Did you Know That Trees Can Wreck Your Home Plumbing?

When you have a tree in your yard, you’re usually worried about one problem: falling branches. While a tumbling tree limb can be dangerous, the risk is easy to spot and prevent. Precarious branches can be trimmed or removed by professional arborists.

What you should be worried about is the risk of tree roots invading your home plumbing system. The damages from root intrusion can be extensive and cost a fortune to fix. More importantly, the problem is much harder to catch than a branch that looks close to snapping.

How does root intrusion happen?

When pipes have breaks or leaks, roots will grow towards the entrance and make their way to the nutrient source. Once they find their way inside, they will continue to grow inside and outside of the pipe. In some cases, the roots can grow up drains, showing up inside of toilet bowls.

Home experts warn that houses fitted with clay pipes are more at risk of root intrusion because the material is brittle and susceptible to cracks, leaks and disjoints. The moment that there is a fissure in the pipe, the roots will penetrate the area and slowly create a blockage. Newer constructions with PVC, PEX or copper piping will be less vulnerable to the problem.

What are the signs that you’re dealing with root intrusion?

Here are some of the signs that point to roots creeping into the pipes:

• Frequent drain clogs

• Sewage back-up in drains

• Strong, unpleasant odour

• Gurgling sounds coming from the toilet

What can you do to fix the problem?

Unfortunately, the solution for root intrusion isn’t cutting down the tree in your yard – the root system will still thrive beneath the soil without its trunk. The best thing to do is to call a professional plumbing company to investigate the drains. They can start your appointment with a video camera investigation so that they can find the exact location of the roots and the size of the blockage.

After pinpointing the blockage, the experts will have to dig up the area to physically extract the clog. Then they will repair or replace the broken pipe. If you have clay pipes or ones that are showing signs of wear, they can replace the pipes with options that won’t be vulnerable to root intrusion. You can visit Sewersquad.ca/services/drain-repair/ find out more information about the repairs and the 25-year warranty that comes with high-quality upgrades.

How do you avoid root intrusion?

If you’re hoping to plant a tree in your yard, you should steer clear of trees with invasive roots that are notorious for creeping into pipes or damaging driveways like willows, silver maples, American elms and hybrid poplars. Choose saplings that have smaller root systems, like crabapple trees or Japanese maples.

When you spot problems with your drains, call a plumber to take a good look at your home’s system. They could spot the beginnings of a massive root invasion. It’s better to find out now than to figure it out years down the line.