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Tree roots in your sewer line
Roots don't usually break sound pipe. They find their way in through joints, cracks and failed seals, attracted by moisture and nutrients, and then grow into a mat that catches paper and grease.
Signs
- Slow drains throughout the building that return weeks or months after clearing
- Gurgling toilets, especially after laundry or showers
- A camera video showing hair-like root masses at pipe joints
Treating the symptom vs. the cause
- Mechanical root cutting (a cutting head on a cable) or hydro-jetting restores flow, but roots usually grow back because the entry point is still open.
- Repair: spot repair of the bad joint, lining the pipe to seal joints, or replacement. The right answer depends on what the camera shows (options).
Practical tips
- Ask for camera footage after clearing so you know how many joints are affected.
- If clearing is needed more than once or twice a year, get repair quotes and compare the long-run cost.
- Street trees near the sidewalk raise questions about who is responsible for which section. See side sewer responsibility.