Your Options
Those who live in wooded area will obviously have more problems with tree roots getting into sewers. This means cutting down trees is not an answer. Normally, tree roots will get into the sewer because the cracks or joints of the pipes have grown old. This is especially true for sewer pipes made out of cast iron, asphalt composite, or clay tiles.
It is normal for tree roots to seek nutrients from the sewer because of the water that come from your toilets and drains. The good news is that you will rarely find cast iron and clay tile sewer pipes anymore because they have loose-fitting joints and prone to breaking. This means you have less worry. What types of sewer pipes are more commonly used now? Usually it is plastic pipes because they are light, tough, and the joints are harder to penetrate; not to mention they cost a fraction of what cast iron and clay tiles cost.
Commonly, you will be faced with 3 options in dealing with invasive tree root growth.
1. Regularly cutting down trees.
2. Periodically ream out the sewer lines.
3. Call for professional help.
It would be up to you which of these options suits you best. Now, it would be difficult to ream out the sewer lines on your own; except if you have a plumbing company with all the necessary tools. So basically, your options are trimmed down to either regularly cutting trees or calling for professional help. Do you want to keep on cutting down trees? Let’s assume that you don’t.
Now, professionals would usually start off by taking a video of the insides of the sewer pipes to get a clear assessment of the problem. This means knowing if the pipe is cracked, improperly sloped, or crushed. From the video, they will be able to determine if the tree roots are already deeply entrenched or just starting to penetrate the sewer line.
Based on these findings, you will be presented with options on the course of actions that could be taken.
1. In case the sewer line has completely collapsed, there may be a need to dig up the old line and replace it with a plastic one.
2. If the growth is fairly manageable, the line can be treated with a formula that will kill the invasive roots and those in the surrounding area. This makes it longer for any invasion of the line to take place. The formulation used will kill only the tree roots in question and not the entire tree, so eventually the roots will still grow and you will have to repeat the process.
3. If the sewer line is cracked, sealing of the line may be recommended. This is commonly done by lining the existing pipe with the help of an internal plastic fabric and cement. This will help to reinforce the insides of the existing line to prevent further encroachment.
It is entirely possible that after sealing the line treatment is carried out as well to ensure that there is no remaining tree root growth remaining. Of course the cost of these solutions would vary so it is best to discuss everything with your chose professional plumbing service.
In general, if done correctly by a professional, treating of tree roots in sewer lines can be completed within a day. It is considered as a relatively complex plumbing job so it would be difficult to carry it out if you are not fairly skilled. The expected cost of the job of treating tree roots in sewer lines can be anywhere from $100 to $500 on the average.
If you need help with tree roots in your sewer line, let Escondido Plumbing do the job for you. Call today!
