Have you ever wondered why your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your yard? You might have just assumed it looks more attractive this way. And that’s true, but the real purpose of this placement is for safety and functionality.
Unfortunately, this means it’s out of sight, making it harder to spot problems right away, and making it susceptible to problems like tree roots searching for a water source. This is actually a relatively common cause of sewer line damage and clogs, both of which require professional sewer line services to resolve.
As you’d expect, tree roots crave water and fertilization. So even the smallest leak from your sewer line can attract them. While tree roots aren’t the only threat to your sewer line, they’re certainly a big one, and worth discussing.
More Damage Than You Might Expect
Sewer pipes seem hard and impenetrable, right? For the most part, they are pretty sturdy. But if your sewer line is on the older side, or even just made from less durable material, then it’s going to be susceptible to persistent roots. Typically, the piping most impacted by roots is clay tile or Orangeburg, but even concrete and PVC can be negatively impacted.
Once tree roots have damaged and infiltrated the sewer line, they create two more problems. Number one, the affected section of piping allows sewage to leak out into your yard—you might notice standing water, spongy grass, or an unpleasant odor coming from your yard. Number two, roots can continue to grow, up into the pipes as the roots absorb water, causing a partial or complete blockage in the line.
How to Prevent Tree Root Damage
The best way to fix a problem with tree roots in your sewer line is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Our professional plumbers can help you determine where exactly your sewer line is located so that you can plant trees at a safe distance away. Keep in mind, too, that some trees are more likely to put out roots more than others!
If you’re worried about the age or condition of your sewer line for any reason, our team can perform a video pipe inspection to investigate your plumbing and see if it is, in fact, susceptible to damage or deterioration, and take the appropriate steps from there, which might mean replacing your pipes with more durable and root-resistant material.
What to Do if Roots Already Found Your Sewer Line
In addition to performing video pipe inspection to make sure that tree roots are actually what you’re dealing with, we have a variety of other professional grade tools to help us resolve this problem for you. Most likely, we’ll use augers to break up the tree roots, and scour-jet or hydro-jet equipment to blast away the remaining root blockage.
From there, you’ll either need repairs on your sewer line, or replacement, both of which we can help with!
For expert plumbing in Glenview, IL, installations, or maintenance contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!