Sewer Backups and Desert Tree Roots

Mesquite, palo verde, eucalyptus and other trees send roots far looking for water. Small cracks and joints in sewer lines leak water vapor that roots follow, then grow into, catching paper and grease.

Grease hardens in pipes; wipes do not break up. Both build blockages, especially where roots have narrowed the line.

Gurgling drains, several slow drains, water rising in the tub when a toilet flushes and sewer smells.

On slab homes, the lowest fixture, usually a tub or shower, is where sewage comes up first.

A drain contractor can scope the line to see roots, sags and breaks before a backup.

Roots can be cut, but they return until the joint is repaired. Lining or replacing a section stops them.

A valve installed by an ROC-licensed plumber lets wastewater out but stops it coming back in.

Stop all water use, keep people away and call. See sewage cleanup.

Only toilet paper and waste belong in a toilet. Wipes, paper towels, cotton swabs and feminine products build blockages, especially in lines narrowed by roots.

Wipe greasy pans with a paper towel before washing, use a sink strainer and keep a lidded can for grease.

Before buying an older home, ask for a sewer camera inspection. It costs little compared with replacing a line.

Damaged lines can sometimes be lined from inside, avoiding digging up the yard. Other times a section must be replaced. A drain contractor can explain options.

Know where your sewer cleanout is, usually a capped pipe near the foundation or in the front yard. It lets a contractor clear the line quickly.

If several homes on your street back up at once, or water rises from a street manhole, report it to the City right away.

Ask your agent about a water backup endorsement. It is often inexpensive.

When planting trees, keep them well away from the sewer line between the house and the street. Desert trees with aggressive roots belong far from pipes.

A sink strainer, a grease can, a trash bin in every bathroom and a yearly look at the cleanout cost almost nothing and prevent most backups.

A drain contractor clears the line; a restoration provider cleans and dries the damage. Calling both quickly keeps the cleanup small.

If roots return after cleaning, the joint they enter through needs repair, by lining or replacing that section.

Older lines may be clay or cast iron with joints where roots enter. Modern plastic has fewer joints. A camera inspection tells you which you have and its condition.

In very heavy monsoon rain, some systems take in extra water through cracks and connections. If your tub backs up only in big storms, mention that to the drain contractor.

Sewage in the tub or shower? Stop water use and call (623) 269-9046.

Slow drains in more than one fixture, gurgling in toilets when the washer drains, water rising in the tub when a toilet is flushed and a sewer smell outdoors near the cleanout are early signs of a blocked line. Act on them before the line backs up fully. A drain contractor can clear roots and camera the line to see whether a repair is needed. Waiting usually means cleaning sewage from floors later, which costs far more than clearing a line early.

Desert trees like mesquite, palo verde and eucalyptus send roots far looking for water. Plant new trees away from the sewer line, and ask a landscaper where your line runs before digging. Regular root clearing every year or two helps homes with large trees near the line.

A cleanout is a capped pipe outside, near the house, that gives access to the sewer line. Know where yours is so a drain contractor can reach the line fast, and keep it clear of plants, rocks and pavers. Roots are the most common cause of sewer backups in older Avondale homes. Watch for slow drains and gurgling, clear lines before they block fully, camera older lines, and plant trees away from the sewer path. If sewage does come up, stop water use, keep people away and call (623) 269-9046 for safe cleanup and drying.

Plant trees away from the sewer line, keep grease and wipes out, and scope the line at the first warning signs.

Questions about sewer backups and desert tree roots? Call (623) 269-9046 to reach a local Avondale provider, 24 hours a day.