Root Blockage Removal in the Triangle
Celebrating 30 Years of Service; Est. 1996
Roots in septic lines: how they get in
A septic system puts warm water and nutrients underground, and tree roots go looking for it. They rarely get into sound, tight pipe. They get in through the joints of older pipe, at the inlet and outlet of the tank, into the distribution box, and into the drainfield lines. A hair-thin root becomes a mat that catches solids and slows everything behind it.
The trees we see most near the lines are willow, sweetgum, maple and oak. Roots travel a long way toward water, so a tree that looks far from the lines can still be the cause.
Nothing about it is sudden. The line slows a little at a time until one wet spring, or one full house for the holidays, shows you the problem.
Signs of roots in your septic lines
Roots do not announce themselves. These are the signs we see most:
- Slow drains that get worse after rain, then recover when the ground dries out.
- Gurgling in the pipes when you run water or flush.
- A wet strip in the yard, or soggy ground over one drainfield line while the rest is dry.
- A backup in the lowest drain or toilet in the house.
- Trouble that shows up after years of no trouble at all.
Any of these can also be a full tank or a clogged filter, and those cost less to fix, so we check them first. If sewage is coming up inside the house, stop using water and read our page on emergency septic service.
How we do root blockage removal
We find the roots before we cut anything. That starts at the tank: we check the inlet and outlet, the baffles and the filter, and the liquid level. Roots at the tank usually mean roots further down the line. If the tank is full, we pump it so we can see clearly. See septic tank pumping.
Then we cut the roots and pull them out of the pipe, and look to see what is left. If a section is crushed, cracked or pulled apart at a joint, cutting roots only buys time, because they come back. We replace that section. If roots are in the distribution box, we clear it and the lines it feeds, and reset or replace the box so it sits level. That job is covered under distribution box repair and replacement.
If the damage reaches the drainfield lines, county rules apply. Drainfield repairs go through the county environmental health office and can need a repair permit. We tell you what applies before we dig. See drainfield repair and replacement.
To keep roots out, plant willows, sweetgums and maples well away from the tank, lines and drainfield, and ask us where the lines run before you plant. A root barrier can protect lines near a tree you want to keep. Pumping on schedule lets us look at the inlet and outlet each time, so roots get caught early.
You will find root blockage removal under our septic repairs and residential septic service. Big trees near you? Start with septic repair in Raleigh, septic service in Clayton, septic pumping in Cary, septic service in Durham, septic service in Chapel Hill or septic repair in Apex.
Questions about roots in septic lines
The questions we hear most from homeowners with big trees.
Can tree roots really get into a septic tank?
Yes. They get in at the inlet and outlet, through cracks in older tanks, and along the joints of the pipes around it. We look for them whenever we open a tank.
Which trees cause the most septic problems?
Willow, sweetgum, maple and oak are the ones we see near failing lines. Any tree can send roots toward septic water, so plant well away from the system.
Will pumping the tank get rid of the roots?
No. Pumping removes the waste, not the roots. It does let us see the inlet and outlet clearly, which is how we find out how far the roots have gone.
How do I keep the roots from coming back?
Replace any crushed or open pipe section, keep trees away from the lines, consider a root barrier near trees you want to keep, and stay on a pumping schedule.
Is a root blockage an emergency?
Sewage inside the house is. Call (919) 481-6929 any time, day or night. A slow drain or a wet strip can wait for the next business day, but not for long.