You may have heard people use the phrase “city in the forest” to describe Atlanta.
Well, it’s true! We’re fortunate to live in a place where greenery abounds and large, old hardwoods are plentiful. No matter what part of the metro region you live in, you can probably look out your window and see one or more very tall trees.
Of course, big trees also have big roots.
And big roots can bust through sewer lines, which is a major bummer when it happens.
As sewer line and drain specialists, we work with lots of homeowners experiencing sewer line problems. Sometimes, there’s a lot of buildup in the line, and our job is to bust through it. Other times, the sewer line itself is compromised–often by tree roots.
If you have a hunch that something is up with your sewer line, pay attention to the following list. These are some of the most common signs and symptoms of sewer line tree root intrusion.
1. Gurgling sound from drains
A gurgle here and there doesn’t always mean you have sewer line issues. It might mean you’ve got more localized blockage–something that can be removed with a plunger or a plumber’s snake.
But if you’re hearing gurgling sounds from multiple drains, there’s a good chance you’ve got something going on deeper in your sewer line.
And when you do, the gurgling sound may be accompanied by…
2. Bad smells coming from drains
Again, this isn’t always a sign of a sewer line issue. You might smell something bad because a clump of food bits is clogging the drain. Or you’ve got a smelly clogged toilet, it might just smell because, well, it’s a toilet and whatever is clogging it also smells.
But if you notice a sewage-like odor coming from your drains–and this might be more prominent on the lowest level of your home–you could have a blockage in the sewer line.
Is it tree roots? Maybe. It could also be something else.
But a sewage odor is a common first sign of tree root intrusion. Your best next move is to call a sewer and drain specialist to inspect the sewer line.
3. More than one slow or clogged drain
If you have multiple clogged drains, it’s probably not a coincidence.
When more than one sink or shower starts draining slowly or won’t drain at all, it usually means there’s a blockage deeper down the line. This is especially true if both drains became clogged at roughly the same time.
On its own, a single clogged drain is annoying. You may have to plunge it or use a snake to bust the clog.
But a clogged sewer line, whether from tree root intrusion, a collapsed sewer pipe, or a bellied sewer line is a whole other problem. There’s no DIY fix for this–you’ll need to contact a professional who can find the problem and provide the best solution.
4. Plumbing fixtures that you can’t unclog
This is similar to the point made above. Sometimes, you’ve got a clog that you just can’t bust no matter what you do.
It might just be a single clog. When it is, it will probably be at a drain on the lowest level of your home.
But whatever the case, neither plunger nor snake will move whatever is blocking the line.
If this is what’s happening, there’s a good chance you’ve got a sewer line blockage.
5. Sewage backup in your lowest drain
At this point, things are serious.
You’ve got sewage in your house. It stinks. It’s gross.
It’s a health hazard.
Typically, the sewage will appear in a lower-level drain first. If your home’s got one, you might see sewage backup in a basement floor drain. Or you might see it in a first-story bathtub.
While many people will experience one or more of the above signs and symptoms before things get this serious, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, a sewer line blockage causes this problem pretty quickly–it all depends on the way in which the line is blocked and where the blockage is relative to the location of your drains.
Tree root intrusion into sewer lines is often the culprit when you experience this… crappy situation.
6. Unusually lush areas in your yard
Sometimes, you won’t notice sewer line problems from inside your home at all. Instead, they’ll show up outside your home.
If a tree root has penetrated your sewer line, that means sewage is probably seeping out of the pipe. And since sewage works like fertilizer (it’s basically manure… but from humans), it can make your yard look a lot more lush than usual.
You usually won’t see this atypical lushness all over your yard. Often, it will just show up in one spot. It might not be super remarkable either–just a patch of grass that’s taller and greener than the rest.
If you see something like this and aren’t sure how to explain it, tree roots might have damaged your sewer line.
7. Pooled sewage in your yard
This can happen if you ignore those unusually lush areas in your yard and hope they sort themselves out. Spoiler: They won’t.
As the tree roots grow deeper into the pipe–remember, the tree roots really like all the water and fertilizer that lives there–the damage will get worse. Eventually, enough sewage will leak from the pipe to create sinkholes and/or standing puddles of sewage in your yard.
If things get this bad, you’ve got a plumbing emergency on your hands! The best thing to do is contact a sewer and drain expert and get it fixed ASAP. Speaking of…
How to fix sewer line tree root intrusion
The best solution is to contact a plumber who specializes in sewer and drain problems.
An experienced professional will perform a sewer line camera inspection so scope your pipes. The camera inspection will find the location of the blockage, tree root intrusion, or pipe damage.
From there, the solution might involve:
- Trenchless sewer line repair for a small crack
- Hydro jetting to destroy anything blocking the line
- Excavation, removal, and replacement of damaged sections of sewer pipe
When it comes to tree root intrusion, the last solution is typically the only way to fix it. After tree roots break through the pipe, there’s no way to salvage what they’ve destroyed. Replacing the damaged part of your sewer line will be the best option.
Concerned about your sewer line? Here’s what to do
If you live in Metro Atlanta and suspect you’ve got a sewer line problem, PV Heating, Cooling & Plumbing can help!
Our team will perform a free sewer camera inspection of your line to identify any blockages or pipe damage. If you’ve got tree roots growing into the sewer line, we’ll find them! And we’ll find exactly where they’ve damaged the pipe so we can perform a minimally invasive repair.
To get in touch, call us today at (404) 798-9672 or schedule service online!
