We often get the question, “Roots! How did roots get in the pipe it’s PVC?”
It’s not hard to understand if you take a look at your side walk or driveway and see how roots can crack the concrete.
How Roots Damage Sewer Lines
The other day we came across a job where the sewer line was full of roots. Take a look at the picture below. The line was blocked at two separate fittings. After digging up 20 feet of sewer line in order to replace it we noticed that the joints or couplings were not glued. They were simply dry fit.
What does this mean? Installing the pipe without being properly glued left a gap large enough to allow the roots into the pipe. Two things happened over time: leakage of sewer into the ground and root infiltration.
Both of these could have been prevented if the joints were properly glued at the time of installation. This is a problem we have seen more than once.
This is not a cheap repair. The home owner is fortunate that a point repair was possible. All because someone took a short cut and neglected to properly prime and glue the pipe. If you look at the pictures below you can see how the roots over time actually cracked the fitting.
Signs of Root Intrusion
If your sewer line has a similar gap or crack somewhere along its run, root intrusion usually shows up as one or more of the following:
- Slow drains throughout the house rather than just one fixture
- Gurgling sounds from toilets or drains after flushing
- Sewage odors in the yard along the path of the line
- Recurring clogs that return shortly after being cleared
Removal Methods (Snaking vs. Hydro Jetting)
Once roots are confirmed, drain snaking can clear a path through a smaller root mass near an access point, though it doesn’t always remove everything coating the inside of the pipe. Hydro jetting uses high-pressure water to clean the full interior of the line and is usually the better option once roots have spread further, or once buildup has accumulated alongside them. In cases like the one above, where the fitting itself has cracked, cleaning the line isn’t enough on its own, the damaged section needs to be repaired.
Prevention Tips
Other sewer line problems can be avoided by choosing wisely where you plant shrubs and trees. Planting them near or on top of your sewer line is simply asking for future trouble.
Home owners should be aware of where the sewer line runs in order to prevent driving over it, parking on top of it and to know where to plant trees and shrubs.
A little bit of planning can certainly save you a lot headaches and money in the future.
RooterMan Plumbing and Drain Service
Charleston, Mt. Pleasant, Summerville Plumbing Service
