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Tree roots are one of the most common reasons a sewer line backs up, and older neighborhoods with mature trees see it most. The line usually gives warnings for months before it blocks completely. Knowing the signs can save you a flooded basement.
How roots get into a sewer pipe
A sewer pipe carries warm water and nutrients, and it is the most reliable source of moisture in the yard. Older sewer lines were built from short sections of clay pipe with a joint every few feet. Over decades those joints loosen, and a root hair thinner than a thread finds its way in. Once inside, it has everything it needs, and it grows into a dense mat that fills the pipe.
Warning signs
- Drains that are slow throughout the house, not just at one sink
- Toilets that gurgle or bubble
- Backups that return a few months after the line was cleared
- Water at the basement floor drain when the washing machine empties
- A sewage smell in the basement or the yard
- A patch of lawn that is greener or soggier than the rest
Which homes are most at risk
Homes built before the 1970s are the most likely to have clay sewer pipe, and that covers much of Roseville, Warren, Eastpointe and St. Clair Shores. Large trees near the path of the sewer line raise the odds, especially thirsty, fast-growing kinds such as silver maple, willow and poplar. The line usually runs from the house to the street in a fairly straight path from where the main drain leaves the basement.
How a plumber clears roots
A sewer machine with a cutting head is run through the line from a cleanout. The blades cut the roots away from the pipe wall and open the line so the house drains again. On a line with heavy root growth, that is the fastest way to get things working.
Cutting does not remove the reason the roots got in. The joint or crack is still there, and the roots grow back. How quickly depends on the tree and the pipe. Some lines need clearing every year or two, and others go much longer.
When the pipe needs repair
If backups keep returning sooner each time, or the machine meets a section that has cracked, shifted or collapsed, clearing is no longer enough. The damaged section has to be repaired or replaced. That is a bigger job, and it is why it pays to know the condition of the line before it fails completely.
Can you prevent roots?
- Do not plant trees or large shrubs over the path of the sewer line
- Have a line with a history of roots cleared on a schedule instead of waiting for a backup
- Keep grease and wipes out of the drains, since roots catch whatever passes by
Common questions
Will root killer fix it?
Products that kill roots inside the pipe can slow regrowth after a line has been cleared. They do not open a blocked line and they do not repair the pipe.
Who is responsible for the sewer line?
In most communities the homeowner owns and maintains the line from the house to the connection with the public sewer. Check with your city, because the exact point varies.
Should I cut the tree down?
Usually not. Roots remain in the ground and in the pipe after a tree is removed, and the damaged joint still lets in the next root that comes along.
The van says it: home of the low cost sewer repair guys. See our sewer repair service, read why sewage backs up in a basement, or call (586) 943-4158.
