Tree Roots and Plumbing
Photo by Camille Brodard on Unsplash
When tree roots spread in search of water and nutrients, they sometimes damage buried plumbing pipes. There are several warning signs that indicate damage to your plumbing system. This is a serious issue, and should be remedied right away.
New growth on a tree in spring.
The root system of a tree can spread out 2-4x larger than the tree is wide. This means that a tree which is 2ft in diameter could have a root system reaching up to 8ft away. As the tree gets bigger, so does the root system.
Tree roots may disturb plumbing piping in their path. If the piping is made of clay or concrete there is a particular risk, but newer plumbing materials can also be affected. The tree roots may damage the piping system, and in doing so give them a new source of water. There are several symptoms you may notice if this process is occurring on your property.
Soft spots or sinkholes on the lawn. If there is an area of your lawn which is excessively wet, soft, or even starts sinking beneath your feet there is a problem. The softness is caused by the presence of too much water saturating the surrounding soil. Excess wetness in the ground close to the home may also cause the sump pump to run more frequently than normal.
The tree is growing quickly compared to others nearby. When trees have their water needs being met, they will grow bigger faster. A good gauge is looking at the tree compared to other similar ones in the area.
Slow drains, frequently clogged drains, or gurgling noises when toilets are flushed. As tree roots grow inside the pipes, there is less space for waste to leave the home. This may lead to the water draining slower, or intermittently stopping flow. Another unpleasant symptom is a foul odor coming from the drains. This is a symptom requiring immediate attention.
What can I do?
There are remedies a homeowner can try, like rock salt and copper sulphate. Unfortunately by the time you notice symptoms like slow drains or foul odors, the tree roots are probably already too far established for these to be very effective.
Instead, you can give a plumber like Quinte Plumbing a call. Mike can come out and do a camera inspection to determine how bad the problem is, and where the problem is in the line. If clogs or roots are found, we can clear them using a large snake machine. This will get water flowing again.
Once the immediate issue of water flow is resolved, the pipe will need to be repaired. We can locate the pipe path on your property and the pipe will either need to be re-lined (specialty) or replaced.
References:
Healthy Roots