Plants That Can Ruin Your Plumbing

At first glance, that beautiful tree or elegant shrub planted in your yard may appear innocent, but it could secretly be waging an underground war on your home’s plumbing system or structure. While new plants may be beautiful, they could jeopardize your septic and plumbing systems. When enhancing your lawn with shrubs and trees, it’s very important to know where and how different plants should be grown to avoid a plumbing emergency. 

Types of Trees Known to Affect Plumbing Fixtures

 

Willow Trees 

Willows are a group of beautiful, large trees that come in a number of varieties ranging from black willows to weeping willows. Although you will see willows growing near rivers and streams, you’ll also find them in nurseries. While they may be tempting to plant, willo tree roots can cause major structural and plumbing damage to a home.

The willow’s natural habitat is one that is moist and rich in nutrients. When you plant this type of tree in a home’s yard, it instinctively tries to get nutrients wherever it can find them because most yards don’t have soil capable of providing enough oxygen or hydrogen for the tree to survive.

Citrus Trees

Citrus trees are a tasty source of lemon, oranges, & more. Although these tasty trees have wonderful fruit, they are banned by many HOA's for their infamous for damage to plumbing fixtures. These fruit trees require a large amount of oxygen, moisture, sunlight and nutrients to grow properly, and a location near a home or building rarely provides citrus trees with all the things they need. When the citrus tree roots and other invasive citrus tree roots find their way into the piping, they can grow and expand, causing damage and problems with the surrounding pipes and structure.

Birch Trees

Birch Trees are favored by homeowners who appreciate graceful, slender trees. Birch roots usually grow a 4- to 8-inch-thick mat-like structure, but they still present a threat to nearby pipes. Birch trees need no less than twenty feet of space between plumbing fixtures and your home’s foundation to ensure no damage is done.

Oak Trees

As the tree matures, supplemental roots will grow laterally from the tree. These roots are the ones that cause problems to sewer and plumbing systems. They can often grow up to 100 yards out from the base of the oak tree. These roots will move and work their way into cracks within a plumbing system and continue to spread, causing damage and blockages to the sewer and plumbing lines.

Preventive Growth Barriers

There are many methods you can use to protect yourself from expensive plumbing repairs, and one of the most cost-effective options is to have a preventive growth barrier installed.
A preventive growth barrier is an assemblage of walls implanted into the ground around a plant that’s main job is to redirect the growth of roots. A professional landscaper can help install a growth barrier to make it easier to plant a yard without root-related complications.

Experts In Plumbing Repair

Putting up with the complications of plant-related plumbing damages is definitely no thrill. If plant roots have managed to come in contact with your pipes, it’s best to turn to the experts at Knight's Plumbing. We make it our top priority to repair your plumbing and protect your plumbing fixtures from any additional damage. 

If you require immediate plumbing repair, Call us today! 281-333-0733