How Trees Can Destroy Your Home's Sewer Line

June 08, 2016

You try to be wary and ensure you don’t put anything down the drain that would plug your pipes. You don’t put anything down the toilet but toilet paper; you don’t put eggshells, stringy vegetables, or oils down the kitchen sink; and you make sure to have strainers on all your drains. But have you thought of everything in order to avoid a costly sewer line repair?

Go outside because you may be ignoring the most damaging problem of all: tree roots.

Trees crave nutrients and their roots are where they absorb nutrients through, so the end of the tree root is always “seeking” and “reaching for” a source of moisture and nutrients and they are enticed by a leaking sewer line that needs repair.

Usually, tree roots will leave strong, undamaged sewer lines alone. They typically only invade leaking, split, or damaged lines buried within the top two feet of the ground. When this takes place the first damage not only becomes worse, the tree roots can actually clog the sewer system and decrease the water flow, resulting in overflows and potentially flooding your home or building.

So what do you do? Call a sewer line repair company in Canada.

A sewer line repair will most likely be easier (and cheaper) than a completely broken pipe, so if you suspect a problem with your sewer line, especially if you believe tree roots are getting into the pipe, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning as soon as possible.

Sewer line repair professionals at Service Experts will use a sewer inspection camera to verify whether or not the sewer system has a tree root worry. Once the issue has been confirmed, our sewer line repair technician will go over all of your options with you and help you decide the best way to move forward, whether that’s a trenchless sewer line replacement or just getting rid of the tree roots.

Remember, faster growing trees, such as poplar, locust, or basswood, may cause more problems because they grow faster. Slower growing trees are a better option, but they still need to be swapped out every six to ten years to avoid their roots from damaging the sewer lines. Also, make sure you plant trees a good distance from your sewer lines, that way you can help stop damage and avoid those pesky (and sometimes costly) sewer line repairs. If you’re not confident where your sewer lines are, ask Service Experts to flag the path of the sewer pipes.

So if you think your tree roots have come in contact with your sewer line or you have any plumbing needs at all, call Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning in Canada and we are happy to visit and see if you need a sewer line repair or do a seasonal plumbing maintenance to make sure your pipes are in working order.