How Trees Can Destroy Your Home's Sewer Line

June 08, 2016

You try to be cautious and ensure you keep from putting anything down the drain that would plug your pipes. You don’t flush anything but toilet paper; you don’t put eggshells, stringy vegetables, or oils down the garbage disposal; and you make sure to have screens on all your drains. But have you covered all your bases in order to help stop a high-priced sewer line repair?

Check 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 point of the tree root is constantly “looking for” and “reaching for” a source of moisture and nutrients and they are very attracted to a leaking sewer line that needs repair.

Usually, tree roots will leave healthy, undamaged sewer lines alone. They typically only occupy leaking, split, or damaged lines buried within the top 24 inches of the soil. When this occurs the original damage does not only get worse, the tree roots can seriously clog the sewer pipes and decrease the water flow, causing overflows and possibly flooding your home or building.

But what should you do? Call a sewer line repair professional in Waukegan.

A sewer line repair will most likely be easier (and cost less) than a burst pipe, so if you suspect an issue with your sewer line, especially if you think tree roots are getting into the pipe, call Robinson Service Experts as soon as possible.

Sewer line repair experts at Robinson Service Experts will use a sewer inspection camera to verify whether or not the pipe has a tree root issue. Once the problem has been confirmed, our sewer line repair professional will go over all of your options with you and help you choose the best plan, whether that’s a trenchless sewer line replacement or just removing the tree roots.

Keep in mind, faster growing trees, such as ash, oak, or sycamore, may cause more problems because they grow more rapidly. Slower growing trees are a better alternative, but they still need to be replaced every six to ten years to avoid their roots from becoming an issue. Also, always plant trees far from your sewer lines, that way you can help prevent damage and avoid those pesky (and sometimes expensive) sewer line repairs. If you’re not confident where your sewer lines are, ask Robinson Service Experts to flag the path of the sewer pipes.

So if you think your tree roots have entered your sewer line or you have any plumbing problems at all, call Robinson Service Experts in Waukegan and we are happy to visit and see if you need a sewer line repair or do a complete plumbing maintenance to make sure your pipes are in tip-top shape.