If you live on a slab foundation, it is possible for the roots to grow up, then along the underside of the slab, creep through the slab where the toilet drain penetrates the slab, and then grow down into the toilet drain pipe. This will, of course, cause all kinds of problems.
Signs of Roots in Drain Lines
The most common first sign is a toilet that stops up occasionally, and which generally can be cleared using a plunger. This isn’t a definite sign of a root problem, but it can be the first symptom. With low-flush toilets, an occasional stoppage here and there is not uncommon, but if this happens with some frequency, it is an indication that you should keep an eye on things. If the toilet stoppages become more frequent and more stubborn, the likelihood that you are dealing with roots in the drain becomes greater. In some cases, the toilet eventually becomes so blocked that it cannot be cleared with a plunger. Again, the occasional stubborn stoppage is not by itself an indication of a problem. What you need to look out for is a recurring or worsening problem. A localized drain problem is another sign of roots growing into the drain. It’s fairly easy to diagnose this. When your toilet is stopped up, first make sure the other fixtures or other toilets are draining. If other plumbing fixtures are also stopped up, or if the drain waste is backing up into your showers and tubs, then you have a main line stoppage—not a root problem. The main line stoppage needs to be cleared through the clean-out if you have one. But if the stoppage is affecting only one toilet, there is a good chance that the cause is tree roots in the toilet drain line.
What To Do
If you suspect that roots in the drain line are clogging your toilet, first use a toilet auger to try and confirm this. Using a toilet auger extended to the six-foot mark can often reach tree roots in the toilet drain line. The auger may pull back some root remains, so inspect the auger and the toilet bowl. This will verify that you have roots under your toilet. To solve this problem, you will need to pull the toilet up to access the drain. After the toilet is up, you can see the roots underneath. The solution is to cut all the roots back and remove any roots that may have gotten into the drain line.
Removing Roots in the Drain
NOTE: Wear thick gloves to protect your hands.
