Taking care of the trees in your yard is an integral part of keeping your home safe and beautiful. Trimming and removing weak or dead branches can prevent them from falling and causing damage. Checking for and treating pests and tree and plant diseases can stop them from spreading and harming your trees.
However, many people don’t think about how the roots of your trees can affect underground utilities, like gas lines. If the roots grow too much, they can damage these critical utility lines. Keep reading to learn how to protect your utilities in Farmington Hills, MI.
How Do Tree Roots Damage Gas Lines?
Gas lines help bring gas to your homes and travel underneath your lawns. However, these gas lines are not very strong and can be damaged by the roots of trees growing nearby. When tree roots come into contact with gas lines, they can cause them to crack or even break.
Cracked pipes can lead to gas leaks that can be very dangerous and cause harm to people and property. Over time, the damage to the gas lines caused by the tree roots can become more severe and eventually lead to explosions or fires. It’s essential to be aware of this risk and take action to prevent it from happening.
Tree Roots and Accelerated Gas Line Wear
If you have gas lines running underground in your yard, you should be careful about planting trees, shrubs, or other vegetation nearby. Even if the roots don’t directly hit the gas lines, they can rub against them over time and wear away the protective coating. It makes the gas lines more likely to corrode and leak gas. It’s not just big trees that can cause this problem – smaller plants with strong roots can also damage the gas lines. So, be mindful of what you plant near your gas lines to prevent damage or safety hazards.
How To Know if Tree Roots Are Adversely Affecting Your Gas Lines
When tree roots enter plumbing systems via underground sewer lines, homeowners receive plenty of fair warning. Several common signs that sewer lines have been infringed upon include:
- Multiple clogged, foul-smelling, or slow-moving drains
- Bubbling or gurgling noises
- Soggy, sunken landscapes
- Dramatic increases in lawn growth
Homeowners can prevent whole-house backups by identifying these signs and taking fast action. Sadly, strangled and compressed gas lines don’t often exhibit visible symptoms.
If you have a tree with strong roots in your yard, you might notice that the ground around it starts to change or become uneven. Uneven ground can cause problems for things like sheds or play structures sitting on top of the ground. If you see these structures leaning or tilting, it’s a sign that the tree’s roots are growing and could be causing the ground to shift.
Finding the Safe Zone: Preventing and Mitigating Tree Root Problems
Suppose you plan to dig on your property, like planting a new tree or installing a fence. In that case, contacting the Michigan Utility Notification Center—MISS DIG System first is important. This free service can help identify any underground utilities on your property, such as gas lines, power lines, and water pipes. Digging without this information can be dangerous and cause severe damage to your utility lines.
Even planting a new tree can be risky if you don’t know what’s under the ground. The MISS DIG System can help you find the safest spot to plant a tree without damaging any underground utility lines. This free service is important because it can help prevent accidents and ensure your property remains safe.
It’s also important to note that every state and utility service provider offers free resources for determining safe planting locations and helpful tips for ongoing vegetation management. So, if you plan to plant a tree or do any digging on your property, contact the MISS DIG System first to avoid any unnecessary hassles or safety concerns.
Making Holes for Deep-Root Fertilizers
Sometimes, taking care of trees can be risky for underground gas lines. This is especially true when we use special fertilizers deep into the soil. Before digging, we must inform the gas company in charge of your gas lines. Even if we hire professionals to do the job, we still need to notify the authorities. MISS DIG system can help us find out where the gas lines are located so we don’t accidentally damage them while caring for our trees.
How Storm Damage Can Lead to Gas Line Problems
Homeowners often make the mistake of planting trees in the wrong places in their yards, such as directly over gas lines. It can be a problem if you bought a house with existing trees that are now in the middle of your landscape. When trees are planted over gas lines, their roots can grow around the pipes. Sometimes, this doesn’t cause any issues, but if a strong wind ever uproots the tree, it could pull the gas line out of the ground.
Unfortunately, there’s no easy way to remove a tree grown around a gas line without turning off the gas service and removing both the tree and the line. However, if you have a tree in this situation, you can take steps to reduce the risk of it being uprooted. Tree trimming service includes trimming back dense branches to make the tree less top-heavy and regularly removing dead or dying branches.
What To Know about Cutting Down High-Risk Trees
If a gas line runs underground in your yard, it is crucial to manage the trees and plants around it. Cutting down a tree doesn’t necessarily eliminate the risks associated with its roots. Even after a tree is cut down, its roots can keep growing and causing problems. Some trees can grow back from their stumps, so removing the stump is also essential.
If you have a tree in your yard with roots that are getting too close to your gas line, you’ll need to cut it down and grind the stump. A stump grinder is a tool that can eliminate the roots at the stump’s base, stopping them from growing and causing damage. The parts of the roots that are left behind will eventually rot away and help the soil around them stay healthy.
What To Do if Tree Roots Have Already Damaged a Gas Line on Your Property
If you see trees around your property, sometimes their roots can damage the gas line that supplies gas to your home. If you think this has happened, it’s imperative to immediately call the Michigan Utility Notification Center and emergency first responders.
Contact AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical Today
If you suspect that tree roots are growing too close to the gas line or if you need to fix or replace them, it’s important to contact us. We can work with your landscaper to protect your trees, underground utility lines, and home.
We offer first-rate electrical, plumbing, and HVAC services. We also provide whole-house generators, sump pumps, sewer services, and gas line repairs. Proudly serving Farmington Hills, MI, since 1925, we’re always here to help.
To schedule an appointment, contact AJ Danboise Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electrical today.
