• How to Detect and Prevent Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line

    By D. Jason Plumbing |

    Plumber Mississauga

    When you purchased your beautiful Etobicoke home with mature trees on a quiet street, surrounded by great neighbours, did you ever imagine that those trees you loved so much could cause serious issues with the sewer lines coming into your home? Trees – whether large and mature or ones that still have a bit of growing to do – can sometimes cause a lot of problems with our sewer lines as the roots continue to grow under the ground and intersect the pipes. 

    Here are a few ideas for making sure tree roots don’t cause havoc on the pipes of your Etobicoke home. 

    Talk to the City Before Planting Trees

    Every city will have a sewer and water department, but why does this matter? The City of Etobicoke, for example, can tell you exactly where the sewer lines run and come into your property. This can be helpful information if you’re planting new trees, and you can make sure you plant them away from the pipes. 

    How do you know if you have roots growing into your sewer lines? Homeowners may experience water back ups, plumbing issues that the home didn’t always have. You may experience sinks and toilets backing up regularly when there isn’t an obvious cause for it. 

    Removing the Tree Roots

    If your home is experiencing backups with the plumbing, you may have tree roots growing into the sewer lines of your home. At D Jason Plumbing, we offer video camera inspections, so we can tell immediately what is clogging your sewer lines.  In this case, you have a few options for removing them and dealing with the problem. 

    Mechanical Root Removal

    This option requires a professional to send a drill through the sewer line and cut the roots so that they flow out through the sewer. Now, with this option, the roots will eventually grow back so it’s only a temporary option until you can find a more permanent solution for getting rid of the roots. 

    Chemical Root Removal

    This is fairly self-explanatory: you can use various chemicals to kill the roots so they stop growing into the sewer lines. The chemicals used to accomplish this can be dangerous so you will want to make sure you consult a professional if it’s something you want to do. 

    Removing the Tree Completely

    This is a bigger option but you know that you will remove the issue and (likely) won’t face this problem again. Depending on the size of the tree, you’ll need a specialist to help you cut down and remove the tree so you don’t damage your property or any neighbouring property. 

    Fixing the Sewer Lines

    Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to fix the sewer lines as well to make sure they are functioning properly afterwards. One of the ways to do this is known as a Trenchless Sewer Repair.

    A trenchless sewer repair involves having a professional fix the pipe by lining it with a seamless product that almost makes a new pipe inside the existing pipe. For this you only need small access holes so you don’t need to worry about digging up the whole front yard of your Etobicoke home! 

    Contact D. Jason Plumbing today

    If you suspect that you may have tree roots causing problems in your sewer line, or if have a clogged sewer line, we can help. Contact D. Jason Plumbing today.  Contact us today for plumbing services in Etobicoke, Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto.