With spring upon us, it’s a good time of year to locate and mark your sewage lines
so you can protect them from future repairs. During the spring planting season, many homeowners adorn their yards with new landscaping such as trees, shrubs and other plants to enhance their home outdoor experience. However, many homeowners do not take into consideration the potential damage the root systems can cause to their sewage line. Before planting, homeowners would be wise to use the following information to protect their homes from potential backups and sewer line repairs associated with tree root invasion.
General Sewage Line Information
Your home depends on its sewer lines to channel solid waste and effluent from your home into the main sewer or septic tank. When a blockage occurs, you could experience slow-draining or blocked sewage lines from your home to the sewer main or septic tank. This issue can cause several problems with the most notable being raw sewage backing up into your home. If that happens, aside from the mess and potential health hazard, you can expect costly repair bills to both your sewage lines and your home due to potential water damage to floors, walls, baseboard and cabinetry.
Locating Your Sewer Lines
Tree root invasion is one of the most common causes of sewer line failure. Since a sewer line is full of nutrient rich water, roots are naturally attracted to the area. To make matters worse, any crack, hole or loose joint provides an access point for the roots to enter. Once inside, they will prosper and spread rapidly, slowing and eventually choking off your sewage flow. By taking the time to map out your sewer lines, you can avoid possibly invasive landscaping in the area, especially from plants with wide spreading root systems. An easy way to locate your sewage lines is by viewing the property’s survey documents or blue prints. If they are not readily available, contact your local public works department for copies and assistance.
Plant Wisely
After you locate your sewer lines, you can protect them by not planting trees, shrubs or deep rooted plants anywhere near them. If you must plant a tree or plant near the sewage lines, there are a few species you should stay clear of that are known for there wide spreading, invasive root systems such as rubber, poplar, fig and willow trees.
By knowing where your sewage lines are, not only can you help protect them during the planting season but, you can also avoid the inconvenience of lost service and the costs to restore sewage service.
For answers to your plumbing questions, contact The Pink Plumber today.
