Plant Growth in the Spring Can Damage Underground Plumbing

How Do Trees Hurt Piping? 

The chief characteristic of spring is the rising temperatures. After long winters, everyone is excited to enjoy better weather. Nature rejoices with the change in season by spurring the rapid growth and flowering of trees, shrubs, and grasses. One of the downsides that come with all of the positive aspects of spring is the problems that often occur, especially in underground plumbing. 

With the rapid growth of trees and shrubs, roots can stress piping and cause problems for the entire home. Here is a quick guide to invasive tree roots, the problems they can cause, and some strategies for dealing with the damage. 

Invasive Tree Roots 

Strong plant roots support the rapid growth of all plant life in the spring. Roots feed the plant and pull nutrients like water into the stems and leaves. When warmer temperatures come, roots rapidly grow underneath the surface of the soil to find new sources of nutrients. In some cases, these feeder roots tap into sewer lines to obtain loads of nitrogen and phosphorus, two of the most important nutrients for plants. 

Plant roots can only access sewage by finding imperfections in the piping. That means if sewer pipes are compromised or aging, they are more susceptible to invasive roots. Once a single root gains access to the inside of a sewer line, it will grow rapidly and lead to some major problems. 

Problems Caused by Intrusive Tree Roots

Once the root is inside the pipe, it will grow quickly. As it grows wider, it will worsen the damage to the pipe and allow more roots inside. At the same time, it will send tons of new feeder roots to soak up all the nutrients. The result is a living net growing inside a sewer line. As sewage attempts to flow through the obstruction, solids, and debris will get caught in the net. Eventually, the net will be so laden with debris that sewage won't be able to flow. This causes major sewage backups in the home. Some of the signs that will accompany this are: 

• Slow draining from sinks
• Slow-flushing toilets
• Sewage backing up into tubs and floor drains
• Foul odors

Solutions for Problems Caused by Tree Roots

The messes caused by invasive tree roots can be truly disgusting. Luckily, the solution to the "root" cause of the problem is relatively simple. Plumbers use two tools to help them remove difficult clogs from sewer pipes. The more traditional tool is called a drain snake. These devices are powerful augers inserted into sewer pipes to grind and rip tree roots out. Once a drain snake has been used, sewage will be free to flow again. 

The more modern choice for clog removal is a hydro jet. Hydro jets use highly pressurized water to blast through debris and cut through tree roots. The powerful stream of water effectively washes away any buildup on the inside of sewer lines, leaving them as clean as the day they were installed. 

About Bud's Plumbing & Repair Service

Bud's Plumbing & Repair Service knows how to communicate effectively with customers. With this communication, they make drain cleaning, water heater maintenance, and several other plumbing repairs fast and simple. Call today for plumbing service in Evansville, IN.

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