How To Identify & Repair Root Intrusion In Your Sewer Line

Trees can boost your curb appeal, offer shade on a hot day and even provide privacy from neighbors, but if poorly placed, they can also wreak havoc on your home plumbing. If tree roots grow too close to your sewer pipes, they can invade the pipe, causing a blockage and potentially creating a crack or structural collapse if left unchecked. None of the above are good for your home plumbing, but unfortunately, tree roots in sewer lines are relatively common. Learning to spot the warning signs of root intrusion and how to remove roots from your sewer line can ultimately save you a big headache and prevent costly expenses in the future.

Signs Of Tree Roots In Sewer Lines & Plumbing

Invasive roots in sewer lines block wastewater flow, causing early warning signs like slow drains, sewage odors and clogged toilets to simultaneously emerge. If left untreated, tree roots in plumbing can cause major damage, including sinkholes and flooding. Know the signs of tree root intrusion in your sewer line before damage escalates:

• Slow Drains & Clogged Toilets - One of the most obvious signs something is wrong with your home sewer line is simultaneous plumbing issues, like showers, sinks and tubs draining slowly and loudly after use and toilets not flushing. All of these indicate a blockage in your sewer line preventing proper wastewater flow from your home.
• Sewage Gas Odors - Besides the yuck factor, sewage odors resulting from backed up pipes can expose your family to harmful sewer gas or bacteria. If sewer smells are permeating your home, it’s time to consult a professional to see if tree roots or another issue are invading your plumbing.
• Fast Tree Growth - If one tree on your property seems to be experiencing significant growth compared to others nearby, it’s likely its roots are absorbing nutrients from your sewer pipes. If tree growth seems unnatural or abnormal, root intrusion in your sewer line may be the culprit.
• Sinkholes - Leaking pipes wear down surrounding soil, often creating sinkholes and potentially hazardous soft spots on your lawn. Whether the leak is caused by tree roots in your sewer line or another issue, sinkholes are dangerous to your home and your family and require immediate attention for your sewer system.
• Flooded Basement - Root intrusion blocking your sewer line can send all that wastewater back to the closest opening, typically in your basement. If plumbing is overflowing and overwhelming your sewer system, it’s possible something as seemingly innocent as a tree root is the cause.

How Do Roots Get Into Pipes?

Tree roots are drawn toward water, making sewer pipes an appealing source of nutrients, especially if the pipe is cracked or leaking. Many homeowners who live in older homes inherit decades-old sewer pipes that are deteriorating and susceptible to root intrusion. Cast iron, clay, cement and Orangeburg pipes are common culprits enduring wear and tear that can lead to cracks and subsequent roots in the sewer line.

Today’s landscaping best practices indicate trees should be planted at least 10 feet away from pipes underground, but you can’t go back in time and reverse the growth of a tree that has been blooming for decades. Tree roots may already be working their way into your pipes and preventing proper flow.

How To Remove Tree Roots From Sewer Lines & Clear Roots From Drains

Tree roots in sewer lines are notoriously tricky and potentially dangerous to remove by yourself. Professionals have experience hydro jetting tree roots and restoring deteriorating pipes while ensuring no further damage is done to your sewer system.

To start, consult with local sewer professionals to see if anyone offers a free sewer camera inspection. A sewer inspection can identify the root of your sewer problems and point to the best solutions to restore your plumbing to its full capacity. Whether or not root intrusion is the cause of your sewer line problems, an inspection performed by a professional is the best way to diagnose the issue and move forward with the most cost-effective solution to resolve the problem. Sewer professionals will likely present several potential methods to clear roots from the drain, though the extent of the damage will determine which method will be the most effective. Common root intrusion repair solutions include:

Hydro Jetting Tree Roots

Hydro jetting tree roots requires no chemicals and no digging, helping to preserve your property and home plumbing. Utilizing a small access point known as a “cleanout,” trained sewer technicians target the blockage with powerful hydro jetting equipment, which points a pressurized water stream at the blockage to blast it away.

Once loosened up, dislodged tree roots and other debris are free to continue flowing to the main sewer line, restoring flow to your sewer pipes. The best part is hydro jetting also serves as a preventive measure to protect your pipes from blockages and other risks in the future. The water blast is strong enough to cleanse the pipe walls and remove grease and scale buildup that can further complicate pipe flow if left ignored. The whole process is completed in just a couple of hours with little to no downtime for your utilities and no chemicals required, keeping your family and the environment safe.

Trenchless Repair For Root Intrusion

In some cases, tree roots can cause sewer pipes to crack or even collapse if enough pressure is on the pipe. For more extensive damage, trenchless sewer repair solutions like pipe lining and pipe bursting can essentially replace your existing sewer pipe and return your plumbing to as good as new. Pipe lining is an innovative trenchless technique involving the installation of a solid resin liner to coat the inside of a cracked pipe, with no digging required. Once tree roots are removed from the sewer line, the liner strengthens the pipe and seals up leaks, preventing further damage from tree roots or debris.

If the sewer line is collapsed or there is no existing pipe structure for a pipe liner to cling to, pipe bursting is another trenchless solution that involves pushing (or “bursting”) a new pipe in place of the old one. This method essentially replaces the pipe without having to dig up the area, as would be required through a traditional sewer replacement. A full sewer replacement is often a last resort if plumbing damage is left untreated for too long. Because the process is more extensive and requires digging, sewer replacement is often more costly than sewer cleaning or trenchless repair solutions. Addressing tree roots in your plumbing early on ensures you have more options available to effectively repair root intrusion without having to install a whole new sewer system.

How Much Does It Cost To Remove Roots From Sewer Lines?

Depending on the damage and method used, the cost to remove roots from sewer lines typically ranges from $100 to $3,000. Hydro jetting tree roots typically ranges between $1,000 and $3,000 as one of the most effective methods for thoroughly clearing tree roots from sewer lines while helping preserve the integrity of the pipe.

Unplanned plumbing expenses are never ideal, but proactively removing and repairing tree roots in your plumbing can save you a lot of money in the future. If tree roots continue growing long enough to cause extensive damage to your sewer line, a full replacement can cost up to $10,000 on average, while a sewer repair costs an average of 25 - 30% less. It’s smart to consult a professional as soon as you have concerns about your home plumbing so the costs don’t add up over time.

Contact CME For Help Hydro Jetting Tree Roots & Repairing Root Intrusion

Homeowners in Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa count on CME Sewer Repair to quickly clear roots from drains and restore their home plumbing to as good as new. We make it easy to get started with a free sewer camera inspection. From there, we can help you make an informed decision about which root intrusion repair method works best for you, and we’ll share our available financing options to help support the work needed. Contact us to schedule your free inspection today.

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