Can Tree Roots Damage Drainage Pipes?
Roots seek moisture and they find it inside drainage pipes. Here is how they get in, what they do, and what the options are when they have.
Tree roots do not break into sound pipe. They enter through existing openings — joints, cracks, and connections — because they are drawn to the moisture and nutrients inside the pipe. Once inside, they grow and eventually restrict or block the flow.
Which pipes are vulnerable
Older clay tile with its many joints is the most vulnerable. Corrugated plastic with perforations is also susceptible. Modern solvent-welded PVC with no joints along the run is largely root-resistant, though roots can still enter at a fitting or a crack.
What to do about root intrusion
If the pipe is structurally sound and roots have entered through joints, root cutting and hydro jetting can clear the line, often on a recurring maintenance schedule. If the roots have come through a crack or the pipe has collapsed, a repair or replacement is needed — and cutting the tree down is rarely the answer, since the roots are a symptom of a pipe failure, not the cause.
A camera inspection shows whether the problem is cleanable root growth or a structural failure. See also our drain pipe repair page.
Need this looked at?
If you recognise a problem described here on your own property, we can inspect and tell you what is actually going on.