Tree Roots in Your Sewer Line? Sewer Root Removal in Chicago
If your basement floor drain gurgles, the toilet backs up when the washer drains, or the same clog keeps returning, tree roots in your sewer line are one of the most likely causes in Chicago. Roots slip into small cracks and loose joints, then grow into a dense mat that catches paper, grease and waste until the line stops flowing.
We cut those roots out, clean the pipe, and show you what’s left, so you know whether you need routine maintenance or a sewer camera inspection before any repair. Our team has done this kind of work for more than 20 years.
How roots get into Chicago sewer lines
Your sewer line is warm, moist and full of nutrients, which is exactly what a thirsty root is after. Roots rarely break a sound pipe. They follow the vapor escaping from a hairline crack or a loose joint, slip in as fine threads, and thicken over time. Once inside, they spread across the pipe like a net.
Chicago’s housing makes this especially common. Many older homes still drain through clay tile or cast-iron sewer pipe, laid in short sections with a joint every few feet, and each joint is a possible way in. Add mature backyard trees and the city’s parkway trees (the City of Chicago Bureau of Forestry maintains more than 500,000 of them), and it’s easy to see why roots in sewer pipes are such a frequent problem here.
Signs roots may be in your pipe
- Slow drains throughout the house, not just at one fixture
- Gurgling from toilets or the basement floor drain when water runs elsewhere
- Backups that return every few months, even after the line was cleared
- Water rising from the floor drain when the washing machine empties
- Sewage odor near the floor drain or the outdoor cleanout
- An unusually green, lush strip of lawn above the sewer route
One slow sink is usually a branch-drain clog. Several fixtures acting up at once points to the main line, and in older Chicago homes roots are one of the first things we check for.
How we remove roots
Root removal isn’t a one-pass job. We cut the roots, clean the pipe and confirm the result, so you’re not paying for a guess. Here’s how a typical visit works.
1. We get to the cleanout
We ask about your symptoms, find the best cleanout (inside, in the basement, or outdoors), and confirm the blockage is in the main line.
2. We cut the roots
A motorized machine drives a steel cable with a root-cutting head through the line, slicing through the mass and reopening flow.
3. We jet the pipe clean
When roots are dense or the pipe is coated in grease, hydro jetting flushes out cut root fragments and debris that a cable can leave behind.
4. We check on camera
A camera shows whether the roots are cleared and where they got in, including any cracked, offset or broken sections.
5. We plan what's next
We explain what we found and suggest a maintenance schedule, a root-control product, or a repair, with an estimate before any further work.
What a root removal visit includes
Every visit has one goal: get your line flowing and tell you honestly how long it’s likely to stay that way.
- Mechanical root cutting with sewer rodding equipment matched to your pipe size and material
- High-pressure cleaning through our hydro jetting service when roots and grease need to be flushed from the walls
- Video of the line after cleaning, so you see the result instead of taking our word for it
- Clear findings on where the roots came in, how heavy the growth was, and the condition of the pipe
- Advice on maintenance intervals and whether a root killer makes sense for your line
Cutting, jetting or root killer: what works?
Homeowners often ask whether they can skip the service call and pour a root killer down the toilet. Chemical products can slow regrowth, but they aren’t meant to open a line that’s already blocked. Here’s how the main options compare.
| Option | Best for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Root cutting (rodding) | Opening a blocked line quickly | Roots can regrow from the entry point |
| Hydro jetting | Flushing fine roots, grease and debris from the walls | Pipe should be in reasonable condition |
| Root killer | Slowing regrowth after the line is clear | Won’t clear a blockage; use only as labeled |
| Sewer line repair | Broken, collapsed or badly offset pipe | Bigger project, planned after a camera inspection |
According to the University of Washington’s Elisabeth C. Miller Library, neither mechanical root removal nor copper sulfate treatment is a permanent fix, and copper sulfate can corrode chrome, iron and brass. That’s why we match the method to what the camera shows.
Why remove roots early
Roots keep growing, so the longer they stay, the harder they are to clear. Cutting them out early helps you:
- Prevent basement backups that damage flooring, walls and stored belongings
- Ease stress on older pipe, since growing roots can widen cracks and push joints apart
- Restore full flow to every fixture on the main line at once
- Catch structural problems while a repair can still be planned and not rushed
- Set a realistic maintenance schedule based on what’s really in your line
We handle roots for single-family homes, two- and three-flats, apartment buildings and commercial customers like restaurants, offices and shops. If you also have slow fixtures inside the house, our drain cleaning team can handle those in the same visit.
Why Chicago owners call us about roots
Twenty years of experience
Our team has been clearing Chicago drain and sewer lines for more than two decades. More about us.
Honest pricing
You get a clear estimate before we start, with no hidden charges or surprise bills.
Answers from a camera
We don’t guess about roots. A camera shows exactly what’s in the line and where it got in.
Fast, same-day service
Call early and we can often be at your door the same day to get the line moving.
Help when it's urgent
Sewer backups don’t keep business hours. For a line that’s backing up now, call our 24/7 emergency plumbing team.
Root removal across Chicago
We remove roots from sewer lines throughout Chicago and the surrounding area. We work regularly on the older systems the city is known for, where clay tile pipe and mature trees share the same ground under yards, gangways and parkways. Roots in clay pipe are one of the most common reasons Chicago homes with original sewer lines need routine sewer cleaning.
If a parkway tree is involved, don’t cut or remove it yourself. The City maintains parkway trees and issues permits for any work on them, so contact 311 about the tree and call us about the pipe.
Book sewer root removal
Roots don’t stop growing, and a partial clog can become a full backup with little warning. We’ll cut the roots out of your sewer line, clean the pipe, and give you a straight answer about what comes next. Call (773) 588-1200 or send us your details online to book.
Tree roots in sewer line questions
Repeated backups, gurgling drains and slow drainage at several fixtures are common signs. A sewer camera inspection is the only reliable way to confirm roots and see where they enter the pipe.
A technician feeds a motorized cable with a root-cutting head through the cleanout to slice through the roots. Hydro jetting can then flush out leftover fragments, and a camera confirms the line is clear.
Usually, yes. Cutting removes the roots inside the pipe, but the crack or loose joint they came through is still there. Many older homes schedule maintenance cleaning, and repairing the entry point is the long-term fix.
Root control products can slow regrowth after a line has been cleared, but they won't open an existing blockage. Use them only as labeled, since some ingredients, like copper sulfate, can corrode metal plumbing.
It depends on cleanout access, line length, how dense the roots are, and whether jetting or a camera inspection is needed. We give you a clear estimate before any work starts.
Yes. Clay tile pipe is laid in short sections with many joints, and each joint can let in moisture and roots. That's why roots are so common in older Chicago homes.
Don't prune or remove the tree yourself. Chicago's parkway trees are maintained by the Bureau of Forestry, and tree work requires a city permit. Contact 311 about the tree, and we can clear the roots from your sewer line.
Many home jobs are done in one visit. Heavy root masses, long lines, or added jetting and camera work can add time.