We all know just how essential trees are to ecology. They are beautiful, magnificent, and essential to the health of the environment. They provide shade, oxygen, and sometimes fruit.
Yet, did you know that they may also clog your sewer line? Tree roots may destroy pipes, causing flooding, sewer backups, and sewage spills.
We have excellent news for you if you have decided against cutting out your tree roots and instead wish to explore a solution that does not entail breaking up the ground surrounding your home.
Because there are so many options, we decided to write this article about “Tree Roots in Sewer Line Solutions.”
In this post, we’ll look at how tree roots affect sewer lines and what happens when they do.
Why do Tree roots grow in your sewer line?
There are two main reasons why tree roots grow in your sewer line: they need water and nutrients.
As you probably already know, trees absorb water through their leaves and roots. If there is a blockage in your sewer line, then the water will go where it can—including into your yard! This can cause all kinds of problems for homeowners, including flooding and the destruction of landscaping.
Moreover, when you have a sewer line that’s not properly covered by a grate or a slab, tree roots can grow into it and cause blockages. The same goes for cracks in your concrete pipes or other places where tree roots can enter.
In addition to needing water and nutrients, tree roots also need oxygen to live; therefore, when there is an obstruction such as a broken pipe or clog inside the main sewer line, this causes anaerobic conditions which allow them to grow unhindered by competition with other plants that require oxygen as well as sunlight.
If you notice that your pipes are clogged, look for a professional “sewer service near me” right away!
What happens if you have tree roots in the sewer line?
Tree roots are everywhere. They’re hard to avoid, and they can cause all kinds of problems for homeowners. Not only do tree roots often burrow into sewer lines and clog them up, but they also grow into the foundation of your house, causing cracks in the walls and foundations. Let’s talk about what happens when you have tree roots in your sewer line!
Broken pipes
- Tree roots can grow through the walls of your sewer pipes and break them, causing leaks that can lead to flooding.
Blockages
- Roots can clog up the pipes and prevent waste from flowing freely through them.
Health hazards
- If there are blockages in your sewer system, waste can start to seep out into your yard or house, which could cause health problems for you or your family members if it contacts your skin or your eyes.
Structural Damage
- Tree roots can grow deep into your sewer line, causing significant damage over time. They’ll push up against the inside of the pipe and make it bulge outwards, which can lead to cracks and breaks in the pipe itself.
Costly Repairs
- If you don’t take care of these problems quickly, they’ll only get worse over time. And if the problem becomes too big for you to fix yourself, then you’ll have to pay for expensive repairs from a professional plumber or contractor.
What are the signs of tree roots in the sewer line?
We’re all familiar with the typical signs of tree roots in the sewer line, but what about the not-so-typical ones?
That’s right: there are 7 other signs that you should be looking out for. If you see any of these, get in touch with a professional plumbing company for sewer cleaning services Burbank immediately!
Sign #1: Unexpected Increase in Water Bills
Tree roots can cause leaks within a sewer line, which means more water will be flowing through the pipe than normal. This could result in higher water bills than normal during the months when the problem occurs most frequently (typically spring and fall).
Sign #2: Slow drainage
Another sign of tree roots in the sewer line is slow drainage. This can cause problems with your toilet, sink, or bathtub draining slowly or not at all. If this happens, then you may have tree roots growing into your pipes which are blocking them up and causing slow drainage issues.
Sign #3: Sinkholes
If you have a cracked or leaking pipe that connects to your septic tank or drainage field, this could be an indication that tree roots are growing inside of it. A sinkhole may develop at the leak’s site and at other places where trees have grown up around buried pipes or where water has pooled around them.
Sign #4: Gurgling noise
If you hear gurgling noises coming from your toilet, sink, or bathtub drain, it could mean there is something blocking it up, like tree roots growing into the sewer line through cracks in the pipe!
Sign #5: Foul Odors
If you smell something foul in your home, it could be sewage or tree roots. If it’s the latter, you’ll need to call a professional to address the problem. If it’s sewage, follow these steps to clear it out:
Sign #6: Backups
If you’ve noticed backups in your toilet or drain pipe, there’s probably something blocking your line that needs to be cleaned out. First, shut off the water supply at your home and make sure all appliances are turned off so they don’t get wet while you work on clearing out the line. Then, use a snake tool to clear any blockages out of the pipe until they’re gone—but don’t forget to replace any damaged sections with new ones!
Sign #7: Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is another sign that tree roots are growing inside your lines because they have blocked off some of them from being able to work properly. To fix this issue, hire an experienced professional sewer service provider in Burbank who has specialized equipment for addressing these problems effectively without damaging any other parts of your property during the process.
How to Dissolve Trees in Sewer Lines?
Trees are one of the most frequent causes of sewer line blockages. Tree roots may grow up to 20 feet deep and many feet broad, making their way into sewer pipes and clogging them. While it is feasible to remove trees from sewage pipes physically, the process is time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, there is always the possibility that the tree roots may need to be trimmed in order to avoid future damage to the sewage line.
However, there are several other solutions available for dissolving trees in sewage lines that do not require such a lengthy procedure.
Use Rock Salt
The first solution is to use rock salt. Rock salt is the most common method of dissolving trees in sewer lines. It’s cheap and easy to find, so it’s an obvious choice for anyone who needs to get rid of a small tree in a hurry.
However, it is not an ideal solution for larger trees or multiple trees in close proximity because it can damage concrete walls and other surfaces near where the rock salt is being applied.
The key thing with using rock salt is that it takes time—the process may take weeks or months, depending on how much of the tree needs to be dissolved and how much rock salt you use.
Use Cooper Sulfate
Second, if you don’t live in a cold climate or don’t have rock salt lying around (or if it’s just not working), another option is copper sulfate.
This chemical will kill any plant roots it comes into contact with. You can buy copper sulfate at most hardware stores; just make sure you wear gloves when handling it!
Use a Foaming Root Killer
Trees that grow in sewer lines can cause problems. Roots can break through the pipe and block the sewage flow, causing backups. Tree roots can also damage the pipe itself. You’ll need to apply a foaming root killer to disintegrate trees in sewage pipes. This particular chemical will aid in the dissolution of tree roots and the prevention of their regrowth. The only issue is that the procedure might take many days or even weeks, so be prepared to be patient!
Use a Foaming Root Killer as follows:
- Find a sewage pipe that has a tree growing in it.
- Ensure that the tree is dead and that no live roots are growing in the sewage pipe. If there are any, contact a professional Burbank plumber to get them removed before using this method.
- Mix the foaming root killer according to the directions on the product label, then pour it into the sewer line where the tree was growing until it runs over onto dry ground outside your house or business property, where it will not harm any plants or grasses growing there.
- Allow this process to work for about 30 minutes before flushing out with water again so that all traces of foam are gone from inside your pipes. You may need to repeat this procedure several times if multiple trees are growing in your sewer lines before they are completely removed from sight, so you can rest easy knowing they’re gone forever!
Inspect, Remove, and Repair Damage
Once your sewer line has been cleaned out, you should inspect it carefully for any problems that might have caused it to become blocked in the first place (like tree roots growing into cracks at joints between sections of pipe). If any problems are found, these should be repaired as soon as possible so they don’t cause further damage later on down the road!
Get the Permanent Solution for Your Sewer Line from Professionals in Burbank!
If you live in Burbank and looking for sewer line inspection and replacement services, Agent Rooter is your go-to plumber. We have been serving Burbank for over 20 years and have perfected the art of sewer repair. From pipes to drains to sewer lines, we can troubleshoot any plumbing problem you may be having with your sewer system.
We have the skills and knowledge to get the job done quickly, whether you have a clogged toilet or a backed-up sewage line. Our skilled plumbers can also assist you with any plumbing issues that may emerge in your house.
Agent Rooter provides a long-term solution to your sewage line problems. Our Burbank plumbers are qualified to solve a wide range of plumbing issues, including:
– Broken pipes
– Sewer line clogs
– Leaky faucets
– Noisy Pipes
– And many more
If you need a new sewer line installed or an old one inspected, we can help. We’ll come out to your home or business and diagnose the problem, then give you an estimate for the cost of repairs. We follow all local plumbing codes, so your home or business will be maintained properly during the entire process.
Once you decide to proceed with our Sewer Services in Burbank, we’ll get started on your project immediately!
Call us today at 866-712-4368 to schedule an appointment with our expert plumbers in Burbank.