Roots get into a sewer line through joints and cracks, following the warm, moist air and water leaking out. Cutting or snaking them out clears the drain but leaves the entry point open, so they typically grow back within one to two growing seasons. The lasting fixes close the entry point: hydro jetting back to bare pipe, then epoxy lining a pipe that is still round, or replacing the section if it has cracked apart or collapsed.
How do tree roots get into a sewer line?
They find a way in that is already there. Older clay sewer pipe comes in short sections joined every few feet, and each joint is a seam that can open as the ground shifts. Roots are drawn to the moisture and nutrients seeping out, send hair-fine feeders through the gap, and then thicken inside the pipe where water and food are constant.
The Front Range makes this worse in two ways. Our expansive clay soils swell and shrink with moisture, which works joints loose and creates small offsets. And the mature trees in older Denver neighborhoods, plus the cottonwoods and willows along the Cherry Creek corridor near Parker, have root systems that reach well beyond the canopy.
How do you know roots are the problem?
- A slow main drain that keeps coming back, often worse in late spring and summer when trees are growing hardest.
- Gurgling toilets or tubs when the washing machine drains, a sign air and water are fighting past a partial blockage.
- A backup at the lowest drain in the house, usually a basement floor drain or shower.
- Recurring clogs the same distance out, which is what a root mass at one joint looks like to a cable.
Only a camera confirms it. A sewer camera inspection shows where the roots enter, how many joints are involved, and whether the pipe around them is still round. The full list of early warnings is in 7 signs your sewer line is failing.
Which root fixes work, and for how long?
| Approach | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
| Root-killing chemicals | Kill roots inside the pipe so they decay | Temporary; the entry point stays open and new roots return |
| Snaking (cabling) | Cuts a path through the root mass | Short; most of the root mass is left on the pipe wall |
| Hydro jetting | Scours roots and buildup off the full pipe wall | Longer than cabling, but roots can still regrow through open joints |
| Jetting + epoxy lining | Clears the pipe, then seals joints and cracks from inside | Long-term; a sealed wall gives roots nothing to grow into |
| Excavation and replacement | Replaces broken or collapsed pipe | Long-term; required when the pipe has lost its shape |
Why doesn't snaking fix it for good?
A cable punches a hole through the middle of the root mass and leaves the rest attached to the pipe wall, so flow comes back but the line is still narrowed. Hydro jetting takes the line back to bare pipe, which is why the drain stays clear longer. Neither one closes the joint the roots came through. We explain the difference in more detail in hydro jetting vs. snaking.
When is epoxy lining the right fix, and when do you need to dig?
If the camera shows the pipe is cracked or root-scarred but still round, trenchless repair with epoxy brush coating seals every joint and crack from the inside, through your existing cleanout, with no trench across the yard. If roots have split the pipe apart, pushed a section out of line, or the pipe has collapsed, lining has nothing to bond to and the section needs excavation and replacement. The U.S. EPA lists blockages and line breaks among the causes of sewage backups and overflows, so a root problem is worth fixing before it becomes one.
Should you remove the tree?
Usually not. Taking the tree out does not repair the pipe, and the roots already inside can keep growing for a while. Sealing or replacing the damaged section protects the line whether the tree stays or goes. If you are planting new trees, keep thirsty species away from the sewer route between the house and the street.
Roots are one of the most common things our camera finds in older lines around Parker and Denver, and the pattern is always the same: a drain that has been snaked every year or two because nobody ever looked at why. We run the camera first so you can see the joint the roots are coming through, then quote the fix that closes it, not another cleaning you will be paying for again next summer.
What should you do next?
If your main drain keeps slowing down, call (303) 476-3160 or get your free quote. We will clear it, show you on camera where the roots are getting in, and tell you plainly whether it needs lining, a spot repair, or nothing more than a cleaning.
Frequently asked questions
Do root killers like copper sulfate fix roots in a sewer line?
They can kill the roots inside the pipe for a while, but the dead roots still have to clear out and the joint or crack they came through stays open. New roots usually return. Chemicals are a stopgap; sealing the pipe with epoxy lining or replacing the damaged section is what stops the cycle.
How often do roots grow back after cleaning?
Typically within one to two growing seasons, depending on the tree and how wide the entry point is. Hydro jetting holds longer than snaking because it removes the whole root mass from the pipe wall, but only sealing or replacing the pipe keeps roots out for good.
Can you line a pipe that has roots in it?
Yes, once the roots are removed. We hydro jet the line back to bare pipe, mill out anything water will not move, and confirm on camera that the pipe is still round. Then the epoxy coating seals the joints and cracks the roots used. A pipe that has collapsed or separated needs excavation instead.
Is root damage in the sewer line the homeowner's responsibility?
In most cases the private sewer line from the house to the public main belongs to the property owner, including damage from trees on the property. Responsibility near the street can vary by city or district, so check with your local sewer provider if roots come from a street tree.
How do I know if roots or something else is clogging my drain?
Recurring clogs in the main line that get worse in warmer months point to roots, but grease, sagging pipe and offsets cause similar symptoms. A sewer camera inspection is the only way to know for sure; it shows the cause and the exact location before anyone quotes a repair.