How to Detect & Prevent Tree Roots in Your Sewer Lines

Are you experiencing sewer issues that you just can’t explain? Are your drains moving slowly? Is your lawn feeling a little soggy even when it hasn’t rained? Believe it or not, those beautiful shade trees in your yard could be the root of your problem! Here’s what you need to know about the effects of tree roots on your sewer lines. 

Preventing Tree Roots in Sewer Lines

The only real way to prevent tree roots from taking over your sewer lines is to keep the two separated. If you’re buying a new home, or even if you’ve owned your current home for decades, call 8-1-1 to find out where your sewer lines actually are. Then, compare this to the location of any trees that are in your yard. If you are in the danger zone, you can remove the tree completely or utilize chemical compounds intended to prevent further root growth. Another option is to simply “wait and see” by having your sewers inspected with a camera every year or two. 

How to Detect Tree Roots in Sewer Lines

The very best way to detect tree roots in your sewer lines is to contact a licensed professional plumber. If you think something is blocking the sewer lines that are buried in your lawn, it can be tempting to just start digging. However, doing so can cause more of a problem than you’re starting with, so contact a plumber - or, at the very least, call 811 so that you can find where your utilities and sewer lines are buried. Otherwise, some of the signs that a tree root is blocking or has broken your sewer line include:

• Slow drains. Your toilets may not flush completely, your bathtub may be hesitant to drain, or your kitchen sink may be slowing down significantly. 
• Backed-up drains. If the problem is severe, your drains may not work at all and you might even have sewage flowing back into your sinks or bathtubs. 
• Odor. The first thing many homeowners notice when a tree root is causing a sewer issue is the odor. You might notice it in your washing machine or in your drains when the water is flowing through. 
• Soggy yard. If the root has broken the sewer pipe, it’s possible that the sewage is simply flowing out into the yard rather than into the sewer system. This can lead to a soggy, wet yard, even when there’s been no rain. 
• Lush grass. The only time a lush lawn is a bad thing is when it’s being fed by raw sewage. This does actually happen, so if you have a spot in your lawn that’s suddenly magazine-worthy, a tree root might be the culprit. 
• Gurgling toilet. Finally, if you notice that your toilet gurgles when you flush it, there’s a blockage somewhere in your sewer line that could be a tree root. 

Of course, aside from digging up your lawn, the very best way to detect a tree root in your sewer line is to hire a professional to do a camera inspection. A licensed plumber will feed a camera through your sewer lines looking for the site of the blockage. This not only provides concrete evidence of the problem but also makes the repair process simpler since you know exactly where the blockage is located.