Believe it or not, the culprit that often causes the most damage to your basement isn't mold, mildew or water pressure instead, it's tree roots. Roots in pipes--whether it's your basement foundation footer drain tiles, your main sewer line out of the house, or the basement floor drain cause millions of dollars in damage to homes across the country every year. And when roots growing in your pipes get really out of control, they can end up making it necessary for you to completely replace some of your drainage and sewage systems.

So, why do tree roots love to get into drains so much? It's simple: because your sewer pipes are the perfect environment for them to strive and grow. Tree roots can stretch out over dozens of meters underground in search of water and nutrients in the soil, and a drain pipe is usually warm, wet and full of vital nutrients. Once a small root forces its way into a drain, it will keep growing and expanding there until it is killed or cut out.

Even a seemingly impervious drain pipe can end up getting clogged by roots. It only takes a tiny seam or hole for a thin root to enter, and as it grows over the years it can end up causing clogs, blockages, breaks and cracks. In fact, some sewage systems that haven't been serviced in many years might need to be completely replaced if the roots have overtaken pipes.

One of the most serious consequences of having roots in pipes that are responsible for draining water out of your basement is the possibility of bad flooding damage. Even if you have the best basement waterproofing system in the world, there's always a chance that your area might experience an unusually strong rain storm that overwhelms your footer drains or sump crock. This excess ground water will only have one place to go: into your basement.

That's why most basements in wet, rainy areas have a floor drain to remove excess floodwater in the case of an emergency. if, however, your main sewer line is clogged with tree roots, and not much water flow can get through the pipe, then you have a disaster in the making on your hands. It's worth your while to make sure that a drain cleaning specialist comes to your home at least once a year to remove the tree roots from your floor drain.