While drain cleaning can solve many plumbing issues, this service isn’t the right choice when you have tree roots growing into pipes. Known as tree root intrusion, this situation results from tree roots pressing against your underground plumbing lines and puncturing the pipes.
Drain cleaning won’t help in this situation for several reasons; you’ll need additional services to solve the problem.
Tree Roots Will Continue to Grow
When you have tree roots growing into pipes on your property, it’s important to correct the situation right away. You’ll have to remove the roots and repair the affected lines. Otherwise, those roots will absorb water and nutrients from the wastewater that flows through the lines. As a result, the roots continue to spread and grow.
Growing tree roots might damage other sewer lines or water delivery lines on your property. Additionally, they can cause foundation damage to your home. You can avoid significant property damage by removing overgrown tree roots right away.
How Far Away from a House Should Trees Grow?
The tree care tips you follow should include spacing them at a distance of at least 10-20 feet away from your home.
A smaller tree that’s less than 25 feet high should be 10 feet from your house. This provides sufficient space for the roots to grow. Trees that reach heights of over 40 feet must be 20 feet from your home to prevent foundation and pipe damage.
Your Pipes Will Need Repair or Replacement
Once you have tree roots growing into pipes, you’ll have to repair or replace the affected pipes. In this situation, drain cleaning won’t effectively solve the problem since the damage lets wastewater leak from the broken lines.
In the past, this problem required excavating the land and replacing the sewer or plumbing line. Today, plumbers use cured-in-place pipe linings to form a new inner wall that seals the damage. This method fixes the problem without disrupting the landscaping or architecture on your property.
Can You Use Trenchless Sewer Repair on Your Property?
When tree root growth leads to blocked pipes, trenchless pipe repair is the most cost-effective option. Plumbers can install cured-in-place pipe linings as long as the pipe hasn’t collapsed or severely shifted. This method saves money on excavation costs and protects the property, making it ideal for older and historic homes.
Drain Cleaning Won’t Remove Solid Obstructions
Plumbers use drain cleaning techniques to remove buildup from the inner walls of the pipes. This is an effective way of removing blockages that lead to frequent drain clogs, but it won’t help when there are tree roots growing into pipes.
In this case, the root forms a solid, immovable object that only hydro jetting can fix. With this method, high-pressure water cuts the tree root, clearing a path for the cured-in-place pipe lining.
Get the Pros to Diagnose Your Drainage Problems
When you partner with Drain Masters, we’ll help you diagnose tree root intrusion through non-invasive diagnostic methods.
If we find that tree roots pose a problem for your sewer and plumbing lines, we’ll offer options to address the problem. In most cases, we can repair the lines without excavating your property. Contact us to schedule service today!