Property owners experience plumbing problems for a wide variety of reasons, but many end up with horribly clogged drains because of the trees out in their yards. Sewage and water pipes run underneath the soil of your yard, and some unlucky homeowners end up with damaged pipes because tree roots grew right through them. This is a real issue and something that must be dealt with right away, but before you can worry about handling the problem it’s important to know how to spot it.
Get a quick rundown on signs you may have tree roots in your pipes before diving further into the details below.
- Discovering soft and saturated spots or sink holes in your yard
- Having slow drains or hearing gurgling sounds from your toilets
- Noticing some trees are greener or growing faster than others
- Smelling sewage, rotten eggs, or other foul odors near fixtures
Visible Sink Holes
There aren’t many visual cues that tree roots are growing into the plumbing system of your home, but it’s possible for sink holes to form in the yard around your home due to this exact problem. When the roots grow into the plumbing, they cause water to begin leaking out into the yard creating soft spots that eventually sink down in. If you notice that certain areas of your property are beginning to sink in, it’s possible that you’re suffering from tree root damage.
Slow Drains and Gurgling Toilets
If you hear a gurgling noise when flushing the toilet, or your drains continue to move slowly even after cleaning them out with a snake, there’s a good chance that you have a problem with tree roots. Tree roots can obstruct your plumbing almost entirely, and cause the flow of water to slow down dramatically. These changes will result in a less-than-optimal plumbing system that you simply can’t count on any longer.
Enhanced Tree Growth
Another sign of tree root invasion is faster than average tree growth. IF you notice that one of your trees begins to grow much faster than the others on your property, or that it’s greener than the others, there’s a good chance that it’s getting more moisture. This is sometimes a sign of a tree that’s invaded your septic system and is causing some serious damage in the process.
Unpleasant Odors
If tree roots are obstructing part of your sewage lines, you may notice unpleasant odors around different sections of your home. If you smell rotten eggs and other unpleasant smells around your plumbing fixtures, it’s likely that you’re dealing with a blockage that needs to be cared for.
Identify the Problem With a Camera Inspection
If you believe that you have tree roots obstructing your plumbing system, have experts come and look at your system and request that they use a special camera to inspect your lines. The camera will give you a first-hand look at your plumbing and clearly show if tree roots are the problem or not.
A tree root obstruction is a serious problem, and you’ll want to hire professionals to clear it away as soon as possible. The moment that you find out you’re dealing with that type of blockage, schedule plumbers to come to your home and take care of the issue for you. The work likely won’t be cheap to have done, but it’s necessary to keep your home functioning properly and to avoid more serious problems later on.
Do you believe that you may have tree roots obstructing your pipes? If so, contact us today at 815-515-4062 to request a free consultation.
