People who have yards filled with sprawling trees tend to spend lots of time maintaining their gardens, including pruning, watering, trimming and raking. Few, however, turn their attention to what is happening below the surface. This innocent omission can lead to major problems with a home’s sewerage and stormwater systems.
Tree root intrusion is one of the most common causes of blocked sewer drains and clogged stormwater drains. The insides of plumbing pipes create the ideal environment for tree roots. The atmosphere is damp and there are plenty of minerals present - especially in the sewer pipes. Tree roots are more likely to seek out pipes during spring or summer when they require more water than they’re receiving naturally from rainfall. They can find their way into pipes through loose joints and small cracks.
Why are tree roots problematic for drain pipes?
Tree roots are an issue for plumbing pipes because they can continue to grow inside the pipe until the entire length of pipe is blocked. This can cause either stormwater drains to flood when it rains or the sewer to overflow. A clogged sewer may result in untreated sewage flooding out of drains within the home which is a major health issue.
When caught early, tree roots can be effectively removed using jet blasters. However, unlike other clogs, such as grease build-up, which can be removed for good, tree roots grow back. Tree roots will eventually re-enter through the same weak point in the pipe. A longer-term solution is to repair or replace the area of pipe where the roots entered or remove the offending tree from the area.
Signs that tree roots are invading your plumbing pipes
1. Issues with multiple drains
If you notice that a number of drains around the home are blocked, draining slowly or making a strange gurgling sounds, this is indicative of a blocked sewer. Tree roots aren’t the only cause of clogged sewers so it’s important to engage the services of a licensed plumber to perform a CCTV inspection of the sewer pipes. They can investigate whether the cause of the problems is tree roots or something else like wet-wipes.
2. Sporadic green patches on the lawn
Another tell-tale sign that tree roots have entered your plumbing pipes is random green patches on the lawn. If certain areas of the lawn are thriving for no apparent reason, it could be due to a cracked plumbing pipe. Trees and grass can grow quickly when they have access to the extra nutrients provided by a cracked or collapsed pipe.
3. A tree is growing quicker than normal
If you notice a tree is particularly lush despite a lack of rainfall it could be enjoying a regular supply of nutrients and water from the plumbing pipes. One study suggests that when trees have limited access to water their root systems can travel many metres deep searching for this much needed resource. Trees may even send their roots through cracks in rocks.
4. The toilet backs up regularly
Regular toilet backups could also indicate tree infested sewer pipes. When tree roots infiltrate the sewer pipes they can act as a snag for other items such as toilet paper and wet-wipes. As more and more debris gets caught on the tree roots, the clog gets worse resulting in more frequent backups when you flush the toilet.
5. There are sink holes in the yard
In severe cases of tree root intrusion you may notice sinkholes around the yard. Tree roots can grow until the entire length of pipe is blocked. Once the pipes are too full, the tree roots can crack the pipes allowing water to leak out into the surrounding soil. Over time these leaks can erode the soil around the pipes, resulting in soft spots in the soil that cave in.
What to do about tree roots in the drain pipes
A CCTV inspection is the fastest and least invasive method of determining the cause of your plumbing problems. If there are in fact tree roots in the pipes, a pipe inspection will provide video evidence of this. It will also show the extent of the invasion and any damage that has been caused.
As mentioned earlier, minor tree root intrusion can be successfully treated with jet blasting. It’s not a permanent solutions and you will need to book an annual drain cleaning service to keep the tree roots out. For major tree root intrusion that has damaged your pipes you can either get the pipes relined or have them excavated and replaced. The right course of action will depend on the job at hand.
If you would like more information on how to deal with tree roots, or you would like to book a CCTV plumbing inspection call JAB Plumbing Solutions on 1800 225 552.
