Tree Roots In The Sewer Line: How Serious Can It Be?

Tree Roots In The Sewer Line:
How Serious Can It Be?

How Roots Can Affect Your Home’s Plumbing

Tree roots can grow extremely thick and break through pipes in various ways, leading to blockages and compromising the drain pipes. Root systems are always searching for water and nutrients (any moisture really), so they often seek out water sources such as broken pipes or leaky joints underground.

When roots find their way into the plumbing system, they can cause a partial or complete blockage in the line. In some cases, they can even cause the pipes to break completely. Tree root infiltration can also lead to drain problems like slow drainage in sinks and toilets and sewage backups.

Penetrating Pipes

Tree roots penetrate plumbing pipes in two ways: through the joints or the pipe walls. Pipes with weak joints are particularly vulnerable to infiltration, as the roots can easily pry them apart and work their way into the system. Weak joints can be caused by settling under the pipes, the age of the pipes or improper installation.

Roots can also penetrate pipes by growing directly through the pipe walls themselves. Small cracks in the pipe wall is the entry point and are usually present due to aging or damage, or material; typically this happens with older clay pipes. Small cracks can become larger if the roots are left to grow creating a broken pipe situation where emergency service is required.

Displaced Pipes

Tree roots can also displace pipes, leading to misalignment in the plumbing system causing pipes to shift out of place, also known as an offset, creating gaps in the drain system. This will cause leaks into the ground, resulting in further damage over time, like settling earth, contaminated soil or water damage due to waterproofing issues. Drain repair or replacement will be mandatory. 

Blocked Pipes 

Tree roots are very fibrous and flexible, allowing them to spread out quickly once they find their way into a pipe. Once these roots have infiltrated the plumbing system, they can cause blockages in the drains and sewer line as toilet paper and waste gets stuck and builds up.

Roots can enter small and with time get larger. This can lead to partial or complete blockages and slow drainage or sewage backups. It is essential to catch and fix the problem sooner than later to avoid backups, collapsed pipes or further damage to your home or drain system.

Signs Of Tree Roots In A Sewer Line

While a tree root invasion in your homes sewer line is not always visible to the naked eye, there are a few signs to watch out for. If your home has an older clay plumbing system or has weak joints, you may notice your toilets and sinks gurgling, draining slowly or not draining altogether. Scheduling plumbing services like a sewer camera inspection will help concretely identify any issues.

You should also be on the lookout for sewage backups or slow drains. This is usually caused by tree roots blocking the exit path of waste water in the sewer pipes. If you notice any of these signs, it is important to hire a tree root removal service as soon as possible. 

Best Practices to Avoid Tree Root Damage

The best way to avoid tree root damage is to take preventative measures. If you have trees on your property, make sure they are planted far enough away from the house and pipes that their roots won’t be able to reach them. Keep in mind a mature trees root system underground can be 2 to 3 times the span of the trees canopy above.

You should also regularly inspect your home’s plumbing system for any signs of damage or weak joints that could allow tree roots to enter the line. The best course of action is to upgrade your sewer line to plastic that roots cannot penetrate, especially before doing any major landscaping work. 

What To Do If You Notice Tree Root Issues

Ideally you have taken measures to prevent tree roots from growing in your sewer line, but if you think tree roots have infiltrated your home’s plumbing system, it is important to act quickly. The most obvious solution is to remove the roots. unfortunately, simply killing tree roots may not solve all your problems as they may have done permanent damage to the underground pipes. It is best to call a professional plumber in Toronto for drain service.

These specialists will be able to assess the extent of the damage and determine the best way to fix it. Depending on the severity of the problem, they may suggest a drain cleaning service for tree root removal with a snaking or hydrojetting.

Pipe replacement is also an option and is a more permanent solution to prevent water backups of sewage. In any case, ensuring your pipes are safe from tree roots is essential for preventing more costly repairs and headaches down the line.

What NOT To Do If You Notice Tree Root Issues

We understand that other blogs and resources online instruct home owners to visit their local hardware store and use harsh chemicals like copper sulfate, foaming root killers, or pour pounds of rock salt down their toilets and flush it and wait 12 hours to kill roots... but these methods will not solve the issue long term and gives no indication about the state of your sewer pipe.

As we have mentioned above, if the roots damaged your sewer pipe, you may have to get it repaired or replaced and these DIY solutions don't address this issue.

Also, copper sulfate is toxic to humans and even a tiny amount like 1 gram is enough to trigger nausea, vomiting, and damage to body tissues, blood cells, the liver, and kidneys etc. so if you do try this method, please be very careful.

We 100% understand that homeowners would prefer a DIY solution that's more affordable than hiring a plumber, but to be sure that your sewer line is in good working condition and your homes plumbing system won't be negatively affected, we recommend getting a plumbing camera inspection at the minimum if you go down the DIY path.

This way a professional can tell you the status of your main sewer line and make recommendations if needed.

Tree Root Repair and Removal in Toronto

If you suspect drain issues caused by tree roots and need drain cleaning or drain repair emergency plumbing services in Toronto, look no further than DrainWorks Expert Plumbing. Our team of professionals has years of experience dealing with all kinds of tree root infiltration problems in the city of Toronto and the surrounding area.

We are voted the best plumbers in Toronto and we are dedicated to providing our customers with top-notch services that keep their plumbing systems running smoothly. We can also assist you on how to prevent future situations.

We use the most up-to-date tools and technology to ensure quality workmanship every time. Contact us today! We can be reached at 416-486-0000.

You can also book a plumber online.

Thanks For Reading 'Tree Roots In The Sewer Line: How Serious Can It Be?'

Thanks for reading Tree Roots In The Sewer Line: How Serious Can It Be? Be sure to check out our previous article Why Waterproofing Your Home Is So Important.