Root Damage to Sewer Lines: Warning Signs and Prevention Tips

The water and nutrients in your sewer pipe can attract tree roots. The roots can cause serious damage if they intrude into the pipe. Below are some of the major signs and preventive measures for such root intrusion.

Typical Signs of Root Damage

Root intrusion can result in cracked or blocked sewer lines. Learn the common signs of such damages.

Random Backups

With tree roots in the sewer pipe, your drainage system might suffer backups without alternative explanations. Root intrusion in the main sewer line will cause all drainage systems in the house to slow or back up.

Unusually Healthy Trees

For cracked pipes, landscaping around the damaged sections will benefit from the extra water and nutrients. Thus, you should be suspicious if some of the plants around your sewer line are unusually lush.

Unpleasant Odor

Both drain blockage and damage may result in an unpleasant odor in the house. In the case of blockage, the backed-up wastes will cause a bad odor. Gases escaping from cracked pipes can find their way into the house if the crack occurs near the house.

Preventive Measures Against Root Damage

Don't wait for tree roots to damage your sewer pipe. Take the following measures to prevent the damage.

Landscape Carefully

The first step is not to plant trees near the sewer line. This step requires you to understand where your sewer lines run. Use these few tips to help you locate the line:

• Ask the previous owner of the property.
• Ask the local zoning office for help.
• In case you use a septic system, locate the septic tank, and scour the area between the tank and the house. Sewer lines typically run directly from the house to the tank.

Once you have the location, use the following tips when landscaping:

• Understand the root characteristics of all trees you want to plant.
• Plant trees whose roots don't grow too long.
• Leave some clearance between the sewer line and your trees.

Professional landscapers can help you with technical information on different tree species.

Deal With Intrusive Roots

If trees already grow near the sewer line, take measures to prevent their roots from intruding into the pipe. For example, you can trim roots that approach the sewer line. You might have to do this regularly since the trimmed roots will grow back. Another alternative is to use chemicals, such as rock salt, to kill some roots. For most people, tree removal is the last alternative if all else fails.

Use Root Barriers

Trees provide both environmental and aesthetic values, so their removal is not advisable. Root barriers may allow you to keep the trees and avoid root intrusion into the sewer line. Root barriers come in different varieties.

You can use solid barriers, such as plastic or fiberglass, which roots cannot penetrate. You can also use permeable or mesh barriers that allow water and small roots to pass through. The permeable barriers are ideal if you don't want the root control to affect the trees too much.

Inspect Your Plumbing System Regularly

Tree root intrusion doesn't happen overnight - it develops slowly. Inspect your plumbing system regularly to spot emerging problems. The inspection is especially necessary if you have trees around the sewer line. Your root-control techniques do not work as well as they should do. The only way to know for sure is to inspect the sewer pipe.

Replace Deteriorated Pipes

Tree roots don't usually penetrate structurally sound plumbing pipes. Pipes with cracks, holes, separated joints, or deteriorated materials are the most vulnerable to root intrusion. Most of these damages come from regular wear and tear. Replace aging pipes before they deteriorated enough to allow root intrusion.

At Daytona Plumbing, we have a wealth of experience with drainage installation, inspection, and repair. Contact us today whether you want to prevent inspect your drainage system for root intrusion or repair damaged drainage pipes.