Tree Roots in Sewer Lines

Why this matters in Pickering

Southern Pickering grew in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and many of those homes were built with clay or early pipe laterals with joints every metre or so. Decades later, silver maples, willows and other large trees on lawns and boulevards have root systems that reach the sewer line. Roots are drawn to the moisture and nutrients seeping from a joint, enter as hair-thin strands and thicken into mats that catch paper and waste. Newer PVC lines resist roots well, though they can still be affected at a damaged joint or a poorly sealed connection.

Large trees are part of what makes older Pickering streets pleasant, and removing one is rarely the first answer.

Slips worth avoiding

• Pouring chemical drain openers down the floor drain, which rarely touch a root mass and make later work hazardous
• Cutting roots again and again with no camera inspection of the pipe
• Planting thirsty trees directly over the sewer route
• Cutting down a healthy tree without confirming it is really the cause; sometimes a joint repair is enough
• Assuming the city is responsible; the private side of the lateral belongs to the owner

Trees and pipes can coexist

Large trees are part of what makes older Pickering streets pleasant, and removing one is rarely the first answer. A lined or replaced lateral with tight, sealed joints gives roots nothing to enter, and the tree can stay. If you are planting, choose smaller species near the sewer route, and keep willows and silver maples well away from it. Your plumber can mark the route of the lateral on the lawn after a camera inspection with a locator, which takes the guesswork out of planting.

Time to ring a plumber

Call at the first sign of a backup, and certainly if water has reached the basement floor. If your line has been cleared for roots before, call when the familiar slowdown starts again rather than waiting for a full blockage. A sewer camera inspection lets you plan repairs on your schedule instead of in an emergency. For lines that clog heavily with roots and debris, hydro jetting can scour the walls more thoroughly than a cable. If the backup has already caused damage, see sewer backup and home insurance for documentation tips.