Signs You May Have Roots Growing Into Your Septic System

Many homeowners want to have trees growing on their property. After all, trees bring shade and add beauty to landscaping. However, you must be extra attentive to the trees growing in areas of your yard where your home’s septic system is buried. This means all the parts, including the septic tank, underground pipes, pipes leading to the drain field and the drain field itself. Tree root obstruction is a serious issue that cannot be ignored for long—especially if you notice one or more warning signs of possible plumbing system failure or other severe problems.

Roots grow in pipes for one simple reason: they love the water. Root systems are huge, generally two to three times longer than the height of the tree. Larger trees have deeper, more complex root systems that require a greater amount of water and nutrients to thrive, and roots will travel to find moisture. Cracked pipes and small leaks attract roots. They may enter the pipe through cracks, grow and fill the pipe until it is completely blocked, threatening the structural integrity of underground plumbing lines and yards.

Trees of all sizes can mess with septic systems, so if you have trees on your property, you need to be on the lookout for potential problems. Here’s how you can tell you have roots in your sewer system in Cleveland, TX:

• Slow drains: Having roots inside your pipes is similar to a drain clog, except a toilet paper or food clog might dislodge after a good plunging or snaking. It’ll take a bit more work to remove roots from pipes. To determine if a slow-emptying drain is an isolated incident, test the flow of other drains in your house. You can bet the problem is tree root growth if all or most of the drains have the same symptoms.
• Poor flushing: Along the same lines as slow-emptying drains is poor flushing. If you flush a toilet in your house and it drains slowly or only partially, or you hear gurgling, roots may be inside the pipes. Sewage backup is also a bad sign.
• Blocked pipes: Root obstruction is a leading cause of clogged and blocked pipes. Once you establish that the issue is not an excess of flushed debris, call for professional help.
• Sinkholes: Visible sinkholes of any size can be a sign of serious underground septic or sewer pipe damage caused by root systems. If you see one in your lawn, call an emergency plumber immediately.
• Unpleasant odors: When tree roots break through septic and sewer pipes, you will smell unpleasant odors inside and outside the house. A lingering rotten egg smell may come out of drains and toilets, which is an indication that there’s sewage sitting somewhere in the pipes instead of draining properly.

Once your plumber confirms there are roots in your sewer system, they will recommend a course of action, such as hydro-jetting. Hydro-jetting deploys a stream of high-pressure water through your pipes to blast through tree roots and other trapped debris. It’s an eco-friendly option that does not require a professional to dig up your plumbing, but other root removal methods are available. Call All Pro Septic in Cleveland, TX today to schedule an appointment!

Categorised in: Septic Service