Having lots of plants in your yard definitely tells everyone that you are a lover of the environment. It really shows how you care for your lawn, your flowers, your shrubs, and even your trees. You are even very proud of them because you have grown them from when they were just seeds. You germinated them and then transplanted them bit by bit until they were ready to live in your yard. Your trees are indeed very impressive. They are growing larger everyday. But have you ever thought of what happens subsurface? Have you ever thought about the location of your beloved trees? It doesn’t occur to most that you may have planted your majestic trees on top of your septic system. Can tree roots block or clog septic systems?
That puzzled, realization look has swept over the faces of so many homeowners. They have all fallen victims to the beauty of landscaping in the sense that they have neglected one vital component—the septic system. It would seem that the short orientation that you have received from your septic professional has just passed through your ears and was not taken much into consideration. As a result, you are now faced with one of the possible reasons why there are problems brewing in your septic system. Here are some of the effects of having tree roots clog your septic system.
1. Overflow of sewage
Yes, trees can clog the pipes or block the sewage system through their roots. This blockage can make the sewage backup into your home. As a result, health issues and damage to property become apparent. To lessen the backup of sewage, you should remove the trees from that area above your septic system, and replant them in another part of your yard, where their roots won’t be able to block the septic system pipes.
2. Septic tank filling too fast
Because the roots of your trees have already broken or even blocked the septic pipes, the filling up of the septic tank ahead of the usual schedule takes place. If your septic tank is not regularly checked, the sewage will backup from the drain field into your own house. When a septic system runs properly, it only needs to be pumped out every 5 years. Since the septic tank prematurely fills up, the tank should be totally emptied and checked. This can be a costly endeavor so clear out the trees!
3. Unpleasant smells
When the tree roots damage or block the pipes, the drain field is bound to overflow because of the improper water flow through your septic system. Water and sewage overflow obviously cause the wafting of off-putting septic odors throughout the house and your yard. Although heartbreaking for you the tree-lover. The only way to eliminate the invasive tree roots is to manually pull them out. If you put corrosive chemicals to disintegrate the tree roots, this can cause the contamination of the groundwater and your drinking water.
4. Wet spots
Evidence of wet spots in your yard are caused by the overflow in the drain field. This overflow is brought about by the blockages of the tree roots in the septic system. The yard will then become too much of a bother and an annoyance especially when you want to use the yard for relaxation and recreation. Your yard will also be hard to mow and clean up. The smaller plants above your septic drain field will also die and this will be an area where disease-causing mosquitoes could thrive.
Trees can really be an asset in your yard. They provide shade and aesthetic quality to your property. But even the most beneficial organism has to be placed in its proper place to be able to give the best possible good to everyone and everything that surrounds it. This provides the balance that every living environment requires. For you to have that coveted balance in your household, take care of your trees and don’t make them the villain in your septic system.