Tree root intrusion into underground drainage pipes is one of the most difficult sewer line problems to deal with in the home. Homeowners are normally encouraged to plant trees on their property because homes with mature trees fetch a higher price in the market. According to the experts at Denman Realty.
So, it is a huge problem when the trees that help make your home beautiful and improve the quality of your indoor air become an issue. How do tree roots affect the function of your sewer line, and what can you do about this problem?
What is tree root intrusion?
This is when the roots of nearby trees and shrubs invade your sewer line. Plant roots are always on a hunt for easily accessible sources of water and nutrients. The wastewater inside your sewer is one such source, but under normal circumstances, this water is not available to plant roots.
However, as sewer lines age, they become brittle, making it easier for tree roots to penetrate them. Leaks, cracks, and weak joints in a sewer line also serve as entry points for invasive tree roots. Tree root intrusion into a sewer line can also result from soil shifts.
How does tree root intrusion affect your sewer line?
What are the possible outcomes when tree roots enter your sewer line?
Frequent drain clogs
The first sign that tree roots may be growing inside your sewer line is the increased incidence of drain clogs in the home. If more than one drain is clogged at the same time and the problem is frequent, you may have tree roots in your sewer line.
Complete pipe blockage
The roots inside the sewer line will grow until they form a tangled mass inside the pipe. When this happens, water flow through the line will stop, resulting in severe drain problems in your home, including sewer backups.
Irreversible sewer line damage
As the roots inside the sewer line grow, they exert pressure on the pipe walls, causing the pipe to crack. This can result in massive sewer line damage with large volumes of wastewater leaking into the surrounding area.
Foul odors in your home
Clogs in a sewer line will force sewer gases to flow backwards and exit through the plumbing drains inside the property. A broken sewer line will also cause bad odors to hang in the air outside and inside your home.
How do you solve or prevent tree root intrusion into your sewer line?
If there are trees or shrubs around your sewer line and you are dealing with some of the above problems in your home, there is a good chance that your sewer line may be suffering from tree root intrusion. Here is how you can be sure and what to do about the problem.
Inspect your sewer line
A sewer camera inspection service is the only way to know if tree roots are invading your sewer line. Without this step, you will be guessing the cause of the issues in the sewer line. Moreover, this inspection will tell you the location and extent of the problems inside the line.
Clear out the tree roots
If the inspection confirms your suspicion that tree roots are indeed growing inside your sewer line, the next step is to remove them. The two drain cleaning options that are most effective for removing tree roots from a sewer line are:
Drain snaking: A rotating metal auger attached to a flexible line that can reach into the farthest corners of the sewer line to dislodge tree roots and other obstructions inside the pipes.
Hydro jetting: This uses high-pressure water delivered via a steel nozzle attached to a flexible line. The water pressure is enough to shear away tree roots. The advantage of this method is it will also wash the debris out of the line.
Repair your damaged pipeline
Depending on the extent of the problem, you may need to repair or replace your sewer line. If the line is not fixed, the problem will return. There are trenchless pipe repair methods that let you fix your sewer line without digging up your yard.
Prevent future problems
As long as you have trees in your yard, your sewer line will always be exposed to the danger of tree root intrusion. You can minimize that risk by:
- Installing barriers between the sewer line and plant roots
- Using chemicals to kill plant roots and prevent tree root intrusion
- Removing trees and shrubs that are too close to the sewer line
- Choosing plants and shrubs with less aggressive root systems
Lastly, it is a good idea to talk to your plumber as you plan the steps above. A local plumber with experience can guide you on the best strategies for handling tree root intrusion into sewer lines.