Tree Roots in Sewer Line: How They Get in and How to Stop Them

In Sonoma and Marin County especially, roots from surrounding trees can be a common culprit of clogged pipes and sewer backups. Not only can they cause slow drains and even sewage backing up into your home, they can also cause heavy damage to your pipes. Knowing how these roots are getting into your pipes is a great way to learn how to prevent them from causing problems and emergency sewer repair in the future. In today’s article, we will go over how tree roots get into your sewer line in the first place, what you can do to remove them, and how you can stop them from becoming a serious problem in the future that causes serious damage to your sewer.

How Tree Roots Get Into Your Sewer

Tree roots are naturally attracted to the water and nutrients that your sewer lines offer. They can get inside pipes through small gaps, loose joints, or cracks in the pipe material. All it takes is a single thin root to make its way inside a tiny opening in the pipe before it then expands to create a blockage. It can cause a backup of debris, restrict waterflow, as well as cause further damage to the pipe as it grows.

If your home is 30+ years old and you have older piping materials, you are at an even greater risk for tree root intrusion. Pipes made of clay or cast iron in older homes are more susceptible to cracks that let in roots. Tree roots can also wrap around pipes, and the weaker the material, the easier it will be to break under the pressure. PIpe material also determines which sewer cleaning method will be safe to use.

Signs of Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

Multiple drains that are draining slowly or backing up, gurgling sounds coming from other drains whenever you flush the toilet, soggy patches in your yard, or sewage smells are all signs of possible root intrusion. Tree roots will block the plumbing to your entire house, as opposed to a hair or grease clog that will only affect one drain. So if you’re noticing issues in multiple drains, it is likely a larger sewer line problem that requires a more serious sewer clearing job.

How to Remove Intrusive Roots

When it comes to roots blocking your sewer line, there could be some DIY methods you can try to lessen the harmful effects of tree roots before a professional plumber can get out and remove the roots completely.

Baking soda and vinegar is a classic solution for cleaning a clogged drain. While they won’t eradicate large gatherings of roots, they can reduce debris blockages, foul odors, and reduce the buildup that tree roots cling to in the drain. Take a half cup of baking soda and mix it with one cup of white vinegar. Pour down the troublesome drains and let the mixture fizz for around ten or fifteen minutes before flushing with hot water.

Salt down the drain can be a possible solution to dehydrating the roots within the pipe. The salt can pull the moisture out of the roots and kill them off. You have to be careful about how much salt you use, because too much can harm other nearby plants. It is smart to only flush a couple of cups of salt down the toilet and then wait for a brief period (like overnight) before using any water again.

Professional Rooter Methods

The best route when it comes to tree roots in your sewer line is to call a local plumber for a sewer drain cleaning job. They’re rooter methods will be much safer and more reliable than DIY tasks. They will have access to high-quality sewer cameras that can actually look inside the line and find where the roots are gathered in the pipe.

Hydrojetting is one of the best methods when it comes to eradicating roots. This involves putting a cable down the sewer that blasts a jet of high-pressure water that can cut through and clean away roots, as well as clean away any grease or other debris sticking to the sides of the pipe. This requires professional handling because using this tool incorrectly could possibly damage your pipes. A licensed plumber will also be able to inspect the line and determine if hydrojetting is the best solution.

Drain snakes and rooter machines are other successful methods for clearing out roots. A snake can pull out roots from the drain, while rooter machines typically have blades that can chop through thick bunches of roots. These are also tools that should only be handled by licensed technicians because of the damage they could cause if used incorrectly.

Pipe repair or replacement is another job that should be handled by a local plumber. If you have tree roots in your sewer, it also means there is damage in your pipes that was either created by the roots or there beforehand to let the roots in. Your pipes will need to be repaired through methods like trenchless sewer repair which replaces or relines your sewer pipes through a single entry point and single exit point rather than using digging methods.

Preventing Roots from Entering Your Pipes

The biggest power you have is knowing the tools to prevent root intrusion in the first place before you are dealing with pipe damage with sewer blockages that require professional drain clearing.

Tree Location

If you’re planting new trees around your property, make sure you know where your sewer line is running so that you don’t plant the trees too close. It’s good to plant at least ten feet away from the sewer line to prevent the need for sewer repair in the future. Keep in mind the types of trees that are known for more invasive roots, like willow, elm, and poplar. Unless you have room to plant extremely far from the sewer line, it might be better to opt for smaller trees than this. You also want to space the trees out enough so that the roots are not competing for water and therefore go looking for another source.

Root Barriers

Putting in physical barriers against roots is also a good idea to avoid future sewer cleaning needs. These barriers can be made from plastic or metal and are buried between the tree and your sewer line, directing roots to grow downward rather than reaching for your pipes. There are also chemical barrier options you can put around your sewer line, though these could harm other surrounding plants if used incorrectly.

Pipe Upgrade

Make sure your pipe material is up to date so they are not as susceptible to roots. PVC or HDPE pipes will have a much stronger resistance against roots. They can also be more durable for sewer clearing methods like hydrojetting. Cured-in-place pipe lining, or CIPP, is a lining within your pipe that gives an extra layer in the interior that seals any cracks or holes in your pipes.

Watering

A simple solution to making sure your tree roots don’t go searching for the water in your sewer is to make sure they have enough of it already! Watering deep into the soil beneath the trees can encourage the roots to reach in that direction instead of creating a clogged drain in your sewer. You also want to be sure there are no leaks coming from your sewer pipes that are spilling into the soil and attracting the tree roots.

Sewer Inspections

A great way to proactively get ahead of any sewer and clogged drain problems is to have regular sewer inspections every year. Professional sewer cameras allow plumbers to identify any early issues before they can cause damage or the headache of dealing with frequent drain clogs. Any pipe leaks, cracks, or beginnings of root intrusion can be discovered here and quickly eradicated with advanced sewer drain cleaning tools. They can also detect any signs of early debris buildup before it causes problems.

Drain Maintenance

Keeping up with your drains on your own is also a great way to keep them healthy and running smoothly. Avoid harsh chemicals down your drains in the event of a clog, and instead use natural ingredients like baking soda and vinegar for regular drain clearing.

Contacting Local Rooter Services for Tree Roots in Sewer Line

When it comes to roots or any possible damage in your sewer line, the best thing to do is contact a trusted local drain clearing expert. John Owens Services has offered sewer cleaning and repair services to the Marin and Sonoma County areas since 1986. We have access to high-tech sewer cameras, rooter machines, and a truck-mounted hydrojetter that can clear away any root invasion happening in your pipes. We also offer sewer repair services to ensure your sewer line is not in any danger of further tree root invasions in the near future.

Key Takeaways

• Tree roots get into your sewer through small cracks or holes in the pipe to get at the moisture inside the sewer line. Older pipe materials like clay or cast iron are more susceptible.
• Multiple drains backing up, wet patches in the yard, and sewage smells coming from drains in the house are all signs or roots in your sewer line.
• Using a baking soda and vinegar mixture or pouring a small amount of salt down the drains are DIY methods that could halp with smaller root invasions.
• Professional plumbers use hydrojetting, drain snaking, and rooter machines to clear away large tree root blockages in sewers.
• To prevent tree roots from getting into your sewer, plant trees far from the sewer line, water strategically, plant root barriers, upgrade to stronger pipe materials, and keep up with annual DIY drain maintenance as well as professional sewer inspections.
• Contact a trusted local plumber like John Owens Services for assistance with tree roots, sewer cleaning, frequent drain clogs, and other sewer and drain problems.