1. [Home](/) 2. [Guides](/guides/) 3. [Drains, sewer lines and basement backups](/guides/drains-and-sewer-guide/) 4. Tree roots in sewer lines: signs and fixes # Tree roots in sewer lines: signs and fixes Roots are one of the most common reasons an older sewer line backs up. Here is how they get in, how to tell they are there and what a plumber can do about it. ## Key takeaways - Roots enter through small gaps at joints and cracks, which are common in older clay and cast iron laterals. - Gurgling, slow drains throughout the house and floor drain backups are typical signs. - A camera inspection confirms roots and shows the condition of the pipe. - Cutting roots clears the line for a while. Lining or replacing the damaged section is the longer-term fix. ## How roots get into sewer laterals The lateral is the pipe that carries everything from your house to the public sewer. Many older homes in the Dayton area have laterals made of clay tile laid in short sections, or cast iron. Clay is durable, but every few feet there is a joint, and those joints can crack or shift after decades of freeze-thaw cycles and movement in the region's heavy clay soils. Cast iron corrodes and can crack or develop holes. A sewer line gives off moisture and nutrients through those gaps, and tree roots grow toward them. A root thinner than a string can slip through a joint. Inside, it has everything it needs and spreads into a thick mat that fills the pipe and catches paper, wipes and grease. As it grows, it can widen the crack and push the pipe further out of line. ## Signs roots are in your line Root problems tend to build slowly, then show up all at once: - Several fixtures draining slowly at the same time. - Toilets that gurgle or bubble when you run a sink or tub. - Water backing up at the basement floor drain, especially when the washer drains. - A sewage smell near the floor drain or in the yard. - Problems that ease up after a cleaning and then return months later. - Unusually green or soggy patches of lawn over the sewer line. If your home is older and has large trees between the house and the street, roots should be one of the first things a plumber checks. ## Confirming the problem with a camera A camera inspection shows exactly what is happening inside the line. A plumber runs a waterproof camera on a flexible cable through a cleanout and watches the pipe on a monitor. Roots are easy to spot at the joints. The camera also shows cracks, offset sections, sags where water pools, and areas that have collapsed. Most systems include a locator that lets the plumber mark the position and approximate depth of a problem from above ground. That matters when you are weighing repair options, because a single bad joint near the house is a very different job from damage under the street. If the line is blocked solid, the plumber will usually clear it first so the camera can pass through. ## Repair options The right fix depends on what the camera shows. In general terms: - **Root cutting.** A cable machine with a cutting head clears roots from the pipe. It restores flow, but roots grow back from what remains outside the pipe. See [drain cleaning](/services/drain-cleaning/). - **Hydro jetting.** High-pressure water scours roots, grease and scale from the pipe walls. It works best on pipe that is still structurally sound. - **Root treatments.** Some plumbers apply products designed to slow root regrowth after a line is cleared. They are a maintenance step, not a repair. - **Spot repair.** If the damage is limited to one section, that section can be dug up and replaced. - **Trenchless lining or pipe bursting.** A new pipe is formed inside the old one, or pulled through as the old pipe is broken apart, with less digging than a full excavation. - **Full replacement.** When the line is badly cracked, sagging or collapsed, replacing it may be the only lasting answer. Work near the main or under the street often involves permits and the city, so a plumber will factor that in. More on these jobs is under [sewer line repair](/services/sewer-line-repair/). ## Living with trees and an older sewer line You do not have to choose between your trees and your sewer. Know where your lateral runs before planting, and keep new trees well away from it. If you have had root trouble before, ask a plumber about periodic camera checks so you catch regrowth before it causes a backup. For a broader look at drains, sumps and backups, see the [drains and sewer guide](/guides/drains-and-sewer-guide/), or [contact a plumber](/contact/) if you are seeing signs now. ## Frequently asked questions Will cutting down the tree fix the problem? Not by itself. The roots already in the pipe still have to be cleared, and the cracks or gaps they came through remain. Removing the tree can slow regrowth, but the damaged section of pipe often still needs repair. How often do roots need to be cleared from a sewer line? It varies with the type of tree, the pipe material and how damaged the joints are. Some lines need clearing regularly, while others go much longer. A camera inspection after cleaning helps a plumber judge the pace and whether a repair would make more sense. 3 min read. ### Want us to handle it? McLean Plumbing works in Xenia, Beavercreek, Kettering, Dayton. [Get a quote](/contact/)[Call (937) 604-0206](tel:+19376040206) ### More in this guide - [Drains, sewer lines and basement backups](/guides/drains-and-sewer-guide/) - [Why drains keep clogging (and what actually helps)](/guides/drains-and-sewer-guide/why-drains-clog/) - [Sump pump basics for Ohio basements](/guides/drains-and-sewer-guide/sump-pump-basics/) ### Related services - [Clogged Drains](/services/drain-cleaning/) - [Sewer Line Repair](/services/sewer-line-repair/) ### Service areas - [Xenia](/areas/xenia/) - [Beavercreek](/areas/beavercreek/) - [Kettering](/areas/kettering/) - [Dayton](/areas/dayton/) ### Other guides - [Water heaters in Dayton area homes](/guides/water-heater-guide/) - [Leaks, frozen pipes and water pressure in Dayton-area homes](/guides/leaks-and-pipes-guide/) ## Call (937) 604-0206 or send a quote request. Quotes are free. [Get a quote](/contact/) [Call (937) 604-0206](tel:+19376040206) --- **McLean Plumbing** · 154 Richland Rd, Xenia, OH 45385 · (937) 604-0206 · abolka@mcleanplumbingllc.com [Get a quote](/contact/) · [Services](/services/) · [Guides](/guides/) · [FAQ](/faq/)