Septic problems
How do tree roots get into a septic line?
Straight answers from a family owned septic company serving Denver and the Colorado Front Range for over 20 years.
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- Family Owned & Operated
- 20+ Years of Septic Experience
- Serving Denver & the Front Range
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Roots in a septic line Roots in a septic line are tree or shrub roots that have entered a pipe, tank, or field line through a joint or crack, chasing moisture. Once inside, they grow into a mat that traps solids.
Roots return unless the source is dealt with, so clearing them without finding the entry point only buys time.
Roots follow moisture and enter septic lines through joints, cracks, and worn seals. Once inside they grow into a mat that catches paper and grease, which is why root problems get worse gradually and then fail suddenly. Cottonwoods, willows, elms, and aspens are the usual offenders on Front Range properties. Cutting the roots restores flow, but the entry point has to be repaired or they come back within a season or two.
What you are seeing
- Repeat clogs in the same line every few months
- Slow drains that clear briefly after cabling
- Gurgling toilets
- A green stripe of grass over the line
What it usually means
Ranked by how often we find each one on Front Range properties.
- 1
Roots entering at pipe joints
Most likelyOlder clay and cast lines have joints every few feet, and each one is a doorway once the seal ages.
- 2
Cracked or offset pipe
CommonSettling opens a gap, moisture escapes, and roots grow straight to it.
- 3
Trees planted over or near the line and field
CommonWater loving species will travel a surprising distance to reach a leaking line.
- 4
Roots in the drain field laterals
PossibleRoots in the field are harder to clear and can shorten field life significantly.
- 5
Root intrusion at the tank inlet or outlet
Less commonRoots can reach the tank penetrations where the seal has failed.
What to do right now
- Stop using chemical root killers as a long term plan. They do not repair the pipe.
- Note how often the line clogs. Frequency tells us how bad the intrusion is.
- Keep new plantings well away from the line and field.
- Avoid flushing anything but waste and toilet paper.
- Call 720-427-7557 for a camera inspection and clearing.
When it is an emergency
Call 720-427-7557 right away if any of these are true.
- The line is fully blocked and the house is backing up
- Sewage is surfacing along the pipe run
- Clogs are now weekly instead of yearly
What the fix typically involves
Clear the line
Cabling or jetting cuts the root mass out and restores flow the same day.
Camera the pipe
We find the exact entry point and grade the pipe condition so you are not guessing.
Repair the entry point
Spot repair or replacement of the damaged section is what actually ends the cycle.
What drives the cost
We do not post flat prices, because the same symptom can be a filter cleaning or a drain field replacement. These are the factors that set the number on your property. You get the price before we start the work.
- Severity of the intrusion and length of line affected
- Cabling versus jetting versus excavation
- Camera inspection if the entry point is unknown
- Depth and landscaping over the repair area
Tell us what your system is doing
Send the details and we will tell you what we think is going on and what it takes to fix it. We serve Denver, Westminster, and the Colorado Front Range.
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Family owned and operated, serving the Front Range for over 20 years.