Beautiful landscaping is an excellent way to improve a home and add curb appeal. However, trees and shrubs that are planted in the wrong spot can prove more trouble than they’re worth when they cause costly damage to a home’s plumbing system. Trees naturally grow toward sewer lines since the pipes are full of water and other material that trees love. Once roots enter the pipes, they grow into a dense clump, blocking the line and causing numerous plumbing issues inside the house. To avoid a panicked call to an emergency plumber in Ocala, follow these tips from Sunshine Plumbing and Gas.
Know Where The Sewer Lines Are
In order to prevent plants from damaging sewer lines, homeowners need to know where those lines are. The easiest way to determine this is by contacting the city of Ocala for a copy of the property’s land survey documents.
Another option is to call the national 811 “Call Before You Dig” number to determine the location of sewer lines and other underground structures such as cables.
Use A Root Barrier
Before planting any trees, homeowners might consider protecting their sewer lines through the use of root barriers. These barriers can be divided into three categories.
- Growth inhibitors: Chemicals that stop extended root growth without harming the tree.
- Deflectors: Physical barriers buried near the pipe to protect them from root growth. These might be made of plastic, metal, or wood.
- Traps: Metal or plastic screens buried near the pipe. Holes in the material allow root tips through but block further growth that may damage the pipe.
These barriers must be installed correctly in order to effectively block root growth, so homeowners should contact a professional plumber in Ocala before attempting any of these methods.
Plot Out Sewer-Safe Landscaping
To save pipes from future damage, there are a few general rules homeowners should follow while creating their landscaping plan.
- Try to plant as few trees as possible near the sewer lines.
- Plant trees and shrubs at least ten feet away from sewer lines. Bear in mind that this does not necessarily guarantee no root intrusion issues down the line: some tree species are able to reach sewer lines nearly 100 feet away.
- Choose types of trees with close-spreading roots that pose little threat to sewer lines.
Before breaking ground, it’s best to contact a plumbing company in Ocala that can help plot out landscaping that is less likely to cause plumbing problems in the future.
Pick The Right Tree
Certain trees have wide-spreading, aggressive roots that can wreak havoc on a sewer line. Some of the worst offenders include:
- Elm
- Willow
- Oak
- Maple
- Poplar
- Some species of Magnolia
“Sewer-safe” trees are smaller and slow-growing. Their root systems are deeper and less likely to grow outwards into sewer systems. Examples of sewer-safe trees are:
- Holly
- Cypress
- Crabapple
- Flowering dogwood
- Small maples such as amur, paperbark, and Japanese
Before settling on a type of tree, homeowners should research the expected height, size of the root system, and water needs of each tree. The right choice in tree can protect homeowners from emergency plumbing issues down the line.
Take Care Of Your Trees
Tree roots seek nutrients wherever they can be found. To prevent trees from finding these nutrients in your sewer line, it’s important to take proper care of your trees. Trees should be planted in large areas of well-loosened, nutrient-rich soil. Fertilizer can create a concentrated area of nutrients, so trees are less likely to extend out of that area to find the nutrients they need. Homeowners should water their trees at least once a week, particularly during hot, dry weather.
Take Care Your Plumbing
Even when homeowners take all of the proper precautions in creating landscaping, it is still possible for tree roots to enter sewer lines. Plumbers in Ocala warn homeowners that it is important to catch these issues early — look for signs of clogs in plumbing, including slow-flowing drains, multiple plumbing fixtures backing up at the same time, and gurgling noises in the toilet or shower. Homeowners who notice these signs should contact a plumbing professional as soon as possible. An Ocala plumber can provide recommendations for the best way to deal with tree roots in the plumbing.
If you suspect you may have roots damaging your sewer line, contact Sunshine Plumbing and Gas. Our plumbing experts can perform a video pipe inspection of your sewer line, repair damaged pipes, and provide feedback on ways to prevent the problem from recurring.