Spring Brings Blossoms and Broken Plumbing?

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Posted on May 13, 2022 by JD Precision Plumbing Services -

Trees Blooming Can Create Panic for Homeowners

When people think of Spring, they usually aren’t thinking about everything that can go wrong in their home. Many get excited about the warmer weather and the new plant growth. As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers.” But things aren’t only blooming on the surface. Deep below the soil, tree roots search for nutrients, and that search can create big problems for underground plumbing.

Tree Roots Incoming!

Everything, even tree roots, are waking up from a long winter nap. This means they are in search of nourishment. The roots will move through the soil until they locate something that resembles what they need to survive, even if that means wrapping themselves around a home’s plumbing or cracking a pipe to get to the water inside.

This search for water is bound to happen. Humans aren't the only things that have necessities tied to their survival. However, tree roots finding underground plumbing lines can affect the family that lives in the home above.

Deeper Roots Cause Problems

A sudden decrease in water pressure is usually the first symptom when a home’s water or sewer line has been tampered with by tree roots. Main plumbing lines are pressurized to ensure that water is available as soon as a faucet turns on and waste is expelled as it flows through a drain. If roots break and release that pressure, water will not flow as quickly as before, and drains may drain slower.

If a root ends up running directly through a pipe, a blockage of water will occur, or waste will refrain from emptying entirely. Breaks or cracks in piping can also affect a home’s water usage and, ultimately, the water bill.

Keeping the Foliage while Diminishing the Risks

After a root has invaded a water or sewer line, a professional plumber will need to diagnose and fix the problem. There are a few ways to fix cracks and leaks in a home’s plumbing, and some of them do not require digging. The first way is to send a snake auger down the affected line and remove any debris. Once the debris is removed, another auger will be sent down the piping to spray a solvent that can seal the pipe from further damage.

If a root has pierced the line entirely, there may be no alternative option than to remove the entire portion of broken piping and reinstall a new section. But don’t start ripping up all the trees on the property just yet! There are ways to coexist with the foliage. The first way is to buy a copper sulfate solution from a home improvement store. These crystals can be flushed down a home’s toilet to contaminate the water enough for roots to find it unappealing. Because the crystals are not being sent into the tap water, another solution may also be necessary.

The second solution to coexisting peacefully with ever-growing vegetation is to place a thick barrier around all the trees and shrubs near the home. This barrier should go several feet underground and surround the garden, flower bed, or troublesome trees entirely. By placing the barrier around the roots, they will grow down instead of out, saving the home’s plumbing and giving homeowners a new sense of peace during the Spring.

About JD Precision Plumbing Services

Since 2010, JD Precision Plumbing has provided the residents of Conroe, TX, and the surrounding areas with solutions to all their home plumbing needs. They offer upfront pricing, hassle-free service, and financing. Call them today for plumbing services in Conroe, TX.