Tree roots in your sewer line
In older Upstate neighborhoods with big oaks and maples, tree roots are the most common reason a sewer line keeps backing up. Here is how they get in and what actually fixes it.
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How do I know if tree roots are in my sewer line?
Signs of tree roots in a sewer line include slow drains throughout the house, gurgling toilets, backups that return every few months after cleaning, and soggy or extra-green patches of lawn over the line. A sewer camera inspection confirms it by showing the roots inside the pipe and exactly where they are.
- Backups that keep returning
- Gurgling and slow drains
- Big trees near the line
- Confirmed by camera
How roots get into the pipe
Roots do not break into a sound pipe. They find the small leaks at joints and cracks, where warm, wet air and water escape, and grow toward them. Once a hair-thin root gets through, it feeds on what flows past and grows into a mat that catches paper and grease.
That is why roots are so common in homes built before the 1980s, when many sewer laterals were clay or cast iron with joints every few feet. Modern PVC with glued joints is far more root-resistant.
Signs to watch for
Roots are likely if:
- Backups return every few months
- Several drains slow at once
- Toilets gurgle after flushing
- A wet or sunken spot in the yard over the line
- Large trees between the house and the street
- An older home with a clay or cast iron line
How we fix it
Camera the line
A sewer camera inspection shows where the roots enter and the pipe's condition.
Clear the roots
A root cutter or hydro jetting clears the line and restores flow.
Decide on the fix
Light roots in a sound pipe can be maintained. Broken or crushed pipe needs repair.
Repair what is damaged
We replace the damaged section or the whole line, with written prices for each option.
Cleaning versus repair
Clearing roots gets the water moving, but roots grow back through the same joints, usually within months to a couple of years. If the camera shows a sound pipe with a few root-prone joints, scheduled cleaning can be the cheapest path. If it shows cracked, offset or collapsed pipe, sewer line repair or replacement is what ends the backups. We show you the footage and the options side by side.
Tree roots in sewer line: common questions
Will roots come back after cleaning?
Usually, yes, because the joints that let them in are still there. How fast depends on the tree and the pipe.
Should I cut down the tree?
Not necessarily. Repairing or replacing the damaged section of pipe usually solves the problem and saves the tree.
Does root killer work?
Foaming root treatments can slow regrowth in a sound pipe, but they do not repair the joint that lets roots in.
Does homeowner's insurance cover root damage?
Many policies exclude roots and wear in sewer lines. Some offer a separate service line rider.
How do you find where the roots are?
A camera with a locator shows the depth and location from the surface, so a repair opens only what it has to.
Ready when you are
Tell us what's going on.
A Master Plumber will find the cause, explain it in plain terms, and put your options in writing before any work starts.
- A licensed Master Plumber on every job
- Serving the Upstate since 2010
- Written prices, every job