Cutting Tree Roots Out of Sewer Lines

How roots get into pipes

A clay sewer lateral is a series of short pipe sections joined end to end. Over decades the joints loosen. Warm, damp air escapes through the gaps, and nearby roots grow toward it. Once a fine root hair enters a joint it thrives on the water and nutrients inside, thickening into a mat that catches paper and grease.

• Slow drains that worsen in late summer and fall
• Main line backups that return every year or so
• Gurgling from the floor drain after flushing
• Root fibres on a cable after a previous clearing

How we remove them

We use a sectional drain machine with a cutter matched to the pipe diameter. The blades spin through the root mass and shear it back to the pipe wall. Several passes may be needed, often with progressively larger cutters. Water jetting can follow to rinse fine root material out of the joints.

We then run a camera through the line to confirm the roots are gone and to see where they entered. That tells you whether the lateral is still sound or whether joints have shifted or cracked.

Roots and North York streets

Much of North York was laid out with generous boulevards and lots of mature trees. Silver maples, willows and Norway maples are common and notorious for chasing water. The same trees that shade Bayview Village or Armour Heights often sit right above the sewer lateral. Removing the tree is rarely practical or allowed, so the pipe usually becomes the focus.

Longer-term options

• Scheduled root cutting, timed before the line blocks
• Spot sewer line repair at the worst joints
• Full lateral replacement with jointless or gasketed plastic pipe

We will tell you which makes sense based on what the camera shows, not on a sales target.