Can Trees or Shrubs Damage Your Sewer Lines?

What Type Of Plumbing Services Exist Outside Your House?

Plumbing outside your house includes water supply lines, drain lines, and sewer lines. Supply lines bring fresh water into your home, while drain and sewer lines remove waste water and sewage. Tree roots that grow into these buried underground lines may compromise these buried underground lines over time.

Which Plants Should You Avoid Near Plumbing and Sewer Lines?

Certain plants possessing aggressive root systems should be kept away from plumbing and sewer lines to prevent rapid expansion of their roots, including:

• Weeping Willows - Weeping willow trees can produce roots that extend three times further than their height, potentially invading and blocking up water and sewer lines, leading to blockages or leakage issues in residential and public facilities. These roots may cause obstruction and lead to blockages as they travel.
• Silver Maples - Silver maples have shallow root systems that can invade and damage water and sewer lines, quickly growing while needing plenty of moisture, making them high-risk trees for plumbing damage.
• Bamboo - Bamboo's extensive root system can spread quickly, penetrating water and sewer lines and causing blockages or leaks.
• Oak Trees - Oak trees have deep, spreading roots that can damage water and sewer lines and crack and break pipes, leading to leakage or blockages and, eventually, costly repair bills. These roots may even crack open pipes leading to leakages or blockages within the pipes themselves, causing leakage problems or blockages altogether.

What Plants Can Grow Around Plumbing and Sewer Lines?

Not all plants are harmful to plumbing and sewer lines; many species boast shallow root systems that won't interfere with pipes like these do:

• Annuals and Perennials - Annuals and perennials are plants with shallow root systems that won't interfere with plumbing or sewer lines, offering the ideal way to add color and texture without risking damaging pipes. They make great additions for adding variety without fear of ruining pipes!
• Shrubs with shallow root systems - such as boxwood or hydrangeas, are attractive near plumbing and sewer lines for drainage purposes.
• Small Trees - Dogwoods or redbuds with shallow root systems make excellent options near plumbing or sewer lines, providing shelter from stormwater runoff.

Maintain Your Plumbing and Sewer Lines To Prevent Issues

Preventative maintenance can go a long way toward safeguarding your plumbing and sewer lines from tree root damage; here are a few tips that may help:

• Regular Maintenance - To keep your pipes in tip-top shape, regular inspection by a licensed plumber and fixing any potential issues quickly is vital to their good condition. Call an expert who can inspect and address them regularly before becoming major problems.
• Keep Your Pipes Protected- As previously discussed, some trees threaten the integrity of your plumbing and sewer lines more than others. Therefore, try not to plant high-risk trees near these lines.
• Root Barrier Installation - Root barriers are physical obstacles designed to stop tree roots from getting in through pipe drains or underfoot and into underground systems, offering an ideal way to protect high-risk trees on your property from obstructing drainage or pipe maintenance. This solution may provide another avenue of defense from tree removal or maintenance costs in future years.
• Water Wisely - Overwatering your plants may lead them to develop longer roots which could invade your plumbing. Be sure to water only when necessary and provide only the appropriate amounts.

Roots may not be the only cause of plumbing and sewer line damage; other culprits could include aged pipes, corrosion, soil shifting, or corrosion-infected soil shifting. Routine inspection and maintenance visits can identify and address such problems before they become more significant.

Be mindful about what's being flushed down your drains - grease, food scraps, and hygiene products could clog and damage pipes if flushed directly down a toilet or sink. Always dispose of these materials properly instead.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we aim to deliver outstanding plumbing services at competitive rates for our customers. From leaky faucets, clogged drains, damaged sewer lines, or anything in-between - whether that means leaky faucets, blocked drains or damaged sewer lines - to providing quick, effective services utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies, we are dedicated to offering high-quality work that gets completed promptly and efficiently. Our skilled plumbers offer complete solutions, expertise, and experience in handling even complex situations quickly and efficiently.

Regarding sewer line damage, our team has the knowledge and equipment to identify its cause and find effective solutions. At Mr. Rooter Plumbing, our priority is providing our customers with superior service that they can rely on - this includes repair, replacement, and maintenance, as well as hydro jetting of damaged lines as soon as they occur - minimizing its impact on everyday life as quickly as possible. At our core is customer satisfaction: with that commitment comes an extensive guarantee.