obstruction
The impacts of tree roots on underground plumbing might sound scary and intimidating, but the good news is that there are preventative steps that homeowners can take to protect their plumbing systems. The best first step is to understand what the inside of the pipelines looks like—this might mean calling a professional to take a video of the pipes to understand what tree roots might be growing inside and whether they are a danger to the pipelines.
If there are tree roots in the pipeline, it is best to cut them away right away before they can grow even further. Even if there are no roots present, one thing that is always helpful is placing physical root barriers around the pipes that stop roots from being able to grow. These roots can be made from wood or metal and buried six or more inches below them to ensure they are effective against root growth.
If, despite best efforts, underground plumbing has been damaged by invading tree roots, professional plumbers are available to help homeowners maintain their homes and yards in one dry piece. Plumbers have several tricks up their sleeves to fix leaks and clogs in the underground plumbing system.
- Hydro jetting is a great professional solution if a backup from tree roots is in the underground plumbing. Hydro jetting clears the underground tree roots by shooting a high-pressure water stream into the pipe.
- Drain snakes can be used from the drain or the sewer line to cut through tree roots, causing clogs or leaks.
- Trenchless sewer line repair can help when tree roots cause underground pipes to crack, burst, or even collapse, depending on the pressure the tree roots put on the pipes. Trenchless sewer repair involves sending a camera into the sewer line to understand the damage and then cleaning out the sewer line of all tree roots. After it is cleaned, professionals can insert a felt or fiberglass liner into the sewer line that will automatically take the shape of the line, repair any cracks or breaks, and protect it from future damage.
About Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
With over 25,600 reviews, Carmine's Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, located in Danbury, Connecticut, is the obvious choice for HVAC and plumbing needs in the Danbury area. They offer fast service with an emergency service hotline for all emergency needs, but they also promise to listen closely to needs and provide the most honest advice possible, meaning no up-charging or scamming. Call Carmine’s today for drain cleaning service in and around Danbury, CT!
