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Tree Roots in Sewer Line
in Livonia, MI
A lot of Livonia homes built before 1970 still have the original clay tile sewer pipes running from the house to the city main. Those pipes have joints every few feet, and roots find those joints. In the Newburgh area and older central Livonia blocks, slow drains and sewage backups from roots in the line are a regular issue.
Quick Answer
Tree roots find the small cracks in old clay sewer pipes and grow inside them toward the water and nutrients. This is a common problem in Livonia neighborhoods where the homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s and the original clay tile sewer lines are still in the ground. The fix involves removing the tree to stop root growth and then having a plumber jet-clean or replace the affected pipe section.
Telltale Signs
Warning Signs to Watch For
- Drains inside the house are slow and getting slower over several months
- Toilets gurgle when you run the washing machine or dishwasher
- You have had more than one sewage backup in the past two years
- A plumber's camera showed roots inside your sewer line
- The lowest drain in the house, usually a floor drain, backs up first
Root Causes
What Causes Tree Roots in Sewer Line?
Old Clay Tile Pipe With Open Joints
Clay tile sewer pipes installed in Livonia homes in the 1950s and 1960s are laid in short sections with joints that were sealed with mortar. After 60 years in wet clay soil, those mortar joints crack open. Tree roots smell the moisture and waste gases leaking out and grow directly toward the joint and then into the pipe.
The Fix
Tree Removal and Pipe Replacement
Cutting the tree and grinding the stump removes the root system that is feeding growth into the pipe. A plumber then clears the existing roots from the line and either lines the pipe from the inside or replaces the affected section, depending on how badly the pipe is damaged.
Roots From Neighboring Trees
In Livonia neighborhoods where lots are 50 to 60 feet wide, a large tree on the neighboring property can easily send roots across the property line and into your sewer line. You do not need to own the tree for it to damage your pipe. Clay soil keeps roots shallow and wide, which makes cross-lot root travel common.
The Fix
Root Barrier and Pipe Repair
If the tree is on a neighbor's lot and they will not remove it, a physical root barrier installed along the property line can slow or redirect root growth. The pipe section that is already infiltrated still needs to be repaired or lined by a plumber.
Self-Diagnosis
Which Cause Applies to You?
Check the signs you're observing to narrow down the likely root cause before your inspection.
| What You're Seeing | Old Clay Tile Pipe With Open Joints | Roots From Neighboring Trees |
|---|---|---|
| Camera inspection shows roots inside the pipe | ||
| Sewer pipe is original clay tile from the 1950s or 1960s | ||
| Roots in pipe traced back to a tree on the neighboring lot | ||
| Repeated backups in a house with no large trees in the yard | ||
| Slow drains getting worse every year in an older Livonia home |
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