5 Signs Tree Roots Have Invaded Your Main Sewer Line

Though it may not seem like it, the roots of trees in your yard can directly affect your sewer line. Tree roots are naturally drawn to the moisture and warmth that sewer lines provide. Once the roots get to the pipes, they’ll find tiny hairline cracks, loose or aging pipe joints, or corroded sections and get inside your main sewer line. Once the root enters the pipe, it will continue to grow and expand, widening whatever crack or gap it entered into.

It can be hard to tell if a plumping problem you have is actually caused by tree root intrusion or something else entirely. If you’re having problems with your plumbing system and are unsure of what the cause is, here are the five signs you’ll see if tree roots have invaded your main sewer line.

1. Slow Drains Throughout the House

It isn’t uncommon for one of the drains in your home to be slow to drain. Most of the time, one slow drain is a quick fix. However, if you start to notice that multiple or all of the drains throughout your home are slow to drain at the same time, tree root intrusion could be the culprit. 

When a tree root intrudes into a sewer line and continues to grow, it restricts the diameter of the pipe, making it hard for water to flow through. So, if you begin to notice the kitchen sink draining slowly, the shower pooling water, or the toilets taking longer to flush and refill, it’s time to enlist the help of a professional. 

2. Frequent or Recurring Backups

A backup is when wastewater starts flowing in the wrong direction because it can’t move through pipes properly. So if you notice that the water in the toilet is rising instead of going down, water coming up in the tub or shower, or the sink filling up when you run water elsewhere, there is a backup occurring somewhere in your plumbing system. Though a quick fix may seem to do the trick, if tree roots have infiltrated your pipes, those backups will continue to return.

If tree roots are intruding on your pipes, debris will continue to build up, and the issues will keep recurring. A continuously occurring backup isn’t just bad luck; it’s usually a sign that a bigger issue within your sewer line hasn’t been fixed. Getting the help of a professional plumber will help you get rid of the tree roots infecting your sewer line, fixing the backups for good.

3. Gurgling Sounds from Drains or Toilets

When gurgling sounds are coming from your drains or toilet, it means that there is air trapped in your plumbing system. Though that might not seem like a problem, that glug-glug sound is a sign of restricted water flow. Though there are a few different reasons why gurgling can happen, combined with the other problems listed here, it is a sign of tree root infiltration. 

When you hear gurgling sounds coming from your drains and toilets, it’s the first audible warning sign that there is a sewer line problem. It’s important that a professional helps you get a tree root intrusion solved before a bigger problem occurs. 

4. Unexplained Lush or Soggy Patches in the Yard

Not all the signs of tree root intrusion are going to be on the inside of your home. If there are areas in your yard where there is a patch of grass that is greener and thicker than the rest, or constantly damp or muddy even if there’s been no rain, tree root intrusion could be harming your sewer lines.

When tree roots infiltrate a pipe, they make it crack or separate. This allows wastewater to leak and soak into the surrounding soil. The wastewater creates a nutrient-rich environment that allows grass to thrive but can also cause water to pool in those patches of grass. In order to solve this problem in your yard, get the help of a professional plumber.

5. Sewage Odors

If you’re sensing a rotten-egg-like smell, that means the sewer gases from your main sewer line are escaping somewhere they shouldn’t. A healthy plumbing system is entirely sealed, so you shouldn’t ever smell sewage inside or outside your home. That smell is the sign of something bad going on.

Tree roots intruding into your pipes allow that gas and wastewater to escape from the pipe, causing an odor to spread. Even the blockages and lack of water flow that tree roots cause can make those odor-causing gases build up and get into your home. You’ll notice the smell in your bathrooms, basement, laundry rooms or floor drains, or outside in your yard. Get rid of the rancid smells inside and outside your home by getting help from a professional.

Why Choose Us?

With Drain X, you don’t have to stress about all the issues that tree root infiltration is causing inside and outside of your home. With our professional hydrojetting services, we’ll eradicate the tree roots from your plumbing system so you can have peace of mind. Our team is dedicated to solving your problem so that your plumbing system in your home can work properly. Contact us today to schedule your plumbing service.