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Tree Roots: A Major Sewer Line Threat

Monday, April 16th, 2018 at 11:00 am

Split drainage pipe caused by ingress of tree rootsThere’s a perfectly good reason that your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your yard. First off, it’s more attractive this way—but that’s not the main reason. Having your sewer line located beneath your property is for your safety and convenience. But unfortunately, when something is out of sight like this, it’s hard to spot problems right away. This makes this portion of your plumbing system more vulnerable to problems such as tree roots searching for a water source.

Tree roots are a pretty common reason for sewer line damage and clogs, and they require professional Yelm plumbing services to overcome. As you can likely guess on your own, tree roots crave water. Therefore, all it takes for them to be attracted to your sewer line is a small leak. Tree roots, of course, aren’t the only threat to your sewer line, but they definitely are a major one.

Examining Tree Root Damage

Your sewer lines might seem hard and indestructible to you. And actually, they are pretty sturdy overall. However, if your sewer line is aging or even just made from less durable material that was installed in years past, then it’s going to be more prone to persistent root damage. Typically, the pipes that are most affected by this problems includes Clay Tile or Orangeburg. But even PVC pipes and concrete can be damaged by tree roots.

Once your roots have entered your sewer line (and damaged them) they create a couple more problems. First off, the affected portion of plumbing lets sewage leak into your yard. If this happens you’ll probably notice standing water, spongy grass, and/or unpleasant odors coming from your yard.

The second problem roots can create is that they can continue growing up into the pipes as they absorb more water. This can lead to a partial or complete blockage of your sewer line.

Preventing Tree Root Damage

Naturally, the best way to fix any type of plumbing problem is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. This isn’t always possible, but in many cases it is. Our highly trained and experienced plumbing professionals can accurately pinpoint your sewer line, so that you can plant trees a safe distance away. Keep in mind, also, that some trees are more likely to infiltrate your sewer line than others.

What if You Already Have Tree Root Damage?

In addition to performing video pipe inspection to make sure that tree roots are actually what you’re dealing with, instead of some other type of clog or leak, we have a number of professional-grade tools to help us resolve your tree root problem. Most likely, we’ll use augers to break up your tree roots, and hydro-jetting equipment to blast the remaining root blockage apart and wash it away.

Further repairs or even sewer line replacement might be needed, depending on how severe the damage is. But you can count on our team to get the job done right, so that you can get back to using your plumbing system reliably, as soon as possible.

For plumbing services and repairs you can trust, contact Brooks Plumbing Co. today.

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