If more than one of your drains is clogging, water is draining out of one fixture and rising up in another, or your plumbing is running slowly, then you may have a sewer line issue. Problems with your home's mainline can cause major problems with your entire plumbing system. This makes diagnosing the problem and fixing it immediately important to you and your home.

While there are several potential culprits behind a clogged main sewer line, tree roots entering the pipe is a common cause. Instead of waiting until there's a problem to repair, preventing roots from entering your system is a preferable plumbing solution.

What can you do to prevent tree roots invading your sewer line? Take a look at some of the ways that you can reduce the risks of this plumbing problem.

The tiny trees you're planting right now may grow into great giants someday. The size of a young tree may mislead you into thinking that it's far from your exterior plumbing. Even though the barely-there roots of a sapling won't touch the sewer pipe now, years later the roots may have grown that large.

As the tree grows, its roots grow and move — looking for water. The moist environment of your sewer pipe is inviting to a water-seeking plant.

Survey the plumbing in your yard, marking where the pipes run. Avoid these areas when planting anything other than grass. Keep trees, even if they're small, away from the area surrounding the sewer pipe. Keep in mind, roots can grow outwards up to 1.5 times the height of the tree. Therefore, you should plant trees as far away from the plumbing line as possible, especially if you want to prevent a plumbing problem.

Even though replacing your home's plumbing may seem like an expense you don't want to pay for, it can save you money in the long-run. Not only will you trade your old, worn pipes for new ones that are completely clear and clog-free, you may also reduce the risk of a root invasion.

Older clay and cast iron pipes can corrode, especially at the joints. This provides an easy entry for tree roots that are searching for water. New ABS and PVC plastic sewer lines won't corrode in the same way that a metal pipe does. They are also more likely to resist roots. This doesn't mean they will repel roots or save you from a clog completely. However, they will do a better job than the clay or metal versions.

Regular maintenance, such as video inspection and professional cleaning, can help you to spot a problem before it grows into something major. This type of plumbing service won't completely prevent the problem from starting. You may still have a root that grows into your pipe.

If you could still have a tree root invader, why bother to get regular sewer line maintenance? Spotting root growth early may save you time, grief, and money. Instead of waiting for the root to completely clog your pipe or cause your line to burst, finding and fixing the problem early on can stop your sewer line from a serious and expensive back-up.

Catching an invading root right away may mean that you can skip the frustrating interior plumbing clogs. You can also avoid having to clean up the debris-filled water that can back-up into your home through the main drain.
Do you suspect that a root is invading your main sewer line? Our team of experts at Reliable Rooter can provide video inspection, diagnosis, and repair services.