How Tree Roots Could Be Impacting Your Plumbing

Trees and shrubs are a great addition to your landscape, as they provide fresh air, beauty, and shade when mature. However, uncontrolled root growth under the ground can cause them to quickly encroach on your sewer lines, resulting in thousands of dollars worth of damage to your plumbing system.

Owing to the severity of tree root plumbing problems, it’s important that you contact your local plumbing professionals for timely repairs.

The intrusion of roots into sewer lines is arguably the most destructive plumbing problem you can face. It can result in the following:

• Structural damage brought about by the penetrating roots
• Sewer stoppage, overflow, or backups
• Formation of septic pools or soggy grass
• Foul smells from the affected area in your yard or inside your home due to the blockage
• Exfiltration of sewage into the soil around the leaks
• Contamination of clean water around the leaks

Considering that most of the damage to the sewer lines and pipes occurs underground, identifying the signs of tree root damage is very important to get the problem fixed by professionals on time and prevent the issue from recurring. Some early warning signs include clogged toilets, slow-flowing drains, and gurgling noises.

Signs You Have Tree Root Intrusion

It takes time for tree roots to penetrate and grow inside the pipes, but when they do, signs of it happening will quickly disrupt your daily plumbing.

You may notice slow draining of sinks and bathtubs at first, accompanied by gurgling noises. Then, foul odours will slowly fill the house, and the water pressure will plummet. While the pressure is decreasing, you may also find that your water bill is increasing.

These signs can point to other plumbing issues simultaneously, such as clogged drains and broken pipes elsewhere in the home. However, if you have trees growing near your home, then you should have the sewer pipes checked as a priority.

In some areas, you may suddenly discover a sinkhole in your backyard. In such a case, the broken pipe underneath has released so much water that the ground has sunken inward.

Sinkholes and other signs can be a financial drain if the damaged and clogged pipes remain unattended. From the investigation and subsequent repair of any pipes on your property to the landscaping to rebuild your backyard once the pipes have been replaced, the financial costs will keep rising. 

Fortunately, plumbing services in Toronto can quickly diagnose the issue and provide plumbing and financial relief with quick and efficient repairs.

Why do roots grow into the pipes?

The main function of sewer and drain pipes is to carry wastewater away from our homes and to the water treatment facilities, where it is cleaned and recycled. 

However, the wastewater does contain minerals, nutrients, and even oxygen that trees love to feed on. Thus, any trees planted and growing near these pipes will seek out the water seeping into the soil from even the smallest of cracks.

Older pipes, such as the clay pipes that were originally used in Toronto’s construction, offer additional minerals that may not otherwise naturally occur in the soil. Since clay is a softer material, these pipes are prone to damage and erosion over time and should be replaced as soon as they are discovered.

Once the roots discover this wealth of “food” nearby, their growth will rapidly increase and force their way into the pipes, breaking them further. They are eager to soak up as much of this life-giving food supply as quickly as possible, which is why the signs may appear slow at first, but will then escalate quickly as more roots enter the pipes.

Potential Consequences of Ignoring Root Intrusion

Unlike most common plumbing issues that are easily resolved with the use of chemicals or an auger, tree roots will continue to grow, spread, and cause more damage. The longer the issue is ignored, the worse the potential outcomes become.

Root intrusion into pipes is not a localized issue. While it can be localized in the short term, in the long term, you are looking at larger problems with the environment and damage to surrounding properties.

Damaged pipes allow sewage and drain water to seep into the soil. The longer this is left unaddressed, the further the seepage spreads. Soil begins to erode, and absorb bacteria and other substances. While the trees may thrive, other flora and fauna can be negatively affected, and you will start to see plants and grass fading and dying.

Should this issue spread to neighbouring properties, the repairs will become considerably higher. However, this damage and contamination will not only be seen in plant life. The root invasion can also spread to the pipes as well as the sewers to which they are connected.

Suddenly, you are no longer looking at repairs for just one property, but potentially your neighbours’ homes as well. Residential plumbing services offered by the best local plumbers in Toronto can help you before this becomes a serious problem.

Short-Term Effects

With root intrusion into pipes, you will soon notice clogs, slow draining, and a foul smell. These short-term effects can be quickly addressed, and the roots can be cleared away without too much inconvenience.

The damaged pipes are replaced with new material that is up to the current plumbing code, and normal plumbing services will resume. Your plumbing company can easily discover the issue with the use of modern technology to scope the pipes, clear the roots, and help to prevent future root invasions.

Long-Term Effects

Soil contamination is a real threat to the local environment surrounding the pipes and the entry point of the roots. Aside from the ghastly smell that will permeate throughout the soil, the microbes and insects that live in the soil in a fragile balance will be destroyed.

This will lead to poor grass and plant growth, and will spread across property boundaries, causing more harm as it goes.

In addition, the continual damage to the system as the roots spread will result in collapsed pipes, sewage backup into your yard, and more lengths of pipe that need to be replaced—all of which will lead to higher repair costs.

How to Prevent Root Invasions and Remove Them From Pipes

The most effective way to prevent root invasions is to not have any trees on the property. However, if you already have trees near your home, there are things you can do to stop their roots from growing into the pipes.

You can use a chemical barrier, which is composed of copper sulfate powder, all along the pipeline in the soil. This chemical is safe to use and won’t damage the tree roots; rather, it will discourage them from growing near the pipes.

You can encase the pipes in a physical barrier, such as plywood, garden fabric, or even a fiberglass case. However, this will need to run the entire length of pipe on your property and completely surround the pipes.

Contact Your Plumber in Toronto for Annual Inspections

The better and cheaper way to prevent root growth (and to deal with it if it has already started to happen) is through yearly inspections. Your plumber in Toronto should have the technology to scope the pipes, and clear them with hydro-jetting to remove any issues before they become too troublesome.

Drain King Plumbers not only has the technology, but also the expertise and knowledge, to be able to repair the pipes internally after hydro-jetting in order to prevent root regrowth into the damaged pipes.

Our expert team is dedicated to providing top-grade service and ensuring your plumbing system is in perfect condition. For more information about our plumbing services in Toronto, call 833-983-5663 or contact us here.