There are many reasons that your plumbing system’s sewer line is buried beneath your yard. First off, it’s more attractive this way! But it’s also for safety and functionality purposes. Unfortunately, this means that not only is it out of sight—and thus hard to spot problems right away—it is susceptible to issues such as tree roots searching for a water source.
Tree roots are actually a fairly common cause of sewer line damage and clogs, which require professional Tumwater, WA sewer line services to resolve. As can be expected, tree roots crave water. So even the smallest leak in your sewer line can attract them. Tree roots are not the only threat to your sewer pipe, but it’s certainly an important one to be aware of.
Are Roots Really That Damaging?
Sure, your sewer pipes may seem hard and impenetrable. For the most part, they are pretty sturdy. However, if your sewer line is older or even just made from less durable materials, then they are going to be susceptible to persistent roots. Typically, the piping most impacted by roots is Clay tile or Orangeburg. However, even concrete or PVC can be impacted.
Once tree roots have infiltrated your sewer line and damaged them, they create two subsequent problems. First off, the impacted section of piping allows sewage to leak out into your yard—you may notice standing water, spongy grass, and/or an unpleasant smell coming from your yard. Secondly, the roots can continue to grow up into the pipes as they absorb water, causing a partial or complete blockage of your sewer line.
Preventing Tree Root Damage
Of course, the best way to fix the tree root problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Our professional plumbers can help you determine where your sewer line is, so that you can plant trees a safe distance away. There are some trees that are more likely to put out roots that can damage your sewer line more than others, which is good information to know.
If you are worried about the age or the condition of your sewer line, our staff can perform a video pipe inspection to investigate your plumbing and see if it is, in fact, susceptible to damage or deterioration, and take the proper steps from there, such as replacing your piping with more durable and root-resistant material.
Roots Are Already in My System, What Do I Do?
In addition to conducting video pipe inspection to ensure that tree roots are actually what you’re dealing with, we have a variety of other professional-grade tools to help us resolve this problem for you. Most likely, we’ll use augers to break up the tree roots, and scour jet equipment to blast the remaining root blockage apart and wash it away.
Of course, if the tree roots have cracked your sewer line, then further repairs may prove necessary. Whatever your plumbing problem is, one this is for certain—you can rely on our staff to get the job done right the first time, and get your system back in working order ASAP so you can rely on it once again.
For superior plumbing services throughout the Olympia area and beyond, contact Brooks Plumbing Co. today!
