Beware of Your Pipes With New Spring Planting
Ricky Pattillo • March 24, 2020
Spring is in the air, and it’s the perfect time of year to get outside and get started planting. But before you dig, there are a few things to consider. At Plumb Works Inc., we’ve got some tips to keep your yard looking beautiful and keep your underground plumbing safe now, and years down the line.
General rule of thumb for planting near pipes
Whether you’re installing a new pond, adding some azalea bushes, or planting shade trees, it’s important to know what’s under the ground before you dig. Your local utility company can schedule an appointment to come to your property and show you where any water or utility lines are located. Avoid planting directly over any marked pipes and septic systems, and be sure to maintain a safe distance. Roots will naturally grow towards water, even if it’s the water in your plumbing lines, so it’s helpful to know the growth habits of what you’re planting. By considering the water needs, root depth, and canopy growth, you can choose plants that will thrive in your yard without the risk of plants damaging water pipes, creating the need for burst pipe repair.
For people wanting to plant trees
Small, slow-growing trees and shrubs are ideal for planting near your home near areas where pipes are located. Japanese Maples, Crape Myrtles, and Magnolia trees provide beautiful seasonal foliage and flowers without extensive risk to plumbing systems. Evergreens like Blue Atlas Cedar and Japanese Privet stay under twenty feet in height and offer lovely year-round leaves that won’t block drains. Consult with your garden center for more recommendations, and don’t forget to call a local plumber to get your pipes inspected. Only plant near well-maintained systems that aren’t leaking, or you could end up with roots blocking water pipes.
Plants to avoid having in your garden
If you’d like to plant trees or shrubs in your yard this spring, there are some that should be avoided unless they’re far away from your plumbing. Generally, you can estimate the root spread by measuring the mature canopy of the trees you’d like to install. The wider the treetop stretches, the further away you’ll want to plant it. Some can be tricky, however. Boxwood shrubs and birch trees are great decorative plantings, but with shallow, wide-spreading root systems, they easily get enmeshed in pipes. And for some trees, like the Ginkgo Biloba, it’s not so much the roots you have to worry about as the fan-shaped leaves that drop by the thousands every season, clogging gutters and drains.
Do you have roots blocking water pipes, or leaking pipes attracting root growth? Plumb Works Inc. is your local plumbing expert, indoors and out. Call 404-524-1825 to learn more about the services we offer!
Frequently Asked Questions about Plumb Works Inc.
When we think about spring cleaning our home, images like decluttering the garage or washing windows often come to mind. However, spring cleaning our home water quality isn’t always top of mind. Yet the time is certainly right.
Being proactive remains a key element of a successful business, and it certainly holds true when preparing for the possible devastating effects of stormy season. Spring remains one of the Atlanta area’s rainiest times of the year. According to Weather Spark, the average monthly rainfall from March through May ranges from 3 to 4.6 inches. Heavy spring storms can rain hard on a commercial facility. If unprepared, it can potentially lead to serious problems, causing everything from business downtime to costly repercussions. The following are several heavy rain-related issues that can cast a dark cloud on a commercial building and how to avoid them. Sump Pump: Fighting the Flood When it comes to flooding, stormwater remains a dreaded culprit. Having a properly functioning sump pump can help proactively help fight a flood. A sump pump collects groundwater from around a building’s foundation and pumps it away from the structure, deterring damage. Plumb Works suggests all businesses have one, especially those with a crawlspace or basement. Consult the experts at Plumb Works for sump pump installation, replacement, and preventative maintenance. Protection from Sewer Backups Heavy rains can overload a city’s sewer system. Backwater valves, a specific type of backflow prevention device, protect businesses from sewer backups by allowing wastewater out, but automatically closing to keep sewage from flowing backward. Plumb Works can install, test, and make sure your backwater valve is working properly. The Importance of Storm Drains Commercial storm drains are equipped to drain excess rain and groundwater from the areas surrounding a business, such as parking lots and sidewalks, preventing flooding, damages, and unsafe conditions. Some storm drain systems include a catch basin, which captures stormwater and separates any debris that may have come along with it. Having Plumb Works inspect, clean, and repair storm drains and catch basins can help businesses avoid a flood of unwanted costs. Cutting Out Grease Commercial kitchens require a grease trap, which keeps the plumbing system from being impacted by an overload of grease. If a grease trap isn’t functioning properly, it can have an adverse effect on a plumbing system during heavy rain. Too much grease limits pipe capacity, which can cause heavy rain to overwhelm a system, leading to backups. To avoid this, consult a plumbing professional company like Plumb Works that specializes in grease trap services. Avoiding Clogged Drains Plumbing systems in commercial facilities often fall prey to clogged pipes due to unwanted items being flushed or disposed of down drains. This can further complicate things when a mass amount of rain overwhelms a plumbing system. Businesses experiencing frequent clogs can benefit from hydro jetting. The most effective drain-cleaning solution available, hydro jetting uses high-pressure water jets to blast through clogged drains and restore peak plumbing performance. Schedule hydro jetting in advance of the rainy season to make sure pipes are functioning at their best under any possible pressure. Plumb Works Can Help Protect Your Business During Rainy Season Don’t let your business get washed away due to flooding and sewer backup challenges during the rainy season. Lean on a Plumb Works expert by calling 404-524-1825 or scheduling an appointment online.
When Lenz, Plumb Works’s long-time marketing agency of record, chose its new headquarters on Decatur Square, they didn’t have to look far for a plumbing partner that could get the job done right — literally right down the street.
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Nothing puts the cold chill on the festive holiday season like a frozen or burst pipe. Frozen pipes are bad enough, but when they burst, the problem worsens and can easily lead to flood damage requiring costly repairs. This all-too-common occurrence affects an estimated 250,000 homes in America each year. And Georgia may be a hot bed for frozen pipes. According to a State Farm report released in 2023, Georgia topped the list of frozen pipe-related losses at $100 million (from August 2002-August 2023.) Plumb Works remains your go-to source for frozen or burst pipe calls in our service area. However, there are some simple tips you can apply to protect pipes in cold weather and help avoid a house call. Before the thermometer dips below freezing – that’s 32 degrees Fahrenheit – do the following:
When Lenz, Plumb Works’s marketing agency of record, moved into its new home, an historic building on the Decatur Square, it didn’t have to look far.
