EMERGENCY SERVICEs

Fall is officially here! There are so many things to love about the fall season — the crisp, cool weather, pumpkin-flavored everything, and the bright, colorful leaves. However, nothing can spoil a beautiful fall day quite like issues with your plumbing. During the fall months, tree roots surge before they go into ‘hibernation.’ This means that if you have trees on your property, your home’s sewer line may be at risk of root intrusion, which comes with its own host of issues and repair expenses. 

At Dash Drains, we’ve become a trusted drain company servicing Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and the surrounding area. Sewer lines are not something homeowners think about every day — they’re out of sight, out of mind. With the increased risk of damaged pipes from root intrusion, the fall is an ideal time to schedule professional sewer line cleaning with our experts. In this blog, we’ll share some important things to know about root intrusion and the risks it can bring this fall. 

Why Tree Roots Are an Issue for Your Home’s Plumbing

It’s only natural that roots from trees and shrubs grow toward nearby sewer lines. Plants need organic nutrients to thrive and the roots are what seek said nutrients out. Underground pipes are a bountiful source of the water, nutrients, and oxygen that roots crave. Especially before winter, when water and nutrients levels are lower, roots become more active before entering their hibernation stage. 

If your sewer pipes have even a small leak, chances are that roots from nearby trees will be able to detect and deliberately grow into any holes or gaps in the pipes, inhibiting the flow of waste, causing blockages, damaged pipes, and other serious headaches for homeowners. Sewage leaks are not something you want to deal with — not only are they unsanitary and can lead to health problems, but repairing damaged pipes caused by root intrusion can be costly. Fortunately, you can avoid these issues by knowing the warning signs that suggest you have tree roots in your sewer line pipes and contacting Dash Drains for root pipe cleaning preventative maintenance.

Warning Signs That You Have Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

It can be hard to tell whether or not tree roots are growing in your sewer line and causing a blockage. Being out of sight, it is certainly an easy problem to miss, but you want to detect any issues as early as possible to avoid more serious issues, complications, and costs. Below are common tree root blockage signs that homeowners experience. If you notice any of these, be sure to give our professional drain company a call right away. 

• Clogged drains – Drain clogs happen. For infrequent clogs, homeowners can typically fix the issue themselves. For drain clogs that frequently recur, however, it may be a sign of a bigger problem. Root damage to sewer lines can lead to clogged, overflowing, and slow-flowing drains. 
• Blocked or collapsed pipes – When sewer line pipes become blocked or clogged, common symptoms are a backed-up drain or toilet. Typically these issues are caused by flushing something that shouldn’t have been flushed, but sometimes it’s because you have tree roots in sewer line pipes.
• Sinkholes – If you find a sinkhole in your yard, you may have tree roots inside your sewer lines. A sinkhole can form as the tree roots expand and move through areas. When they happen, it is a sign that indicates a serious sewer line problem that requires a professional drain company for repairs.
• Gurgling sounds – When roots move into sewer line pipes, the blockage it creates often will create audible symptoms that suggest there is a problem. Often, you’ll hear gurgling sounds coming from the drains in your home. When you hear these sounds, it’s a clear indication that you should call a professional.
• Foul odors – Sewage issues stink — literally. Like the gurgling signs you may hear, you may also smell wretched odors coming from your drains. This happens because the drains cannot move material through them fast enough so waste often sits in them for a long period of time, eventually bringing the smell back into your home.

How to Get Rid of Tree Roots in Sewer Line

There are plenty of things you can do to avoid root intrusion and damaged sewer line pipes, such as carefully landscaping, replacing vulnerable pipes, and getting regular sewer line inspections and maintenance. However, if you suspect you have a problem with tree roots interfering with your plumbing system, it’s important to call a professional drain company to get a first-hand look at the problem. 

Using specialized camera equipment that can run through your water like a professional drain and sewer line expert will be able to tell if roots are growing inside of your pipe or otherwise blocking or damaging it. Once the problem is found, they will be able to provide you with a solution. 

Choose Dash Drains For Sewer Line Cleaning and Maintenance

The experts at Dash Drains know the best methods for getting rid of tree roots in sewer lines. Our drain company can help you avoid major sewer repairs (and the headaches that come with them), clean sewer lines regularly, and inspect the structural integrity of your pipes. We recommended having sewer line pipe cleaning and maintenance done in the fall to prevent root growth in your pipes. Additionally, the fall is also a good time to prepare for the winter season by having our experts check the insulation on all exposed pipes. Contact Dash Drains to gain peace of mind and to ensure your sewer lines are protected from tree root intrusion.