Tree Roots in the Sewer System

Tree Root Infiltration Diagram

Tree roots are masters at finding water. They can detect the water in the sewer line on your property, as well as the Authority's sewer line in the street or right of way. Once detected, the tree roots will work very hard to break into the pipe to acquire the water within where they will thrive and grow.

Tree Root Photo

It can take less than a year for enough tree roots to grow inside your sewer pipe to create a blockage big enough to prevent your wastewater from flowing past it. This can create a sewer backup in your basement or bathroom and can eventually break the pipe causing raw sewage to seep into your yard.

Plumbers can "remove" the tree roots by passing an auger through the pipes in your yard. This auger spins and cuts the roots in your pipe which causes them to fall away and be flushed through your pipe allowing the wastewater to flow past them. Unfortunately this solution does not remove the roots, only cuts them away, and therefore they will grow back. This is the reason you must call the plumber once or twice a year to fix the problem. The only permanent solution is to remove the tree and repair the section of sewer pipe that has been damaged from the roots.