How To Optimally Treat Sewage Pipes Blocked With Tree Roots

A common cause of clogged sewage and cracked sewer lines is tree root intrusion in the drainage pipes. This is a common problem in residential sewages wherein roots from a nearby tree is attracted to the oxygen, water, and other nutrients present inside the pipe. Thus, invade it causing blockages and cracking in pipes. Since blocked pipes are a major issue and can lead to further bigger problems, it is vital to attend and cure them as soon as possible before the damage increases.

Problems Resulting from Root Intrusion

With small shoots of roots entering the cracks of a sewage pipe, a considerable amount of damage is caused to the pipe and other aspects attached to it. Therefore, tackle it as soon as possible. These problems include the following major facets:

#1. Breakage of Pipe: With roots of trees trying to invade the fissures of a pipe, the cracks tend to widen leading to weakening of the structural integrity of the pipe and eventual breakage. This breaking of sewer pipes can be ruinous and can be fixed with techniques such as trenchless sewer repair by a professional.

#2. Clogged Sewer: The intrusion of roots inside the pipe obstructs the smooth flow of the sewer. Thereby, leading to clogging of the drains and toilets of the house attached to it. The homeowners can detect this issue if the toilets flush with difficulty after multiple tries or the sinks and showers drain slowly, and so on.

#3. Loosened Soil: This intrusion of tree roots not only affects and damages the pipes and the drainage system of the house connected to it but the soil surrounding the pipe, as well get affected. The root loosens the soil, eventually leading to the sewer pipe collapse that can cause sewage backflow.

How to Remove Intruding Roots

There are various ways and methods to remove these invaded roots from sewage pipes including some domestic methods used by homeowners:

Homeowners commonly take rock salt, sodium chloride, or copper sulfate and flush it down the toilet as the salt compound sucks away moisture from the roots. Thereby, the solution deteriorates them eventually from the roots.

Foaming root killer is another chemical used by people. When poured into the toilet, it kills tree roots with the help of a killer herbicide within it, leaving a residue behind which further stops any new root growth and intrusion.

Tree Root Removal by A Professional

While there are some temporary root or blockage removal methods that homeowners can easily perform, it is always recommended and better to seek the services of a professional. Since the reason of the blockage can be anything else also other than root invasion, a professional would be able to detect the real reason after thorough inspection using tools such as a pipe camera and so on.

Moreover, since the tree roots can regrow after being chemically treated, there will be a need for a plumbing professional to carry out extensive procedures. The professional could reline the entire drain pipe by digging up the area and treating the roots, followed by replacing it with a new pipe.

Other simpler methods include using an auger with bladders to cut the roots around the pipe walls or using a high-pressure hydro jetter to remove roots with the pressure of water. These are more permanent and long-lasting methods of treating a pipe and more recommended for homeowners to prevent further damage owing to unsupervised sewage treatments.

Thus, one should contact a reputable company that provides expert plumbers equipped with the latest tools and technologies to optimally detect as well as repair sewage problems.