Trees are vital to our lungs and lives but unfortunately, they can be detrimental to our septic tanks and sewage systems! The root system of a plant is designed to track down moisture, and that’s exactly what plumbing transports, moisture. We get calls all of the time from customers who have trees in their yard with roots that have infiltrated their plumbing systems. These root infiltrators can be expensive to cut down, and some customers don’t want to cut down a tree because of sentimental value. Before you decide to plant or keep a tree in your yard make sure you know which ones have plans to invade your pipes and pose the greatest threat to septic tanks and sewage systems! If you decide it is too expensive to get rid of one of these trees or you simply don’t want to because you love it too much, make sure to get your line jetted at least twice a year to avoid root infiltration!
The worst trees for your plumbing are:
- Sycamore
- Willow
- Oak
- Fig
- Aspens
- Elms
- Birches
- Gums
- Silver maples
- Walnuts
- Poplars
- Liquid Ambers
Some trees that are way less likely infiltrate your sewage systems are:
- Mediterranean fan palms
- Many fruit tree species
- Cedars
- Sabal palmetto
- Japanese Maple
- Amur Maple
- Flowering Dogwood
- Smoketree
- Eastern Redbud
You should never plant a tree closer than 10 feet (3 m.) from the foundation of a home, and those with invasive roots may need a distance of 25 to 50 feet (7.5 to 15 m.) of space. Slow-growing trees generally have less destructive roots than those that grow quickly. If it’s already too late and you have a blocked drain or your plumbing has already been infiltrated by roots, Rocket Plumbing and Drain’s High-Pressure Water Jetter and drain cameras can locate and blast away any blockages in no time. Contact your local Chester County plumber today.
