Peek at the Roots in Your Sewer Line

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If your sewer line shares a yard with large trees, it is likely those trees are searching for a way to access your sewer line. The roots of trees can spread out from the trunk for 10, 20 or more feet, looking for water and nutrients. If you have jointed sewer line pipes, tree roots can find small holes to squeeze through at the joints and enter your sewer lines. If you want to know if there are tree roots in your sewer lines, there is a way to peek inside.

Digital Camera Inspections

One of the best tools the digital age brought to the sewer/septic industry is digital video cameras for sewer line inspections. There was a time when pipes would need to be dug up to find the exact spot when they were broken or cracked. Now, a small digital video camera can be fed into the pipe, giving a view from inside to inspect the line for issues, including tree root invasion.

Clearing Out Tree Roots

If you have a digital sewer line camera inspection performed by your local septic/sewer professional, they can identify tree root invasion. This can cause clogs and sewer backups, but the problem can be temporarily remedied. Hydro jetting and other tools can be used to clear out tree roots. However, this only clears them from the inside of the sewer line, not the small holes where they entered.

While uses hydro jetting regularly can keep your sewer lines free from tree roots, they can still have a foothold in the holes at the joints. Each year the tree and roots can grow, making these holes larger. It can eventually lead to a break in your sewer line and a need for replacement.

If you are concerned about tree root invasion into your sewer line, schedule a camera inspection of your pipe by a septic/sewer pro. They can show you the inside of your sewer line and discuss preventive options to protect your sewer line from tree root damage.

Posted on behalf of:
Kiddco Plumbing Inc
Sterling, VA 20166
(703) 435-4441

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