Tree roots are a common cause of sewer line clogs and backed up sewer lines. Tree roots will find any holes, cracks or fissures in a sewer line. Once they infiltrate the sewer line, the roots will grow and expand until a web of roots is inside the sewer line. Everything that gets flushed down the drain or toilet will get caught in the mat of tree roots including paper, oil, hair grease, and other material. Before long, a nasty clog will form and a sewer septic professional will be needed to clear the clog.
Your sewer septic professional will be able to provide details on what options you have to take care of the clog. One option will be to use a mechanical cutting head to cut through the roots and clear the clog. This option will only be effective until the tree roots grow back. The problem will recur every year or two and you will have to call the sewer septic contractor back out to clear the line again.
Another option is to use high pressure hydro jetting to clear the clog. Hydro jetting uses high pressure water sprayed through special heads to cut through tree roots and thoroughly clean the inside of the pipe. Hydro jetting does a more thorough job than a mechanical cutter, but you will still have the problem of the tree roots growing back.
A camera inspection may be needed to check the condition of the pipe. If the sewer line is in good condition, your sewer septic professional may recommend a chemical treatment to kill the tree roots and stop new roots from forming. Relining the pipe is another more permanent solution.
If the sewer line is collapsed, broken, or otherwise in bad shape a sewer line replacement may be the only alternative.
