Tree Root Removal

Tree Root Removal for Sewer and Drain Lines in Northeast Ohio

If your drains slow down every spring, the toilet gurgles when the washer drains, or there is a soft green stripe in the front yard, you probably have tree roots in your sewer line. It is one of the most common calls we get in Northeast Ohio. Older clay and cast iron sewer pipes have a joint every few feet, and roots find the gaps. Harner Plumbing gets the roots out, shows you the pipe on camera, and fixes the spot they came in through so you are not calling us back next year.

How We Remove Roots from a Sewer Line

Getting roots out is a four step job. Skip the last step and you will be doing the first three again next year.

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Camera inspection first: We run a camera down the line and find where the roots are coming in, how far they go, and what the pipe looks like behind them. You see the footage with us.
Root cutting: A cable machine with a root cutting head clears the blockage and gets the line draining again. If this is the first time you have had roots, this may be all you need for now.
Hydro jetting: High pressure water strips the root hair, grease, and scale off the pipe walls. Cutting alone leaves stubs, and stubs grow back in a few months. Jetting gets the pipe clean.
Fix the way in: The roots got in through a crack or an open joint. If that stays open, they come back. Depending on what the camera shows, we either put a short liner over the bad section or line the whole pipe. No digging either way. See Trenchless Pipe Lining.

Signs of Roots in a Sewer Line

One slow sink is a normal clog. Several slow drains at once means the main line, and in a house built before 1970 around here, roots are the first thing we look for. Watch for:

More than one drain slows down at the same time, especially in the basement
Toilets gurgle when the tub or washer drains
The basement floor drain backs up after a big laundry day
The same clog comes back every year, usually spring or fall
A strip of lawn over the sewer line that is greener or softer than the rest
Sewer smell in the yard or basement

Why Roots Are Such a Problem in Northeast Ohio

Most of the sewer laterals in Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson, and the older parts of Portage and Geauga counties went in before 1970, in short sections of clay or cast iron. Newer PVC lines with glued joints have far fewer problems. Three things work against the older pipe:

Joints every few feet: Every clay or cast iron joint is a spot roots can get into.
Fifty years of freeze and thaw: Northeast Ohio winters have worked those joints open a little more every year.
Big trees close to the line: Put a mature maple or a willow in the front yard and the roots do the rest.

Root Cutting vs. Root Killer

Foaming root killer and copper sulfate can slow roots down inside the pipe for a season. Think of them as maintenance, not a repair. Here is why:

They do nothing about the crack the roots came in through, so the roots come back the same way.
Copper sulfate is hard on pipes and is not allowed for drain use in some towns.
Foaming root killer works best after a cutting, as a way to hold off regrowth between cleanings, not as a fix.

Where We Do Root Removal

Root removal and hydro jetting are available across Northeast Ohio, including Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Hudson, Tallmadge, Macedonia, Ravenna, Streetsboro, Aurora, Mantua, Chagrin Falls, Bainbridge, Twinsburg, and Solon. Emergency service is available for backed-up lines.

Experience the Harner Difference

Harner Plumbing boasts an unparalleled dedication to quality service and expertise in addressing a wide range of plumbing needs. With a commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry experience, Harner Plumbing delivers reliable solutions tailored to each client's unique requirements. When you hire us as your root removal contractor, you can expect:

Exceptional customer service
Extensive industry experience
Commitment to customer satisfaction
Skilled and knowledgeable team

Tailored solutions for every client
Prompt and reliable service
Trustworthy and professional staff
Proven track record of success

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Tree Root Removal FAQs

How do I know if it is roots or just a clog?

A camera inspection is the only way to know for sure. The pattern usually gives it away, though. Several drains slow at once, gurgling, and a clog that comes back every year all point to roots. One slow sink almost never does.

How much does it cost to remove tree roots from a sewer line?

It depends on what the camera shows. Cutting is the least expensive option, jetting adds to it, and sealing the spot where roots get in is priced by the foot. We give a firm quote after the camera inspection.

Will the roots come back?

After cutting alone, yes, usually within a year or two. After jetting plus a liner or point repair, no. There are no joints left for them to grow through.

Can you get roots out without digging up my yard?

Yes. Cutting, jetting, camera inspection, point repair, and pipe lining all go in through an existing cleanout.

Who is responsible if the roots are from a city tree?

In most Northeast Ohio cities the homeowner owns the lateral from the house to the main, including the part under the sidewalk and street, so the repair is usually on you even when the tree is not. Check with your city. A few have lateral assistance programs.

Get the Roots Out and Keep Them Out

Call (330) 626-5551 or schedule online. We start with a camera inspection, show you the footage, and give you a firm price on a fix that lasts. Harner Plumbing is a family-owned and operated company based in Mantua, serving homes and businesses across Northeast Ohio.

Call (330) 626-5551

Schedule Service