Some plumbing problems are more pressing than others. You can't wait when you suspect something is wrong with your sewer line. Furthermore, you'd be wise to call a residential plumber rather than handle it yourself. The sewer line is critical enough that it needs someone with the right tools and training. This is particularly true if it turns out that tree roots have managed to break into it.

What Does a Sewer Line Do?

The sewer line connects your plumbing to the city's sewer system. As a result, it can cause issues throughout your home if it has a problem. You might see water draining slowly. Alternatively, you might smell the sulfuric odor of sewer gas. If you're unlucky, you could experience sewage backups that will mean expensive and time-consuming cleanups. Whatever the case, a broken or blocked sewer line is a high-priority problem because people rely on a functioning plumbing system for their day-to-day routines.

Why Is It So Hard to Solve the Problem Yourself?

You must find the problem before you can fix it when you have a broken or blocked sewer line. Otherwise, you can expect your issues to happen again and again. Indeed, recurring plumbing problems are one of the surest signs you have something wrong with your sewer line rather than another part of your plumbing.

Unfortunately, finding the problem is easier said than done. For starters, you have to find the sewer line. It might be out in open sight but tends to be buried in the ground. Due to this, you can't count on your eyes to find it. Instead, you'll have better luck contacting the city department responsible for sewers before asking if they have a map of your property's plumbing. Failing that, you can use specialized tools to search for the sewer line. You can buy or rent a pipe locator, but you should expect it to be expensive. On top of that, you need to know how to work the machine before you can map out the sewer line.

Tree roots make everything even more complicated. If they've blocked the sewer line, they've broken into the pipe searching for water and other nutrients. Furthermore, they can do so again because trees are living things that continue to grow. As such, there isn't a universal solution for tree roots in the sewer line. Sometimes, people have to remove them using saws and flushers. Other times, they prefer the regular application of herbicides. Besides this, you might also have to replace the broken pipe so your sewer line can work again.

Reach out to a local plumbing company to learn more.