Your sewer line might have a hidden threat: tree roots. Under the surface, your beautiful tree could have invasive, fast-growing roots that threaten your entire home’s plumbing system. Tree root invasion happens all too often for homeowners, resulting in thousands of dollars of costly repairs and possible property damage.
What happens to make a tree root break a sewer line? And is there anything you can do to prevent it? This article will break down everything you need to know to protect your plumbing.
How Tree Roots Get Into Sewer Lines
Roots are living organisms, providing a tree with moisture and nutrients from the soil. To keep the try hydrated, the roots will grow in the direction of a water source. They are naturally drawn to moisture, which is abundant in your sewer line.
Trees that are planted too close to a home’s septic system are more likely to experience tree root invasion. Pipes being too close to the tree is a structural issue that can be prevented with proper zoning. Understanding where your sewer line is will help you plant a tree at a safe distance, which is at least 10 feet away.
Cracks Can Attract Roots
A cracked sewer line may be minor, but it causes water and sewage to leak into the soil. As a result, tree roots can pick up on the excess moisture and start growing toward the source. Eventually, the roots will make their way into the crack or loose pipe joint, breaking through the entire system.
The Problem Worsens
As tree roots continue to grow larger and multiply, they can completely break through sewer pipes and cause them to burst underground. Before that, though, you are likely to experience issues like strange noises coming from your toilet, frequent blockages and backflow.
The worst thing you can do is leave the problems to fester. Contact an expert who can perform a sewer line inspection. Plumbers can then inform you whether or not you have a tree root problem. If you do, they can recommend a swift repair to protect your plumbing and home.
Do I Have to Remove a Tree to Fix My Sewer Line?
If a tree is too close to your sewer line or its roots have entered the system, then yes. The best thing to do is remove and, if possible, replant the tree to protect your sewer line from invasion, cracks and an eventual break.
Preventing Tree Root Sewer Damage
To prevent tree roots from harming your sewer system, there are several things you can do:
• Make sure trees are at least 10 feet away from your sewer line.
• Plant small, slow-growing trees that are considered sewer-safe, like cypress and flowering dogwood.
• Have annual sewer line inspections to protect your home.
• Check the entry points of your sewer line for tree roots every few months.
• Address any sewer problems ASAP with an expert.
Find Professional Tree Line Sewer Repair When You Need It
Homeowners with worries about their sewer line can turn to the team at Select Plumbing in Lincoln, NE, for reliable plumbing services anytime.
