Now that spring has arrived, trees are blooming and their roots are getting active underground too! This chart shows some of the problems your sewer pipes may experience from roots and clogged drains. As well as other issues beneath the surface of your yard.

Know the Warning Signs

Drain clogs happen. For infrequent clogs, there are easy solutions to clear a drain that most homeowners can try. But if your drains clog frequently, it may be a sign of a bigger problem. Root damage to sewer lines leads to clogged, overflowing, and slow-flowing drains, sometimes accompanied by a gurgling noise from the toilet or kitchen sink.

Inspection and Maintenance

When drains get clogged frequently, they are difficult to clear, and sometimes emit gurgling noises, call a plumber to have the drain and sewer lines inspected. A plumber can inspect your drainpipes by running a camera probe through them to locate damaged areas. Once the inspection is complete, the plumber will make recommendations. For areas with major tree-root damage, the lines may need to be replaced.

To avoid major sewer repairs, clean sewer lines regularly and inspect the structure of the pipes. Regular maintenance and clearing the lines prevents root growth inside the pipes. Sewer-line maintenance involves threading a cable through the sewer pipe that cuts through any clogs or tree roots and cleans the sewer pipe to the inner walls.