Tree roots are a significant threat to sewer lines buried beneath your property. As beautiful and necessary to our ecosystem as trees are, their roots can spell disasters for your home’s underground sewer lines, explaining how tree roots can damage your pipes as well as what you can do about it.
From identifying warning signs to implementing effective root control strategies, we’ll tell you how best to care for your trees and your sewer system. At Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric in Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, we specialize in helping clients with their sewer systems. If you have issues with tree roots creating problems with your underground pipes, call us, and we’ll come out to take care of the problem.
Understanding Tree Root Anatomy
Homeowners need to understand tree root anatomy and its relationship to sewer lines. Tree roots typically grow towards water and nutrient sources, making your sewer lines a perfect target. Moreover, tree roots can penetrate the smallest cracks and joints in pipes, creating a much bigger problem.
How Tree Roots Enter Sewer Lines
Tree roots enter sewer lines by finding small gaps, cracks, and joints in the pipes. These roots are looking for nutrients and water sources, so they grow toward these openings. Once they make their way inside the pipe, they continue to grow and thrive, expanding throughout the pipe and creating blockages and internal damage to the sewer lines. If they grow big enough, they can even break open a pipe and cause a catastrophic event.
Signs of Tree Root Damage to Sewer Lines
Signs of tree root damage to sewer lines include slow drains, gross odors coming from drains or toilets, sewage backups, and gurgling noises from drains or toilets. You may also notice changes in the landscape around your pipes, such as sinking soil near the sewer line.
Homeowners might also find that there are more pests than usual, with increases in rodent and insect activity. Pests are attracted to the moisture and dirt being released by destroyed pipes. The earlier you notice these signs, the faster you can fix the problem and prevent further damage. Early detection is vital when it comes to saving money throughout the repair and replacement process.
Risks Associated with Tree Root Penetration
Tree root intrusion into sewer lines creates numerous risks to your home and property, including leaks, blockages, and structural damage to the pipes. As roots grow, they create excess pressure in the sewer line and cause cracks, fractures, and sometimes even explode the pipe itself. Root infiltration also makes it possible for debris and dirt to enter your sewer system and build up in pipes, creating larger blockages that won’t allow the pipes to drain properly.
If these issues are not treated properly, tree root damage can result in costly repairs and health hazards for your family from exposure to sewage. Root infiltration can also harm the sewer system’s internal structure, which can lead to complete pipe failure and require replacement. To replace the pipes, a team of technicians will need to excavate the pipes, which is an expensive process.
Prevention Techniques to Protect Sewer Lines From Tree Roots
You have options to combat tree roots entering your sewer lines. Prevention techniques to protect your sewer lines from tree roots include planting trees away from the sewer lines, installing root barriers or physical barriers around sewer lines, selecting non-invasive tree root species, and identifying and fixing root attacks early on. Chemical root inhibitors are also a preventative solution that you can apply on the root to force the root to grow away from the sewer line.
Homeowners should also avoid planting large trees near sewer lines and consider replacing any cast iron pipes or clay pipes with newer, more durable materials such as HDPE or PVC pipes. These methods can limit the impact of tree root damage and extend your sewer system’s life.
Professional Solutions for Tree Root Intrusion
Professional solutions for tree root intrusion involve advanced techniques that can remove roots and restore the structural integrity of the pipes. Hydrojetting is one method. Technicians use high-pressure water to clear roots and debris from the sewer lines while mechanical augers cut through the roots. Chemical treatments are also used to inhibit root regrowth and prevent any future intrusions. Trenchless technologies such as pipe bursting offer non-invasive repair options that do not require excavation and, therefore, offer minimal disruptions to the yard and its landscaping.
Repairing Sewer Line Damage Caused by Tree Roots
Repairing sewer line damage caused by tree roots often requires excavation to access the affected pipes. Once exposed, the damaged pipe sections have to be repaired and replaced. The difference between repairing and replacing depends on the extent of the damage and tree root intrusion. Traditional repair methods would involve trenching to remove compromised pipes and install new ones.
Trenchless technologies like pipe lining or bursting offer less invasive solutions by creating a new, seamless liner inside the existing pipe or bursting the old pipe and pulling in a new one. These methods involve the least disruption to the yard and landscaping. Professional plumbers can determine the extent of the damage and recommend the best possible repair and replacement solution for your home. Ready to repair your sewer system from tree root damage? At Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric, we can help. Call us today.
Tree Selection and Placement Consideration Near Sewer Lines
When selecting and placing trees near sewer lines, consider species that have non-invasive root systems and slow growth rates. Trees with a shallow root system are less likely to penetrate your pipes. A few shallow root system species include dogwood, maple, and cherry trees. Make sure that you keep trees at least 10 feet away from sewer lines and from each other to prevent sewer line intrusion. We also recommend checking your trees regularly to look for signs that the roots may be moving too close to your sewer line.
Contact Us Today
Tree roots penetrating a sewer system is a serious issue that homeowners need to be aware of and address as soon as it arises. Understanding the signs of root penetration and taking preventative measures such as regular inspections and root barriers can help limit the amount of potentially costly sewer line damage.
Professional assistance is a good idea in these cases; technicians can help you diagnose and resolve any sewer line issues created by tree roots. For expert help in diagnosing and fixing your tree root-related sewer line issues, contact Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric today. Our team of experienced professionals can help you with sewer line inspections, root removal, and sewer line repair services, making sure that your plumbing system remains free from root issues.
We also offer a full range of cooling, heating, and electrical services in addition to our plumbing services. These services include AC repair, AC installation, AC maintenance, furnace installation, furnace maintenance, electrical repair, and EV charging stations. When you’re ready to handle your home maintenance and repair needs, contact us.
