Key takeaways
- Roots enter through tiny gaps at joints, not through solid pipe.
- Cutting roots clears the line, but they return unless the joint is sealed.
- Lining stops roots from entering at all.
- A camera shows how far roots reach.
Why roots go after sewer pipe
Wastewater contains water and nutrients, and any joint that weeps a little is a target. A root hair enters through a tiny opening, then thickens and branches into a mat that catches paper and grease. Older clay and cast iron pipes, with many joints, are especially exposed.
Mature oaks, maples, willows and sycamores are common culprits in Tennessee yards, and roots can travel a surprising distance toward a leaking joint.
Clearing roots
A chain cutter on a cable or a cutting nozzle on a jetter clears the roots out of the line, and a camera confirms that the pipe is open. The cut does not harm the tree, because it removes small feeder roots that grew into the pipe.
Cutting is a clearing, not a cure. The joint is still open, and roots usually return in a year or two, sometimes faster in wet seasons.
Keeping roots out
The lasting fixes seal the joint. A cured-in-place liner closes the joints along the pipe, a spot repair replaces a bad section and a full replacement with continuous pipe removes the joints. In a Nashville yard with big trees the choice depends on the pipe's condition and what is above it.
Chemical root killers poured into the toilet are a short-term tool at best and can harm the pipe and nearby plants. A camera and a plan are a better investment.
Related services
Quick answers
Should I remove the tree to protect my sewer line?
Often not. Cutting and sealing the pipe is usually less drastic than removing a mature tree. For roots that threaten the pipe repeatedly, an arborist can advise on options.
How do I know if roots are in my sewer line?
Repeat clogs in the same line, slow drains that clear and return and big trees near the lateral are clues. A camera inspection shows the roots and where they enter.
Ready to talk it through? Get a free estimate or call 615-209-7643.