Dealing with roots
- 1Recognise the signsslow drains and gurgling at the floor drain
- 2Clearcut roots with an auger and cutting head
- 3Inspectcamera the line to find entry points
- 4Deciderepeat clearing, lining or replacement
- 5Preventavoid planting thirsty trees over the line
01How roots get in
Clay sewer pipe was laid in short sections joined with mortar or simple seals. Over decades, joints shift and crack. Warm, moist air escapes and roots grow toward it. Inside the pipe they thicken into a fibrous mass that snags paper and solids.
Silver maples and willows are especially aggressive.
02Clearing is temporary
Cutting gets water moving again, yet the roots return. Some owners clear annually. Others decide to line or replace the pipe.
03Lining and replacement
A resin liner seals joints from the inside. Replacement with PVC eliminates the joints entirely. A camera inspection decides which suits your line.
04How often to clear
If you choose to keep clearing rather than repair, watch the calendar. Roots grow fastest in late spring and summer. Owners who clear every year or two, before the line slows down, usually avoid backups entirely. Waiting until the floor drain overflows means a messier job and the risk of sewage on the basement floor.
Root-killing products poured down the toilet are sold in hardware stores; results vary, and they never fix a cracked joint.
05Whose tree is it
Boulevard trees belong to the city. If camera footage shows roots entering your lateral on the private side, the repair is generally yours regardless of whose tree it is. Toronto Water can advise on the city side of the connection.