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How to Locate and Stop Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

How to Locate and Stop Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

If tree roots have infiltrated your plumbing, the issue can quickly grow into a massive headache.

When you wash your hands, shower, or flush your toilet, you trust the sewer lines to carry all of your wastewater away without any troubles. If tree roots have infiltrated your plumbing, the issue can quickly grow into a massive headache. Here are the very best ways to detect and stop tree roots from growing into your property’s underground pipes!

How to Properly Remove Tree Roots From Your Sewer Line

Ask your local sewer department or plumbing company where the sewer lines run through your yard and into your home. Use this information to help you plant any trees or shrubby away from these sewer lines. If no other area is suitable for a tree except for one spot that runs over a known sewer line, then pick a slow-growing variety that grows to just about 20 feet tall or less. Some species that meet these requirements include common figs, eastern redbuds, and crabapple trees.

Once you know the spot of sewer lines in your yard, you could also use this information to identify trees planted close by that could pose a possible issue. You might be able to prevent future issues by removing these trees before they sprout up too large, and their roots begin to spread.

How to Locate and Repair Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

If your home’s plumbing backs up all the time or suffers from other issues, this could be an indication that you’ve got roots growing into your home’s sewer line. You’ve got a few ways of dealing with this issue:

  • Remove these roots mechanically: You might have the option of cutting through tree roots that have made their way inside the pipes. A professional sends a mechanical drill explicitly designed for this purpose down into the sewer line to chop up the roots so they will flow out of the pipe. This is only a temporary fix, as the roots will grow back, but it does allow your pipes to flow until you pursue a more permanent fix.
  • Remove these roots chemically: following mechanical root removal, one choice is to kill the roots with strong chemicals. However, this has potential to be dangerous, so you will want to rely on a professional’s help if you decide to go down this path.
  • Contact the plumbers: a professional plumbing team, like B&D Plumbing, can help you inspect and analyze your entire situation and come up with a rational solution to remove the tree roots.

Get in Touch With B&D Today!

Dealing with any plumbing concerns that require a professional to step in? Struggling with an absolute plumbing emergency that can’t wait? Let B&D Plumbing know. B&D Plumbing Inc. services the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Northern Virginia. Get in touch with us by calling (301) 595-1141 or follow us on social media, including FacebookTwitterLinkedIn, and Pinterest. As a small, family-owned business, we understand how important your home is—and we offer exceptional service that matches!

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 17th, 2020 at . Both comments and pings are currently closed.