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Let’s talk about tree roots for a minute. We all know how vital flora is; plants and trees play a critical role in the ecosystem, and they offer a ton of benefits. If you’ve planted trees on your property, you’ve been enjoying some of these benefits. Trees clean the air, keep the soil firm, prevent erosion, and provide shade when it gets too hot. It doesn’t hurt that they also look great and can help increase property values, either.
However, planting trees around your home requires a delicate balance. You want to plant them close enough to your home to reap the benefits but far away enough that you don’t have to deal with tree roots. And as any plumber near me in Oak Ridge would know, tree roots in plumbing are a homeowner’s worst nightmare.
What’s So Bad About Tree Roots?
Usually, most people would have nothing against tree roots. Aside from increasing your chances of tripping, tree roots do nothing but good. You most likely know what I’m talking about if you’ve witnessed soil erosion up close. Planting trees around your home will add a ton of benefits but also presents a significant risk to your home’s plumbing system; root intrusion. Given a chance, tree roots will force their way into underground pipes. The result, as any plumber near me in Oak Ridge, TN, can attest, is never pretty.
Since your plumbing transports either clean water or wastewater, it presents a desirable target to tree roots. Water pipes can provide a never-ending supply of water, and if the roots breach a sewage pipe, they will have unlimited access to nutrients. So if you’ve got trees on your property, assume that they desperately want to breach your underground pipes. Unless you take measures to protect your plumbing, you will most likely be contacting a plumber near me in Oak Ridge in the near future due to root intrusion.
What Is Root Intrusion?
Also known as root invasion, this happens when tree roots grow around or even into your sewage and water pipes. Always on the hunt for moisture and nutrients, the roots are drawn to the moisture in the pipe. While some pipes are capable of resisting tree roots, perforated or old drain pipes may be more susceptible to root damage. Furthermore, your plumbing may be at risk if the trees on your property have powerful and aggressive root systems.
Trees like the Southern Magnolia, Willow, and the Silver Maple are known by most plumbers near me for their particularly aggressive and invasive root systems. If you are planning on planting a tree or two on your property in the near future, consider how invasive their roots are before settling on planting them. Invasive roots can breach your plumbing and, in many cases, completely block your pipes and slow down or even prevent the proper flow of water.
This could lead to serious plumbing issues like burst pipes. Depending on how close the compromised pipes are to your home, you may also be looking at some water damage as well. If you have large trees on your property, you should consider contacting a plumber near me in Oak Ridge to show you how you can avoid root invasion. And if you are wondering whether or not your pipes are already compromised, here are some signs to look out for.
Signs of a Root Intrusion
Most plumbing issues start small, say a slowly draining shower drain or a leaky faucet, before snowballing into major problems. Chances are you missed one or more signs that something was wrong. Reach out to a plumber near me in Oak Ridge if you notice one or more of the following signs. Your plumbing system may have suffered a root invasion.
- Slow drains – Admittedly, slow drains can be a sign of several plumbing issues. This includes leaks and clogs, which can result from root invasions. If your drains are slow and also emit a foul odor, your sewer line may be compromised by tree roots.
- Strange smells around your property – Tree roots absolutely love sewer lines as the wastewater inside is chock-full of nutrients. If you notice a foul, unpleasant odor around your property, tree roots may have invaded your sewer line and caused a leak.
- Backed-up drains – In some cases, tree roots will completely plug a sewer line as they grow bigger. Not only does this lead to drain back-ups, but it can also cause sewage water to come up the drains. Contact a plumber near me in Oak Ridge as soon as this happens for emergency plumbing services.
- Lush green spots in your yard – The stuff coursing through your sewage pipes is essentially fertilizer. If you’ve got a leaking or burst sewage pipe due to a root intrusion, the grass around the leak will absorb the leaking nutrients, growing greener and lusher than the surrounding spots. At this point, you will have to contact a plumber near me in Oak Ridge, TN, to inspect your sewer line.
- Increased insect and rodent activity – Aside from pumping the surrounding plants with tons of nutrients, a compromised sewer line will also attract loads of pests. Insects and rodents tend to be attracted to dirty places, and there’s nothing as filthy as a leaking sewer line. So if you’ve recently been noticing a lot of mice, rats, and cockroaches in or outside your home, you may be dealing with a root intrusion.
How to Prevent Root Intrusion
There are a few things you can do to protect your plumbing from invasive roots. The first would be to plant trees a significant enough distance from your home. Prevention is much better than cure, after all, so a plumber near me in Oak Ridges may advise a homeowner to think long term when they landscape their property. Keep trees away from the sewer line and leave plenty of clearance between the plumbing line and your trees.
Furthermore, try to plant trees that don’t have long, aggressive root systems. If tree roots on your property are already encroaching on the sewer line, trim them regularly. You should also invest in root barriers, which are essentially solid barricades that prevent tree roots from crossing a certain line and compromising your sewer line. Don’t forget to contact a plumber near me in Oak Ridge, TN, to replace any perforated and old pipes with more sturdy pipes. Schedule regular inspections to ensure your pipes are in the clear.
Contact a Plumber Near Me in Oak Ridge For Your Plumbing Needs
Is your plumbing acting up? Reach out to My Professional Plumber. We offer a variety of services, from tankless water heaters, installations, drain cleaning, repair, and so much more. We also provide 24/7 Emergency Plumbing service for those pesky after-hours emergencies. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.