Roots vs. Pipes: Saving Your Plumbing in Older Sacramento Neighborhoods

The Battle Underground: East Sac and Land Park

We love the charm of older Sacramento neighborhoods, but the combination of 80-year-old trees and 80-year-old clay sewer pipes is a recipe for disaster. Roots are naturally drawn to the moisture and nutrients inside your pipes.

The Myth: "The Roots Broke the Pipe"

Actually, roots rarely break pipes. They exploit existing cracks. Older clay pipes settle and crack over time, leaking water into the soil. The tree roots sense this and grow into the crack, eventually filling the pipe and causing a backup.

Solutions That Don't Require Removal

You don't always have to cut down the tree to save the plumbing. Here are the steps we recommend:

• Hydro-jetting: Clear the immediate blockage.

• Root Pruning: We can carefully excavate and prune problematic roots without destabilizing the tree.

• Root Barriers: Installing a physical shield between the tree and your new sewer line directs roots downward instead of outward.

When Removal is Necessary

If a tree is planted directly over the main line and the damage is recurring, removal might be the only option. We can help you decide the most cost-effective path forward.