How Trees Can Destroy Your Home's Sewer Line

June 08, 2016

You try to be cautious and assure you avoid putting anything down the drain that would jam your pipes. You don’t put anything down the toilet besides toilet paper; you don’t put eggshells, meat, or oils down the kitchen sink; and you make sure to have filters on all your drains. But have you thought of everything in order to help stop an expensive sewer line repair?

Check outside because you may be missing the most destructive problem of all: tree roots.

Trees desire nutrients and their roots are through which they get nutrients, so the tip of the tree root is always “seeking” and “reaching for” a source of moisture and nutrients and they are very attracted to a leaking sewer line that requires repair.

Usually, tree roots will leave healthy, intact sewer lines alone. They usually only invade leaking, broken, or damaged lines buried within the top 24 inches of the soil. When this happens the first damage not only becomes worse, the tree roots can completely clog the sewer system and reduce the water flow, leaving you with overflows and even flooding your home or building.

But what should you do? Call a sewer line repair expert in Kingwood.

A sewer line repair will typically be easier (and less expensive) than a burst pipe, so if you think there is trouble with your sewer line, especially if you feel that tree roots are growing into the pipe, call Finch Air Conditioning & Heating as soon as possible.

Sewer line repair experts at Finch will use a sewer inspection camera to verify whether or not the sewer system has a tree root problem. Once the issue has been determined, our sewer line repair professional will discuss all of your options with you and help you choose the best way to move forward, whether that’s a trenchless sewer line replacement or just cutting out the tree roots.

Keep in mind, faster growing trees, such as cottonwood, silver maples, or basswood, may cause more trouble because they grow faster. Slower growing trees are a better choice, but they still need to be replaced every eight to ten years to avoid their roots from causing a problem. Also, remember to plant trees far from your sewer lines, that way you can help prevent damage and avoid those pesky (and sometimes costly) sewer line repairs. If you’re not confident where your sewer lines are, ask Finch to flag the path of the sewer pipes.

So if you think your tree roots have entered your sewer line or you have any plumbing issues at all, call Finch Air Conditioning & Heating in Kingwood and we are happy to visit and see if you need a sewer line repair or do a complete plumbing maintenance to make sure your pipes are good to go.