Cutting and Clearing Pesky Tree Roots

You will find most pipes laid these days are made from plastic PVC.  However, this certainly was not the case decades ago.  Back then, it was very common for pipes to be made of clay.  It is possible for tree roots to cause problems in clay pipes.  They can enter into joints or cracks, or even break the pipe itself.  If this happens, an obstruction will likely occur and you will need the fix the problem.

Tree roots are attracted to pipes for a variety of reasons.  For one, there is usually plenty of moisture which they need to survive.  However, there are also other types of minerals and nutrients the tree needs to thrive.

In the old days, someone would likely have had to dig up the pipe and physically inspect it.  Today, all of this hard work usually is not necessary.  A CCTV camera can be placed inside the pipe to determine what the problem is.  This also provides the benefit of determining the exact location of the problem.  Therefore, the location of the problematic roots can easily be determined without digging.  This will dramatically lower your costs as well as the risk of physical damage around the home.

If you want to clear the tree roots yourself, you have the option of using an auger.  An auger is situated on the end of a long cable and will help cut the roots out that are causing the obstruction.  Hopefully, most of the roots will be pulled back along with the snake so that they do not remain in the drain.  Using an auger is not exactly a permanent solution.  The roots will eventually grow back and you will need to go through the whole process again to clear the newest roots.

A professional also has the option of using a high-pressure water jetting system.  This powerful stream of water will hopefully flush all of the roots away.  It also is not a permanent solution since the roots will still go back.

When clearing tree roots, it is very important for you to treat the location with a foaming herbicide.  This will prevent the roots from growing back in the future.  Just make sure that the herbicide is not harmful to the environment however.

Tree roots can pose a lot of problems if you still have clay pipes around your home.  It is best for you to call a professional out to deal with the problem.  A trained professional can use a power auger or a high-pressure water jetting system to get rid of the blockage.