While April showers bring May flowers, showers for tree roots might not be sufficient. Sometimes tree roots can grow out of hand and suffer from not absorbing enough water, which causes them to invade your sewer pipelines. The damages can vary but mainly consist of clogged drains and low running water that comes from the toilet, which can bring your sewer lines down. Luckily, there are solutions such as sewer line repairs and installations you can follow to prevent further infiltration.
Use a Tree Root Cleaner
A common form of sewer line repair is to use a tree root killer. This repair method can easily be used for fast results and save you money from having to cut down any trees. The tree root killer is made up of a solution that helps unclog and cut the roots intact. Additionally, corrosion is prevented with the help of the solution. It is recommended you use the root killer at least once each year to ensure the space between the pipes continues to stay free of the roots. The root killer cleaner can be found in most hardware stores, while some people choose to use hard chemicals and DIY it at home.
Trenchless Sewer Installation
A trenchless sewer installation requires the work of a professional plumber. In the case that the roots cannot be cleared out with the use of manually adding chemicals, this type of installation can be used. Plumbers use the technology to replace sewer lines without the mess and hassle of making holes in your backyard. Another benefit is that the trenchless installation lasts longer compared to other methods that use non-degradable material.
Drain Snake/Camera Inspection
A drain snake is a handy tool used by plumbers while its purpose is to clear any clogs in pipes. However, a drain snake might not always do the trick. Sometimes, a camera inspection is needed to take a closer look at what exactly needs fixing. This way, any issues are handled promptly.
Re-piping Installation
In the worst-case scenario, the solution to your sewer line repair would be a re-piping installation. This usually happens when the pipes are severely cracked, corroded or old. The installation process consists of treating the roots with poison while still protecting the tree and sealing lines if needed.
No matter which type of sewer line repair you choose, always call in a professional to ensure safety and determine the best fix.
How Roots Find Their Way Into Sewer Lines
Tree roots don’t break their way into solid pipes. They find existing weaknesses, then exploit them. Even a small joint imperfection or a hairline crack lets a tiny amount of moisture vapor leak out into the surrounding soil. Roots in the area pick up on that and grow toward it. Once they reach the opening, the smaller feeder roots slip through and start branching once they’re inside.
Older clay tile and cast iron sewer lines are the most vulnerable. Both materials hold up well under pressure but their joints aren’t fully watertight by today’s standards. PVC lines installed in the last 30 years resist root intrusion better, though even PVC can fail at a poorly sealed joint or where ground movement has stressed a section.
Symptoms That Point to Root Intrusion
Roots cause specific patterns of trouble. The classic signs:
- Multiple drains running slow at the same time, not just one fixture
- The lowest drain in the house, often a basement floor drain or a downstairs shower, backing up first
- Toilets that gurgle when other fixtures drain
- A repeating pattern where you snake a line clear, only to have the same issue come back a few months later
- Soft, lush patches of grass directly above the path of the sewer line
- Sinkholes or shallow depressions appearing along that same path
Any one of these is reason to investigate. Two or more, especially the recurring backup, almost always means roots.
Hydro Jetting as an Alternative to Snaking
A drain snake can punch a hole through root mass and restore flow, but the roots themselves are still in the line. They grow back, often within months. Hydro jetting takes a different approach. A specialized nozzle on a high-pressure hose blasts water at the line walls, cutting through root growth and washing it out along with grease, scale and debris.
The main advantage is that hydro jetting cleans the entire pipe surface, not just the path of least resistance. After a thorough jetting, the line is closer to its original capacity and roots have less to grab onto when they try to grow back. Many plumbers recommend it as a yearly maintenance step on lines that have had root issues in the past.
Pipe Lining and Pipe Bursting
For lines that have been damaged by years of root intrusion, repair often involves more than cleaning. Two trenchless options handle most situations without digging up the entire yard:
Pipe lining threads an epoxy-coated liner inside the existing pipe. The liner is inflated, allowed to cure and becomes a smooth, joint-free pipe inside the old one. Roots can no longer find a way in because there are no joints for them to follow. The repair lasts decades and can be done in a single day for most residential lines.
Pipe bursting pulls a new pipe through the path of the old one while a bursting head fractures the old pipe outward into the surrounding soil. The result is a brand-new line in the same location. Pipe bursting works well for severely collapsed sections where lining isn’t an option.
Should You Remove the Tree?
Removing a mature tree is a hard decision, especially when the tree is established and the home was bought with it in place. The honest answer is that removal isn’t always necessary. If the line is repaired or replaced with materials that resist root intrusion, the tree can usually stay.
Removal becomes the right call when the tree is young enough that future damage is likely, when the roots have already pushed into a foundation or driveway, or when the tree itself is showing signs of stress that suggest it won’t be around much longer anyway. A licensed arborist working alongside the plumber can usually give a clear recommendation. The two trades together know whether the tree and the line can coexist with maintenance, or whether one of them needs to go.
Why This Comes Up So Often Along the Coast
Mature trees and older sewer lines are a common pairing in established neighborhoods across Gulfport, Biloxi, Long Beach, Pass Christian, Ocean Springs and Bay St. Louis. The warm, humid climate keeps roots active most of the year, and storm runoff softens the soil around buried lines after every major rain event. Both factors combine to give roots more chances to find a weak joint than they’d have inland.
If your home is in one of those older neighborhoods and you’ve been seeing the symptoms above, a camera inspection of the line is the right first step. The footage shows exactly where roots are growing, how far they’ve spread and what shape the rest of the line is in. From there, the right repair is the one that matches what the camera actually finds.
If your plumbing needs to be repaired, contact ASAP plumbing today at 228-865-2727 or visit www.plumbinggulfportms.com and request a free estimate! We can handle all your plumbing needs including installation, repair, and full water heater replacement