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Jul 12, 2026

Planting trees is often encouraged because of the beauty and shade they add to a property. However, tree roots can be a serious threat to your property's plumbing system.

When most people plant trees, they often forget that their sewer lines could be affected by the penetrating tree roots. Many homeowners only come to this realization once they start experiencing slow drains, unpleasant odors, and backups in their properties.

At this point, it is almost too late, as you will need to repair the damaged sewer pipes. Hence, it is good that you understand how tree roots invade sewer lines and how you can prevent this from happening.

Why Tree Roots Invade Sewer Pipes

Tree roots are ever searching for moisture and nutrients underneath the soil surface. They only need an entry point into a sewer line, and the roots will keep growing inside the line. As time goes on, they create a dense network which could impede the flow of grease, debris, toilet paper, and other municipal waste.

Eventually, there will be increased pressure in the pipe as water flow is capped. Inevitably, the roots will end up cracking or collapsing the sewer line.

Common Signs of Root Intrusion

The underground war between tree roots and sewer lines doesn't start unannounced. It often begins with early red flags that become more pronounced with time.

Some of the most common signs of root intrusion are slow-draining sinks, tubs, or showers; toilets that gurgle after flushing; frequent drain clogs; sewage odors around your property; and water backing up into floor drains or fixtures.

As a homeowner, once you detect any of these warnings, that's your cue to have a plumber come over for a professional inspection of the sewer system.

How a Professional Plumber Can Help

Modern plumbing service providers like Express Plumbing & Rooter have the tools and experience needed to diagnose and fix sewer line faults. We use sewer camera inspection for diagnostics. This technology provides the professional with a good view of the inner surface of your pipes without having to dig. After the fault has been determined, the plumber would propose the most effective solution to the problem.

Effective Solutions for Tree Root Damage

When it comes to fixing tree root damage, the right solution is subjective because it depends on the severity of the root intrusion or the current condition of the sewer line.

An effective solution for fixing root damage is the use of high-pressure water to remove roots and properly clean the inside of the sewer pipe. This process is known as hydro jetting and is often used by many plumbing services because it can successfully dislodge the clogged debris from the sewage system.

However, it is not all cases where hydro jetting would work. The roots may have seriously damaged the sewer line. Hence, the remedy is to have the plumber perform pipe repair or sewer line replacement for the sewer system.

How to Prevent Future Root Problems

The turf war between tree roots and sewer lines can be avoided through preventive measures such as planting large trees far away from underground sewer lines, and scheduling periodic sewer camera inspections. More so, as a property owner, you should fix slow drains issues on time, and carry out routine maintenance to identify possible faults early on.

The aforementioned steps will keep your plumbing system in good working condition and avoid the cost of emergency pipe repairs. Do not hesitate to call us if you need sewer services.

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Reviews

What Our Customers Say

Absolutely outstanding service.They were super professional, responsive, prompt, and knowledgeable. I'll definitely call them when something 'breaks' again. Highly recommend this! Such a great company, they did their job very well & were very nice workers, I recommend this company if you have a plumbing problem.

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Mike FloresAnaheim, CA

Very professional, honest and clean plumbers. They changed my sewer line in 2 days and their pricing was very reasonable. Thank you. I strongly recommend Express Plumbing & Rooter to anyone in the area looking to hire a local plumber.  I will use them as well in the future if I need a plumbing company again.

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Marcus AureliusLos Angeles, CA

Let me tell you folks what I went through last night after I came home from a party I walked in my bathroom and saw the bathtub and toilet overflowing with black water so I immediately went online and found a company this company was express plumbing and router the girl on the phone was really really friendly and nice she assured me that my problem will be solved and I should have no worries the technician will be arriving in 60 to 90 minutes she told me well that was true because he was here in 45 minutes  The technician came and unclog the drain for only amazing $55 when he came in to my house he was wearing booties so he said would not dirty my carpet that's a plus because I have white carpets in my house I would really recommend this company to my family and friends and whoever has a plumbing problem thank you express plumbing and rooter.

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John KanondzhyanManhattan Beach, CA

Lifesavers! I had a problem and needed someone to come down as soon as possible. They came and checked out the problem within the hour. They explained everything that had happened and fixed it so quick before all my guests had arrived! It was such a last minute problem and Im so glad Express was able to come fix the situation for such an amazing price!!

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Stella BCovina, CA

I made an appointment from 11a-12p this morning. I called at 10:50am to confirm the appointment was still happening. The girl on the other end said the plumber will arrive soon. They are on time and prompt. Thanks Express Plumbing And Rooter Service Los Angeles, California.

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Frank EvansAnaheim, CA

Left a review a few days ago on Yelp. Not sure what happened with the other review experiences here but my experience was great. They were very professional. I went there discussed my plumbing needs and they explained all the charges. Made an appointment and they came and fixed my plumbing. The whole thing went smoothly and I recommend them!

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Ali PourvaseiSylmar, CA