Roots after turning water back on

Quick Answer:

If you restored water service and then started seeing backups, stop using plumbing immediately and close the main shutoff. This situation often means roots shifted or a joint opened when pressure changed, letting sewage move back toward the house. Follow the checklist below to limit damage and gather clear information for a professional.

Why This Happens

Tree roots naturally grow toward moisture and tiny leaks. While your system was off the roots may have settled into weak spots or small gaps. When you restore water and suddenly reintroduce flow and pressure, blocked sections can be disturbed, trapped air can move through, and joints that were marginal can separate. That can push sewage back into fixtures or create new leaks in the yard or lateral line.

Step-by-Step What to Do

1. Stop and secure the house

• Close the main water shutoff and stop using appliances that drain (dishwasher, washing machine, toilets, showers).
• If sewage is in the house, avoid using electronics and keep people and pets away from the contaminated area.

2. Restore flow one zone at a time while watching the cleanout and yard

• Open faucets and fixtures in one area (one bathroom or floor) and run them briefly while someone watches the basement cleanout and yard for immediate seepage or new wet spots.
• Do this slowly — short runs of water will show whether a specific zone triggers backup or surface leakage.

3. Watch for backups and inspect exposed fittings

• If a backup appears after reactivating a zone, check visible piping, the yard around the lateral, and the cleanout for signs of newly separated joints where roots could have exploited lowered pressure.
• Visible wet soil, sewage odors, or a gap at an accessible joint are signs that a professional camera inspection and repair are needed.

4. Listen and note fixture behavior

• Pay attention to air noises, sputtering, or bubbling when you run water. Air pockets pushed through a breach or into a collapsed section will often make fixtures spit or gurgle.
• Record exactly which fixtures did this and when it started.

5. Record sequence, timing, and conditions

• Write down each zone you turned on, the time, how long you ran water, and what happened at the cleanout, in the yard, and at fixtures.
• This timeline is one of the most useful pieces of information for a plumber or sewer contractor diagnosing root-related breaks or separations.

What Not to Do

• Avoid cranking valves fully open and flushing everything at once. Sudden, high flows can dislodge root-blocked sections and force sewage back into the house.
• Do not enter standing sewage or attempt to clear large blockages yourself without proper equipment and protective gear.
• If backups begin right after restoring water, call a professional rather than trying to clear the line with chemicals or high-pressure indiscriminately.

When to Call a Professional

• Call a plumber or sewer contractor immediately if sewage enters the house, if you see wet areas or sewage surfacing in the yard, or if an exposed joint looks separated.
• Also call if fixtures sputter or air is pushed through drains repeatedly after reactivation — that often indicates a breach in the line needing camera inspection.
• If you were away recently and the problem began right after restoring service, compare timing and symptoms to similar situations like roots after vacation when you speak to the pro; the timeline matters for diagnosis.

Safety Notes

• Avoid contact with sewage. Wear gloves and wash hands thoroughly after any exposure.
• Turn off electrical circuits to flooded areas before working nearby to prevent electrocution.
• Do not dig or attempt to repair buried sewer lines yourself unless you have the proper permits and equipment. Excavation can be dangerous and may cross utility lines.

Common Homeowner Questions

• Q: Can the supply or lateral be broken if backups started after restoring water?
  A: Yes — backups right after reactivation often mean a lateral or joint has shifted or a root blockage was disturbed, but a pro’s inspection is needed to confirm.
• Q: Will running water slowly clear a root blockage?
  A: No — slow, controlled testing helps diagnose where the problem is; aggressive flushing can make blockages worse and force sewage into the house.
• Q: Should I use chemical root killers when this happens?
  A: Not as a first response. Chemical treatments may help long-term but won’t fix a separated joint or a major backup; a camera inspection and targeted repair are safer first steps.

More in this topic

For more related fixes and similar symptoms, see Tree Root Intrusion Patterns.