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Everybody wants to have trees on their property. They add value to your home while protecting it from severe storm runoff. They can even shade your walls and windows, reducing heat gain in the summer. However, depending on where the trees are planted, they may be doing your home more harm than good. More specifically, there’s a chance your trees’ roots are affecting your home’s sewer line.

The Risk of Tree Roots to Your Home’s Sewer Line

Inside your sewer line is a wealth of water, oxygen and other nutrients trees are hungry for. Because tree roots seek moisture, over time, they will infiltrate any cracks or gaps in your sewer or water pipes. Once inside, they will continue to grow and expand, clogging the pipe. If ignored, tree roots can eventually cause cracks and blockages in your sewer line.

Fixing sewer lines can be costly, especially considering that it can affect more than just your home. Due to the interconnected nature of the sewage pipes, tree roots on your property can damage the public water system, resulting in large repair costs encompassing your community’s sewage system.

How To Know If Tree Roots Have Infiltrated Your Drains and Sewers

Since your sewer pipes are buried deep underground, you won’t be able to see if tree roots have punctured your pipes. However, there are other ways to tell if your sewer or water pipes are being clogged by tree roots, including:

Slow Drains: Water in your sinks, showers or toilets draining slower than normal can indicate a blockage caused by tree roots – especially if multiple drains are affected or if the clogs are reoccurring.

Gurgling Noises: After you flush the toilet, if there are unusual gurgling or bubbling sounds, it could be a sign that root blockages are trapping air in your drain.

Foul Odors: The presence of tree roots in your sewage system can cause unpleasant sewage odors – similar to sulfur or rotten eggs – to permeate your home. If you notice persistent foul smells, your sewer line might be damaged.

Backed-Up Drains: If your toilet or drain is backed-up, it could be a sign that your pipes have broken or collapsed due to tree root blockages.

Unexplained Lawn Growth: Particularly lush patches of grass above your sewage lines, especially if they’re close to any trees, might suggest that tree roots have infiltrated your pipes.

Depending on the symptoms of your sewer line issue, it may or may not be discernible from a normal clog in your drain pipes. If you’re worried, a skilled plumber can tell you if this is a normal blockage in a drain pipe or a potential sewer line problem.

How to Prevent Tree Roots from Clogging Your Sewer Line

Strategic Landscaping

Consult with a plumber when you buy a home or before you make major changes to your landscaping to determine exactly where your sewer line and pipes are, so you can avoid potential damage and root intrusion. Opting for trees with less aggressive root systems can also reduce the risk of the roots penetrating your pipes.

Root Barriers

Installing physical root barriers, such as metal or wood panels, between your trees and pipes can help redirect the growth of tree roots away from your sewer line. You can also use chemical root foams or herbicides near your sewer lines to deter root growth, but these can potentially harm your plumbing system if not administered carefully.

Regular Maintenance and Inspection



Having a professional inspect and maintain your plumbing system every other year can help with early detection of the infiltration of tree roots. Older homes or homes with large trees on the property will be especially vulnerable to root intrusion. If you have any vulnerable pipes, it’s essential to replace them immediately before tree roots can take advantage of their weakness.

The professionals at Home Air Services use video equipment to inspect the interior of sewer lines to identify potential problems before they become an extra expense. Our highly effective trenchless sewer line repair and replacement services also help protect your landscaping and hardscaping from damage, reducing the overall cost of the process.

Our Plumbers Will Clear and Repair Sewer Lines Damaged by Tree Roots Quick and Easy

Removing tree roots from sewer lines requires an expert hand. Home Air Services is happy to help. As a family-owned company, we understand the importance of protecting your home and have been helping to protect Rockville families from costly, avoidable repairs since 1953. Even if tree roots have ruptured your sewer line, our expert plumbers will repair it with minimal hassle, mess and collateral damage.

Call us today at (301) 585-8100 or contact us online for a free estimate.