How to Grow Your Garden Without Damaging The Plumbing
As warm weather comes around in the first blush of spring, homeowners eagerly embrace the prospect of new plant growth. Finally, garden beds can be tilled, and flowers and plants cultivated. Trees wonderfully begin to unfurl the greenest of leaves above ground, and underneath, their roots begin to wake up and search for nutrients in the soil - all the better to encourage the wild growth of the slowly warming season.
But while this growth narrative is viewed through rose-colored glasses, there is a potential dark side to this wild proliferation of life - invasive tree roots taking hold of a home’s plumbing system and wreaking havoc in its mad rush for growth and expansion.
Growing Tree Roots Can Become a Problem
As trees grow again in the spring, tree roots seek nutrients. This accelerated search for nourishment triggered by the warm spring weather isn’t a problem if trees are planted well away from a home’s plumbing system. At least there have been provisions for protecting the pipes from invasive root growth. If either isn’t the case, then growing tree roots could infringe on a home’s pipes, make their way inside the tubes and cause a host of problems for an unsuspecting homeowner.
Issues with Tree Roots
Most of these problems have to do with either the damage done to the pipes that may cause them to crack, break, burst, or leak or it may be about a clog or blockage caused by tree roots that have invaded the inside of the pipe. Leaks, clogs, and blockages that are a result of this insidious invasion of underground plumbing can, in turn, cause slow draining throughout the house, accumulation of standing water in sinks and tubs, as well as water pressure problems, wherein the flow of water slows significantly due to leaks that allow water to escape elsewhere other than the tap.
How To Keep Tree Roots From Causing Plumbing Issues
Fortunately, it is possible to fix the damage caused by intrusive root growth and prevent further tree roots from wreaking havoc on underground plumbing. Homeowners may do it themselves by flushing chemicals through the pipes meant to kill tree roots that have already invaded the plumbing lines. Some of these chemical solutions include copper sulfate and rock salt. This, however, is a temporary fix, as it’s still possible for more roots to regrow into the area that has already been cleared.
Another option is to call professional plumbers who can do a leak repair and a declogging method called hydrojetting, which involves using high-pressure water to move stubborn blockages such as tree roots. Once this has been achieved, the next step is to prevent tree root invasion from happening again by putting up root barriers. These products are designed to keep tree roots from getting to places the barriers have blocked off. Doing so would give homeowners the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their beautiful gardens will remain a source of joy and not cause problems or stress.
About Drain Nerds
With nearly two decades of service in the community and a crew of fully licensed and insured plumbing professionals, Drain Nerds are the smart choice in plumbing and drain cleaning services in the Fort Myers area. Their plumbers are courteous and knowledgeable, while their service trucks are warehouse on wheels - fully stocked with practically everything needed to ensure any plumbing problem gets fixed immediately. Call them today to get fast plumbing solutions in Fort Myers, FL.
