Slow drain? Your landscaping may be the “root” cause.

Outside of your home:

• Sinkholes. Tree roots are very powerful. They won’t just grow around underground water pipes—they’ll actually break through them! The resulting holes and leaks can create saturated or sunken areas in your yard.
• Rapid tree growth. Trees are smart. Just as you might notice a canopy growing toward the sun, its root system will grow toward moisture and nutrients—AKA your sewer line. If it seems like one of your trees is growing faster than the others, it could be a sign that it is drinking extra water from a cracked pipe.

Inside your home:

• Slow drains. If one sink is slow to drain, it is usually easily remedied. If all of your drains are slow-moving, it could be a sign of a problem with the exterior pipes, like a leak or root blockage in your sewer line.
• Gurgling toilets. If your toilet is making funny noises, it usually means air pressure is building up in your pipes. While an interior clog generally causes this, if you can’t identify an obvious reason why, an exterior pipe could be clogged or damaged; you guessed it, tree roots are often to blame.

When to call a professional.

We’ve established that tree roots can wreak havoc on plumbing systems near or under your home, but a watchful eye and early detection can prevent a problem from going from bad to worse. Once a tree root is inside a pipe, it will quickly expand to fill it, creating a complete blockage. It’s also important to note that roots can grow up to 100 feet from the tree’s base!

Think your roots may be the source of your problem? A professional plumber can help.

The internet is full of DIY tips to help with roots in your pipes, but professional plumbers have the right skills, tools, and experience to fix a drainage problem without causing more damage. They’ll start by running a camera down the pipes to get a visual of what’s exactly happening to determine the best course of action. They can permanently resolve the issue by removing broken pipes and repairing the entire line so that you can rest easy.

A few other things to keep in mind.

• As a general rule, you should have your plumbing and pipes checked every couple of years; this is especially true if you live in an older home or with lots of older trees on your property.
• When landscaping your yard, be mindful of where the pipes are in your yard and plant accordingly. A little forethought can prevent major headaches and expenses down the road.
• Blue Dot’s team of professional plumbing experts has been providing reliable service in the Topeka area for over 65 years. Blue Dot believes quality can be affordable, and any repair with doing is worth doing right! Learn more by giving them a call at 785-272-1633 or by clicking here to request service.

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