TREE ROOTS IN LINES
Root intrusion is one of the most destructive and costly problems a property owner faces when maintaining a residential or commercial sewer drainage system. Most property owners are surprised to find that roots not only cause problems in landscaped areas, but also will frequently “travel” great distances to penetrate a small hole in a drainage pipe UNDER THE SLAB OF THEIR PROPERTY.
What Causes Tree Roots in a Sewer Line?
If tree roots or any type of organic plant material is found to be the cause of a drainage pipe clog or stoppage, it usually indicates that there is a hole, crack, or separation in the pipe. This is true of any type of pipe that makes up the sewer drainage system. ANY MOISTURE LEAK FROM A PVC, CAST IRON, OR CLAY drainage pipe will eventually ATTRACT root intrusion from surrounding plants.
Just the warm flow of water in a drainage pipe will create condensation on the exterior of the buried pipe. The mixture of condensate moisture and the humid vapor off of the exterior of the warm drainage pipe provides an excellent growth environment for all types of roots. Tree roots commonly travel unbelievable distances, even under a building or structure, in their search for moisture. When roots locate a concentrated source of moisture like a drainage pipe leak, the growth activity intensifies in that spot.
The smallest hole, crack, or separation will allow roots the width of a human hair to “SEEK” out the source of water. These tiny roots will enter the pipe and literally grow inside the pipe, and as they grow they expand the hole or opening to allow larger/multiple roots to intrude. Attempts to control the problem by continually cleaning the interior of the drainage pipes with jetting, mechanical snakes/rooter equipment, or chemically killing the roots in the pipe will not eliminate the pending collapse and failure of the pipe. Given time, what starts out as a hair-sized root can end up growing in size to the width of a man’s arm. In addition to creating sewer clogging root balls, these roots, if allowed to grow unchecked, can eventually cause the pipe to fail due to the root movement in and around the interior and exterior of the pipe.
The Pipe Lining Solution to Tree Roots in a Sewer Line
Lining a sewer drainpipe involves the installation of an appropriately sized STRUCTUAL “sleeve” inside the pipe. The seamless liner seals and eliminates ALL water leaks within the system that attract and support the growth of root intrusion. The structural liner can be as short as two feet long for an isolated tree root “spot repair”, or as long as necessary to structurally line and rehabilitate a complete horizontal and vertical drainage system.
After proper cleaning and prepping of the pipe the liner is installed and cured in place within 6 hours. There is NO INTRUSIVE TRENCHING OF CONCRETE AND LANDSCAPED AREAS, OR DEOMOLITION OF STRUCTURES AND WALLS. After the pipe is cured, the smooth walls of the structural lining material will actually greatly improve the flow capabilities of the existing “host” pipe. The liner will seamlessly eliminate all holes, cracks, and channeling that cause clogs, stoppages, soil erosion, and root intrusion.