Spring Planting and Your Septic System

January 18th, 2019 Posted in Septic System
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Spring is a great time to update your landscaping. Adding new trees, shrubs and flower gardens can add beauty and value to your home. However, before you grab your shovel and rake to begin your spring planting, consider where you plan to add new foliage and how it could impact your septic system.

Roots and Septic Pipes

One of the biggest hazards to sewer pipes in your yard is the roots of trees searching for moisture. Tree roots can grow tens of feet out from a base of a tree trunk to collect water. If sewer pipes are nearby, tree roots will try to infiltrate them to get to the tempting moisture inside.

To protect your sewer pipes from expensive damage and root clogs, plan carefully when planting new trees. You will want to keep trees far way from your septic pipes to prevent problems down the road as they get larger.

Plants and Drain Fields

Another area to avoid when planting this spring is your drain field. The smaller pipes for your drain field are close to the surface and can easily be impacted plant roots, even smaller shrubs and bushes. Your drain field should only be covered with grass, no other plants, to prevent damage to this crucial component of your septic system.

Keep in mind how your landscaping can impact your septic system. If you have issues with your septic pipes or drain field, it can be caused by the plants and trees in your yard. Your local septic service can investigate the problem and fix any issue your beautiful trees and plants cause with your pipes and drain field.

Posted on behalf of:
Metro Septic LLC
1210 N Tennessee St
Cartersville, GA 30120
(678) 873-7934

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Peek at the Roots in Your Sewer Line

May 23rd, 2018 Posted in Sewer Lines
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If your sewer line shares a yard with large trees, it is likely those trees are searching for a way to access your sewer line. The roots of trees can spread out from the trunk for 10, 20 or more feet, looking for water and nutrients. If you have jointed sewer line pipes, tree roots can find small holes to squeeze through at the joints and enter your sewer lines. If you want to know if there are tree roots in your sewer lines, there is a way to peek inside.

Digital Camera Inspections

One of the best tools the digital age brought to the sewer/septic industry is digital video cameras for sewer line inspections. There was a time when pipes would need to be dug up to find the exact spot when they were broken or cracked. Now, a small digital video camera can be fed into the pipe, giving a view from inside to inspect the line for issues, including tree root invasion.

Clearing Out Tree Roots

If you have a digital sewer line camera inspection performed by your local septic/sewer professional, they can identify tree root invasion. This can cause clogs and sewer backups, but the problem can be temporarily remedied. Hydro jetting and other tools can be used to clear out tree roots. However, this only clears them from the inside of the sewer line, not the small holes where they entered.

While uses hydro jetting regularly can keep your sewer lines free from tree roots, they can still have a foothold in the holes at the joints. Each year the tree and roots can grow, making these holes larger. It can eventually lead to a break in your sewer line and a need for replacement.

If you are concerned about tree root invasion into your sewer line, schedule a camera inspection of your pipe by a septic/sewer pro. They can show you the inside of your sewer line and discuss preventive options to protect your sewer line from tree root damage.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

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Planting New Trees? Consider Your Sewer Lines

June 24th, 2016 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Trees can add beauty, shade and dimension to your yard, but they can also cause havoc on your sewer and water lines. Under your lawn, a fight is going on between tree roots searching for water and pipes carrying water to and from your home. Before adding new trees to your yard, consider the proximity to sewer and water lines before planting. Here are a few tips to avoid tree root invasion into your sewer pipes.

  • Know where your underground pipes are located. Before you start planting, find out where your sewer and water pipes run. You will want to keep your new trees at least twenty feet or more away from those pipes.
  • Small trees get big. Yes, your new trees are small now, but how big will they be ten or more years from now? A general approximation is that roots will spread out from the tree the same distance as the height, even further for each ten years.
  • Talk to your local sewer company. Not sure where your sewer lines are or where you can plant? Call your local sewer company for an inspection. They can locate the exact areas where your sewer pipes are located and give you options to protect your pipes from damage.

So what should you do if tree roots do find their way into your sewer lines? One option is hydro-jetting. Your local sewer service company that offers hydro-jetting can use this high-powered water cleaning to remove tree roots that have penetrated your sewer lines. It also will remove any other debris or waste that could cause an expensive clog or sewer backup before it happens.

With a little planning, you can have beautiful new trees and protect your sewer lines from damage. Happy planting!

Posted on behalf of:
Hunter’s Septic Service
Nesbit, MS
(662) 429-1686

 

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Are Tree Roots Destroying Your Sewer Lines?

May 29th, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Tree roots are the nemesis of sewer and water lines that run under your yard and lawn. Seeking water, they grow quickly toward the sewer pipes buried under the ground, looking for ways to access the moisture inside. Once they find even the tiniest crack to gain hold, the root can infiltrate the pipe and cause all types of sewer line problems, from bursting the pipe to creating a clog. It is important to be aware of tree root problems to avoid expensive sewer line repairs.

Signs of Root Sewer Line Invasion

There are a few signs that you may already have tree roots growing into your sewer lines. The first is slow drains or a backup of raw sewage into your home. This can be a sign that a tree root is clogging your pipe, causing a backup of sewage. Another sign is a wet area in your yard above the sewer lines, usually accompanied by a foul odor. This could mean the sewer line has been broken and sewage is leaking into the surrounding ground.

If you have any of these signs, call your local sewer professional to inspect your sewer lines. Using digital cameras, they can inspect the inside of the sewer lines and find the problem. If it is just a clog, many tree roots clogs can be removed through hydrojetting. If there is a break, the sewer line will need to be repaired or replaced.

Many of the newer options in sewer piping can prevent tree root invasions using seamless piping material that roots cannot penetrate. If you have tree root issues with your sewer pipes, talk to your sewer professional about relining or replacing your current pipes with seamless piping.

Posted on behalf of:
Septic Service Pro, LLC
Peachtree Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30334
(678) 292-8728

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Is Mother Nature Damaging Your Sewer Pipes?

April 30th, 2015 Posted in Sewer Lines
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One of the most common causes of sewer pipe damage is Mother Nature or environmental damage. Whether it is a tree root invading your piping or an earthquake shaking the ground, when a sewer line is compromised, it is often due to something in the environment. Knowing what hazards can potentially harm you pipes can help you identify sewer line problems quickly and get them repaired before there is more damaged to your home and property.

4 Environmental Factors on Sewer Pipe Failure

Since sewer lines are underground, anything that affects the ground on your property can also potentially harm your sewer pipes. If you know what elements can harm you pipes, you can be aware of any signs of damage. Here are the four main causes of environmental damage to sewer pipes:

  • Freezing temperatures. Extreme cold weather can freeze the liquid in your underground pipes and cause dramatic expansion inside the pipes. This can cause cracks, leaks and even a burst sewer line.
  • Earth movement. Earthquakes and other forms of shifts in the earth can offset pipes or cause damage.
  • Tree root invasion. One of the most common causes of damage to underground pipes is tree root invasion. Roots are attracted to the moisture in pipes and can infiltrate through joints.
  • Flooding. Flooding can eroded the surrounding soil and cause pipes to move and break.

If any of these factors occurs on your property, keep watch for any signs of sewer pipe damage. Be aware of any wet areas above pipe lines, slow drains in the home or foul odors. At the first sign of damage, call your local sewer repair company to have your pipes inspected for problems to reduce further damage to your property.

Posted on behalf of:
Seagraves Plumbing Sewer & Septic
4980 Plant Atkinson Rd SE
Smyrna, GA 30080
(494) 792-2221

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Are Your Trees Attacking Your Sewer Pipes?

February 12th, 2014 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Few things on your property are as attractive to tree roots as underground sewer pipes. Tree roots are naturally designed to go in search of water and nutrients in the soil, both of which travel through your sewer lines in your yard. It should be no surprise that these strong and relentless roots will wrap themselves around your underground sewer lines, looking for cracks to invade. Over time, these roots can overtake your sewer pipes, causing them to crack, clog or even burst.

Preventing Sewer Pipe Tree Root Invasion

If you have large trees in your yard and older sewer lines, it’s usually only a matter of time before they meet under your lawn. There are only a few ways to prevent tree root invasion: remove the trees, move your sewer pipes, or consider relining or replacing your old sewer pipes. While you can use hydrojetting to clear out roots or even have your clogged sewer lines cleared with an auger, this is only a temporary solution. To resolve the issue for good, it’s wise to consider some more permanent solutions.

  • Tree removal. While not a popular or inexpensive option, removing the trees and their stumps is one way to prevent invasion of their roots into your sewer lines. Stumps can continue to grow roots, so they usually must be removed as well.
  • Replacing or moving your sewer pipes. Moving your pipes is one option, but there is a chance the tree roots will just follow. Replacing older, fitted pipes with newer options like joint-free polyethelyne pipes can prevent tree root invasion.
  • Relining existing pipes. Many sewer companies offer relining of existing pipes with an interior coating which fills cracks and holes, preventing future tree root invasions.

Call your local sewer professional to discuss ways to prevent future damage to your sewer lines from your beautiful trees, and you may find they don’t have to be sacrificed in order to protect your plumbing.

Posted on behalf of Keith Lee, Metro Septic and Plumbing

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Sewer Line Repairs

September 27th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Most homeowners don’t give much thought to their sewer lines until a problem occurs.  The sewer line is a large diameter pipe that carries waste water from your home to the municipal sewer system.  Sewer lines are generally reliable and work great for years without the need for any maintenance.  However, there are a few things can cause sewer lines to need sewer line repairs.

Cracks and breakage of sewer lines can occur because trees are planted too close to the lines and gradually the roots may begin to infiltrate the pipe.  Older sewer lines may have small gaps in the joints between sections of pipe that can also allow tree root infiltration.  Tree roots inside the sewer pipe can cause clogs to form and can do further damage to the pipe as the tree roots grow.

Another cause of sewer line failures is when the ground where the sewer line is buried shifts.  This puts a lot of stress on the pipe and can cause it to crack or break.  In addition, when the ground below the sewer line settles, the pipe sinks slightly and creates a low spot that collects grease, oil, hair, paper, and other debris.  This collection of foreign material can eventually build into a clog.

Finally, heavy vehicle traffic can sometimes cause a sewer line to collapse.  If the earth is soft and heavy equipment is driven across where the sewer line is buried, the sewer pipe can collapse.  If you suspect a sewer line failure, have it checked out by a sewer septic professional.  Left unattended, the problem will only get worse and can cause a backup of untreated wastewater and sewage into your home. In addition, untreated sewage can cause a biological hazard by leaching into the soil.

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Sewer Lines and Tree Roots

September 27th, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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A sewer line generally needs very little maintenance, but under certain circumstances tree roots can infiltrate a sewer line and cause problems.  Tree roots are attracted to moisture and if a sewer line is cracked, the moisture in the soil will attract the roots.  The tree roots will find even the smallest cracks and grow inside the pipe.  Cracks can occur in sewer lines for any number of reasons, but one of the most common areas for tree root infiltration is at the pipe joints.

Some older types of sewer lines are made from sections of pipe that are fitted together. Over time, the pipes can shift position a little and a small gap will form at the joint.  Tree roots love to grow into these gaps. Once the tree roots get inside the sewer line, two things can happen. First, a mat of tree roots will fill the sewer line and begin collecting grease, oil, hair and other debris until a clog forms.  Second, as the tree roots grow the crack in the pipe will get larger and larger.  The pipe may eventually break or even collapse.

Your plumber or sewer-septic professional can address tree root issues and handle any sewer line repairs.  Using a high tech video camera, they will inspect the inside of your sewer line to verify that tree root infiltration is the source of the problem.  The tree roots can be removed using high pressure hydro-jetting or an auger with a mechanical cutting head.

Removing the tree roots is only a temporary fix.  Unless you address the problem the tree roots will grow back in a few months or years.  Talk to your plumber or sewer-septic professional about your options.  They may recommend treating the tree roots chemically, removing the offending tree, replacing some or all of your sewer line, or installing a liner inside the sewer line.

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Tree Roots In Your Sewer Line

August 2nd, 2012 Posted in Sewer Lines
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Tree root infiltration is one of the most common causes of sewer line clogs.  Many older sewer lines are made from clay or cast iron pipe that comes in three to four foot sections.  One end of each section of pipe is a little bigger to allow it to fit on the end of the next section of pipe. The joints where these pipe sections are fitted together can leak if they were not installed properly or if the ground has shifted around the pipe.

Tree roots are naturally attracted to the moisture at the leak and tiny roots will infiltrate the gap in the joint.  Tree root infiltration causes two problem, neither one of which is good.  First, the tree roots will soon form a ball of roots inside the sewer line that will collect paper, grease, oil and other debris and form a clog that is difficult to remove.

Your plumber or sewer septic contractor can clear the clog with an auger or using hydro-jetting, but the tree roots will soon grow back and another clog will form. Even worse, as the tree roots grow, they will force the joint apart and turn the small leak into a big leak.  Eventually, the roots can get large enough to cause the pipe to break.

Talk to your plumber about your options for dealing with tree roots in your sewer line.  It may be worth the expense of inspecting the inside of your sewer line with a video camera to see exactly how much damage there is.

Your plumber may be able to chemically treat the roots to slow or halt the growth. Chemical root treatment will need to be applied annually to prevent new root growth.  Another option is to have a liner installed inside the sewer line to prevent root intrusion.  If the damage is too severe, your only option may be to replace the damaged section of pipe with PVC pipe.

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