How Tree Roots Can Damage Your Sewer Line and What to Do About It

There’s something special about strolling down a tree-lined street in the Chicago suburbs. Those towering canopies aren’t just pleasing to the eye – they provide vital environmental benefits too, such as cooling shade to produce oxygen. Aside from that, they boost property values. Our urban trees are unsung heroes.

But homeowners beware – your beloved trees could be slowly undermining your sewer system right under your feet. Invasive roots have an uncanny ability to infiltrate even the slightest crack or break in buried sewer pipes. Once inside, those persistent roots steadily grow and expand, eventually compromising the entire sewer line’s structural integrity.

Some of the early warning signs that you might have a root intrusion underway include slow drains, foul sewer odors, and unexplained wet spots in your yard. Ignoring the problem means risking a catastrophic backup and thousands in repair bills down the road. But catch those crafty roots early and you may just be able to nip the issue in the bud with a relatively easy fix.

So let’s take a closer look at how to identify those crafty root infiltrators and what steps you can take to get them under control. Your trees may be community treasures, but they can’t be allowed to wreak havoc on your home’s pipes!

How Tree Roots Get Into Sewer Pipes

Pipe invasion from tree roots usually starts from something very small, like an innocuous crack or loose joint in an aging sewer line. But before long, those tiny flaws become an open invitation for invasive tree roots to take hold and spread like wildfire.

The Growth Habits of Roots

Your home’s sewer pipes are an oasis to tree roots because of the constant source of moisture, nutrients, and oxygen.  It’s like a beacon that draws roots in. Their natural growth patterns guide them unerringly toward these channels, probing for any potential entry point.

Exploiting Pipe Vulnerabilities

You’d be amazed at how little it takes for roots to gain access. Even hairline fractures or deteriorated pipe joints are enough of an opening. Materials like clay or cast iron that are common in older Chicago-area homes are especially susceptible as they age and break down over decades. Once roots have that initial entry, they rapidly expand and multiply, exploiting the pipe from within.

A Widespread Chicago Issue

With a vast number of homes built in the early-to-mid 1900s, the region has an aging sewer infrastructure ripe for root intrusion. Older pipes simply weren’t constructed to today’s standards. Layer in the dense tree canopy that blankets neighborhoods and you’ve got a perfect storm – miles of deteriorating underground lines surrounded by a vast root network searching for water and nutrients. No wonder root damage is such a headache for local homeowners!

Those majestic trees gracing our streets may be beloved, but their pervasive root systems can be public enemy #1 for your home’s sewer pipes. Staying vigilant and addressing any signs of root infiltration early is crucial to preventing catastrophic damage down the line.

Signs Your Sewer Line is Being Invaded by Roots

Invasive roots don’t exactly send up a flare to announce they’ve infiltrated your sewer pipes. But there are subtle signs that can clue you in, if you know the red flags:

Constant Drain Clogs

Are your sinks, showers and toilets requiring a non-stop battle with the plunger? Frequent drain backups that just won’t go away could mean roots have invaded and are obstructing flow within your sewer line. As they grow unchecked within pipes, they create dense clogs and obstructions that block water flow.

Strange Gurgling Sounds

Listen closely – do you hear gurgling or bubbling noises coming from your drains, even when no water is running? That abnormal air movement is likely due to a blockage or broken section of pipe disrupting the normal flow and trapping air pockets within the sewer line – a common byproduct of root intrusion.

Foul Odors

Getting hit with whiffs of rotten, sewage-like smells when you’re nowhere near a drain? A cracked or broken pipe – potentially from root damage – could be letting noxious sewer gases escape and infiltrate your home. And root damage is often to blame for compromised pipe integrity.

Patchy Green Lawn

Notice your grass or plants looking extra lush and green in one specific area, even when the rest of your lawn is dry and brown? If that vibrant growth happens to be situated right above your buried sewer line, it could mean roots have breached the pipes and are getting an extra dose of water and nutrients.

On their own, any one of these signs could potentially be explained away. But if you’re experiencing multiple red flags, chances are high your home’s sewer pipes are being exploited by an invasive root system. The sooner you get it inspected and resolved, the better to prevent a full-blown plumbing nightmare down the line.

Dealing With Tree Root Intrusion in Your Sewer Pipes

You should take action immediately to assess and resolve the situation whenever you see the telltale signs of root intrusion. Waiting around will just make the problem bigger and bigger.

Call in the Pros for Diagnosis

When it comes to root intrusion, don’t just take a wild guess where the problem may be. You should make sure to get expert eyes on the issue. A professional plumber can use cutting-edge camera inspection equipment to get eyes directly inside your pipes to confirm whether roots are the culprit behind your problems.  And they can pinpoint exactly where the trouble spots are to determine the best fix.

Clearing Out the Roots

If roots are confirmed as the problem, it’s time to take them out! Experienced plumbers have a few different tactics:

Mechanical Removal: For minor root intrusions, they may use a rooter machine or drain snake to essentially chew through and pulverize the roots, clearing the line.

Chemical Treatment: To inhibit future growth, root-killing herbicide foams or copper sulfate solutions can be applied to kill off any remaining roots.

Repairing Pipe Damage

Of course, just yanking out the roots is often not enough – chances are they’ve already compromised your pipes. If this is the case, plumbers may recommend:

Pipe Relining (Trenchless Repair): With this innovative approach, your plumber can essentially create a brand new pipe without tearing up your yard. A flexible epoxy tube is inserted into the existing damaged pipe, forming a tight-fitting liner that seals off any cracks, holes or root intrusions from the inside out… no digging required!

Pipe Bursting: In cases where the pipe has seen better days, sections may need a complete overhaul. This process uses a powerful bursting head to break apart the old pipe while simultaneously pulling in a new replacement line behind it – all via relatively small access points.

Both techniques minimize the amount of disruptive digging required, which is a huge plus in densely populated neighborhoods like Chicago’s suburbs where extensive excavation is a logistical nightmare. That said, each method has its own advantages and limitations your plumber can explain based on your home’s specific situation. Their expertise will ensure you get the most efficient, cost-effective fix.

The key takeaway? Don’t let root issues in your sewer pipes fester and worsen over time. Getting it professionally repaired ASAP is crucial to avoid a catastrophic plumbing failure.

Preventing Future Tree Root Invasion

Once you’ve gone through the hassle and expense of removing invasive roots from your sewer line, the last thing you want is a repeat issue down the road. Here are some proactive measures you can do to help keep those persistent roots out for good:

Stay On Top of Maintenance

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as they say. Having your sewer line professionally cleaned and inspected annually or bi-annually goes a long way. 

Plumbers can use rooter tools to clear out any roots trying to gain a foothold before they really take over. And video inspections let them check for new pipe vulnerabilities that could allow root intrusion down the line. Routine maintenance nips potential problems in the bud.

Think Strategically When Planting Trees

If you’re adding new trees to your landscape, avoid putting them anywhere near your home’s underground sewer pipes if possible. And you can avoid planting tree varieties known for having exceptionally aggressive, invasive root systems that seem to spread everywhere.

In the Chicagoland area, some of the worst offenders to avoid planting close to sewer lines include:

• Willow trees
• Silver maple trees
• Cottonwood trees
• Elm trees
• Ash trees
• Birch trees
• Poplar trees

Install Physical Root Barriers

If you must plant trees near your sewer line, consider installing a rigid underground root barrier. These physical barriers restrict root growth and prevent them from making their way to your pipes. Just make sure to have them installed by a professional.

Things like routine maintenance and smart landscaping choices are proactive ways to prevent future problems, saving you thousands in headache and repair costs down the road. A little foresight goes a long way!

Don’t Let Invasive Roots Wreak Havoc on Your Pipes

Once tree roots make their way into your sewer pipes, you’re on borrowed time before a minor headache balloons into a full-blown catastrophe. Frequent drain backups, rotten smells wafting up, or other suspicious signs simply can’t be ignored. Those insidious roots will keep spreading until your pipes are compromised beyond repair.

Don’t wait for a plumbing disaster to strike! Protect your home’s pipes by calling the expert rooter service providers at Precision Today at (630) 425-8995 to schedule a professional plumbing inspection at the first hint of root problems. Getting it fixed now can save you a world of headaches and expenses later!