Filed under Drains & Sewer Lines · By Michael and the team at The Irish Plumber
How roots get in
Tree roots grow toward moisture, and a sewer line is full of it. They find their way into the tiniest openings: a hairline crack, a loose joint between sections of clay pipe, the seam of an old cast iron fitting. Once inside, they grow into a mat that catches toilet paper and waste, and over time they can crack or crush the pipe.
Older neighbourhoods like the Glebe, Westboro, Alta Vista and Old Ottawa South, with clay laterals and big trees, see this the most.
Warning signs
- Drains slow down, especially the basement floor drain and toilets
- Gurgling when fixtures drain
- Backups that come back after cleaning, often at the same time each year
- Roots on the cable after a drain is cleared
- A soggy or unusually green patch of lawn over the line
Preventing root problems
- Know where your line runs before planting, and keep thirsty trees away from it.
- Maintenance cleaning every year or two keeps roots from building into a blockage in a line that's otherwise sound.
- Fix the entry point. Roots keep coming back through the same crack until it's repaired.
Roots in your line?
We'll clear them, camera the line, and show you where they're getting in.
Getting rid of roots
- Cabling or jetting cuts and flushes roots out, and restores flow quickly.
- A camera inspection shows where they're coming in and the condition of the pipe.
- A spot repair, lining or replacement seals the entry point so roots can't get back in.
Cleaning alone is maintenance, not a cure. If roots return every year, the pipe needs repairing where they get in.