Large leafy trees in your yard can be beautiful, provide shade, and increase the value of your property. Here in Midland and Odessa, where large trees don’t grow naturally, they can be seen as especially beneficial to have on your property. Everything you see above ground is great, but what’s lurking below-ground can be a potential problem. In this post, we’ll discuss the potential negative impact that tree roots can have on your pipes, and what you can do to prevent it.
ROOT OF THE PROBLEM
Roots are an inevitable part of plants. The roots search for water and other nutrients in the soil to feed the tree and help it survive and be healthy. The lack of rain in West Texas means roots really have to work to find that extra water. Because of this, roots will naturally seek out any break or crack in a pipe, if it’s a source of water.
Once they’ve found a weak spot in the pipe, they can actually break through and begin to grow inside the pipe! This will eventually cause the pipe to break or leak more, cause clogs, put pressure on your sewer lines, or cause them to back up.
PREVENTING ROOTS
Water backing up into your bathroom can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. If that happens to you, take a look outside. If you have trees in your yard, the tree’s roots could be the culprit.
There are products at your local home improvement store that are specifically designed to target roots. All you have to do is flush these products down your drain. If there are roots in your pipes, this will help kill them and prevent them from expanding. The good news is, that these chemicals are typically totally safe for your trees.
SOLUTIONS
To find out what’s going on, you’ll likely need to hire a professional plumber, like ours at The Bosworth Company, to inspect your pipes. We’ll feed a specially-designed camera down the line to find exactly where the problem is and what’s causing it. This will also make it clear how to fix the issue.
Another fix involves sewer cleaning tools that can cut roots straight from the pipe. If your pipes are clay, plastic, or cast iron, they can be cleaned with a mechanical sewer cleaner. Pipes with thinner walls may be more difficult to clean.
WORTH THE CALL
Root-infected pipes can not only damage your pipes but eventually concrete and foundation as well. The good news is that roots have a tougher time getting into modern plastic pipes. Either way, The Bosworth Company can help. Make an appointment online or call us at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.