Tree root infiltration is one of the most common causes of sewer line clogs. Many older sewer lines are made from clay or cast iron pipe that comes in three to four foot sections. One end of each section of pipe is a little bigger to allow it to fit on the end of the next section of pipe. The joints where these pipe sections are fitted together can leak if they were not installed properly or if the ground has shifted around the pipe.
Tree roots are naturally attracted to the moisture at the leak and tiny roots will infiltrate the gap in the joint. Tree root infiltration causes two problem, neither one of which is good. First, the tree roots will soon form a ball of roots inside the sewer line that will collect paper, grease, oil and other debris and form a clog that is difficult to remove.
Your plumber or sewer septic contractor can clear the clog with an auger or using hydro-jetting, but the tree roots will soon grow back and another clog will form. Even worse, as the tree roots grow, they will force the joint apart and turn the small leak into a big leak. Eventually, the roots can get large enough to cause the pipe to break.
Talk to your plumber about your options for dealing with tree roots in your sewer line. It may be worth the expense of inspecting the inside of your sewer line with a video camera to see exactly how much damage there is.
Your plumber may be able to chemically treat the roots to slow or halt the growth. Chemical root treatment will need to be applied annually to prevent new root growth. Another option is to have a liner installed inside the sewer line to prevent root intrusion. If the damage is too severe, your only option may be to replace the damaged section of pipe with PVC pipe.
