Root Intrusion Can Be Avoided Or Repaired

Root intrusion is a problem everywhere. In 1977, more than 30 years ago, the United States Environmental Protection Agency stated that “Root intrusion is the single most destructive element facing sewer authorities today.”

To fully understand the problem of root intrusion into sewers you need to know why and how roots enter sewer pipes to begin with. Roots grow one cell at a time by splitting and growing. This is called hydrotropism. Hairs form on the roots as they grow and absorb moisture and nutrients. As these roots grow the stem is then coated by a root cap that works to protect the root.

The best environment for roots to grow in is cultivated soil where nutrients and moisture are abundant and easily accessible – which is pretty much the definition of a sewer pipe. Sewer pipes are laid in the ground and then back filled with stone and soil. The effluent in the pipe is warmer than soil outside the pipe. This creates condensation on the outside of the pipe near cracks and any imperfections in the pipe. The condensation travels to the surface, leading roots to the pipe defects and into the pipe. Inside of the pipe there is an abundance of nutrients and moisture available for the roots and they will thrive in this nutrient rich environment.

Keeping roots out of the sewer line will reduce the destruction of the pipes that eventually leads to more expensive and evasive solutions such as pipe replacement and relining. We want to help you with a preventative maintenance program for your sewer lines, and a proactive maintenance program for older sewer systems. This will deliver a better performing sewer with less blockages, faster flows, greater useful pipe capacity, less overflows and pollution, and lower operating and maintenance costs.

Contact us at Schuelke Plumbing if we can be of assistance to you with this type of situation of root intrusion.