Plumbing issues aren’t only caused by washing solids and congealing materials down your drains. Your sewer pipes extend far beyond the ground beneath your home, so when rooter service contractors inspect clogged pipes, they check for invading tree roots. Repairing the long-term damage of tree roots can be an intensive and costly procedure, so save yourself from the risk by following these practices: Know where your pipes are located
The surest way to prevent tree root invasion is by planting trees away from your pipe lines, or planting species with small root systems. Generally, slow-growing trees or smaller-sized trees are the safest trees, with specific trees being the Mediterranean fan palm, wintersweet, and Carolina buckthorn. The most invasive trees include the willow, sycamore, and elm. If large trees are already planted near your pipe lines, you could install metal or wood barriers along the pipe lines, at least 6-12 inches deeper. This is especially useful for prolonging the lifespan of pipes that are new or in good condition. Use carbon sulfate crystals to clear minor root invasion If your drains are starting to clog frequently and you suspect it’s an outside influence, you can use the common DIY method of flushing carbon sulfate crystals down a toilet (and never a tub or sink because this can cause lightweight pipe erosion). It might take up to fifteen days for the roots to dissolve, but if your pipes still clog afterward, you should reach out to a rooter service contractor, as carbon sulfate isn’t environmentally friendly and exposure to fumes can be toxic to pets. Contact the professionals for quality root removal While you could employ DIY techniques to remove mild root problems, the roots will grow back and you’ll have to repeat the process. Only rooter service professionals, like the Bay Area’s Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating company, can provide the following long-term or permanent solutions: Hydro Jetting Tree roots that have already breached your pipes can easily be blasted away by hydro jetting, which clears pipes with high-pressure water spray. Hydro jetting is powerful enough to remove additional obstructions, such as clogs that are in the forming stages, leaving your pipes clearer than even before the roots invaded. However, it’s still possible for roots to find their way back in, as the pipes still have breaches through which trees can sense nourishment. Your rooter service contractor might follow up by sealing the openings, or treating your pipes with a root-killing poison that deters future root growth. Pipe Replacement Sometimes the only cure is to replace the pipe with a new one. In most cases, the pipe can be replaced through trenchless sewer replacement, which involves inserting a slightly narrower pipe into the remains of the old pipe, or dismantling the old pipe while sliding in a new pipe that is the same size or wider. Once the new pipe is installed, your rooter service contractor might recommend having the offending tree removed. Comments are closed.
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