24/7 · All five NYC boroughs
Tree roots in the sewer line
Roots from street and yard trees grow into joints and cracks in older clay and cast iron sewer lines, then catch paper and grease until the line blocks. We cut them back with a root-cutting jet nozzle and show you the before and after on camera. Jetting starting at $895.
- Answered 24/7
- Price confirmed before work starts
Starting prices. Every job is different, so the technician confirms your price on site before any work starts. Nights, weekends and holidays add $150. All prices
Signs of roots
- Slow drains throughout the house that get worse over months.
- A main line that blocks every year or so.
- Backups that started after a street tree grew larger.
- Gurgling in the lowest fixtures.
Where we see the most roots in NYC
- Staten Island and Queens houses with long laterals under lawns and trees.
- Brooklyn brownstones on tree-lined blocks with original clay or cast iron mains.
- Bronx and Riverdale houses with mature yard trees.
How we clear roots
- Camera first to see where roots enter and how dense they are.
- Root-cutting jet nozzle cuts roots back to the pipe wall and flushes them out.
- Camera after so you see the open line and keep the footage.
- Schedule the next cleaning based on how heavy the growth was.
From real jobs
Photos and footage from our own work. No stock images.
Where we work
What we don't do. We clear, clean and inspect drains and sewer lines. If the camera shows a cracked, collapsed or separated line, you get the footage and a referral to an NYC master plumber for the fix. Why we work this way
Common questions
How do roots get into sewer lines?
Sewer lines leak a little warm, moist air and water at joints. Roots grow toward it, enter through tiny gaps, and keep growing inside the pipe where there's water and nutrients.
Will roots come back after jetting?
Usually, because the joint they came through is still there. Most lines need root jetting every one to two years. The camera shows how fast they're returning.
Do root-killing chemicals work?
Some foaming products slow regrowth after a line has been cleared, but they won't clear a blocked line. Use them only on a clean, open pipe.
When do roots mean the line needs repair?
If roots have cracked or displaced the pipe, or the line keeps blocking within months of jetting, the pipe itself may need repair. We give you the footage and refer that to an NYC master plumber.
Need a drain cleared?
Calls are answered 24 hours a day. A technician looks at the job and confirms your price on site before any work starts.