How To Know If Tree Roots Are Growing Into Your Sewer

Tree roots are naturally drawn to sources of water, so it makes sense that they are attracted to leaky sewage systems! However, tree roots in sewer drain pipes may be one of the most expensive and damaging natural occurrences that can happen to a home’s plumbing system. The roots grow down into the underground system, initially causing blockages that can lead to a total system shutdown.

Why Tree Roots Love Sewer Systems

As plumbing systems age, they begin to give off water vapors that attract tree roots. Tree roots can extend significant distances to reach a water source. Once detected, the tree will stop at nothing to feed itself. If left to its natural course, the tree’s roots will eventually break into the system, filling the pipes with blockages. They will catch all the toilet paper, oil, grease, fats, grit, and any other debris that passes through the sewage structure.

It’s important to realize that while it’s more likely for older sewage systems to leak, even newer systems that haven’t been insulated properly can leak and attract roots.

How to Know if Tree Roots Have Infiltrated Your Sewer Line

One of the first indicators that tree roots are tampering with your plumbing system is slowly flowing drains. While it’s not easy to be sure if tree roots are growing into your sewage drain pipes, a slowly draining toilet bowl that produces a gurgling noise is a signal you shouldn’t ignore. That sound means that the draining process is laborious and there’s most likely a problem.

Since this can indicate that tree roots are beginning to invade your sewer, we recommend that you call a plumber right away for an assessment before it turns into an expensive undertaking.

Tip: The likelihood of having a tree root problem is exponentially higher with an old home.

Tree Root Blockages

If the tree root problem isn’t identified in time, a full-on sewer system blockage will result. If you begin experiencing frequently clogged pipes, understand that the source of the blockages could be more than superficial. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so give Home Angels a call to assess the source.

Once extreme damage has occurred in your piping system, it will be a major undertaking to reestablish the sewer lines.

Tree Root Removal with Home Angels

Home Angels is equipped with the best technology to nip the source of tree root problems. If you suspect that you could be dealing with a root blockage in your sewer, it’s time to give us a call. We’ll help you determine next steps.

We will likely remove the roots using an auger, a high pressure flusher, or a root saw. Once the area is cleared of all roots, we may recommend installing pipe lining throughout your whole system to minimize the possibility of root regrowth.

And, while we’re down there checking out the situation, we can also replace sections of piping that are old and deteriorating.

As always, if you suspect that tree roots are growing in your sewer system, please do not hesitate to contact us here at Home Angels.