Water Oaks and Your Sewer Line

Why roots find sewer lines

Sewer pipes carry warm, nutrient-rich water. Older clay and cast iron pipes have joints and cracks that let a little moisture out. Tree roots grow toward it, slip in through the smallest gap and keep growing inside the pipe.

Warning signs

Drains that slow every few months, gurgling toilets, a sewage smell near the cleanout, or a backup after heavy use. Problems often get worse in dry spells, when roots search harder for water.

What clearing does

Cutting roots with a cable or water jetting restores flow, often for months. But the roots grow back through the same joints unless the pipe is repaired.

A camera tells the story

A sewer camera shows exactly where roots get in and whether the pipe is cracked, offset or collapsed. That lets you repair only the bad section, often without removing the tree.

Planting new trees

Keep new trees well away from the sewer line. If you don't know where the line runs, a plumber can locate it from the cleanout during an inspection.

Next step

If your drains keep slowing, see sewer line repair or drain cleaning.

Lining an old line

Where roots get in at many joints, a plumber may suggest lining the pipe from the inside. A liner seals the joints so roots can't enter, without digging up the whole yard. It doesn't suit every pipe, so ask what the camera showed first.

Find the cleanout

Most homes have a sewer cleanout, a capped pipe near the house or in the yard. Knowing where it is lets a plumber clear a root blockage quickly without pulling a toilet. If yours is buried or missing, ask about adding one.

More plumbing guides

• A Plumbing Checklist for Moving Into a Rental
• Finding the Main Water Valve in a Tuscaloosa Home
• Your Water Heater's Age and Size
• Checking for Leaks With Your Water Meter
• Hiring an Alabama Plumber