Tree roots and your sewer line
Roots find the joints in old clay pipe. A camera inspection shows whether cutting them back is enough or the line needs relining.
Clay sewer laterals were laid in four-foot sections, and every joint is an invitation to a root. Corvallis and older parts of Albany have miles of it.
Signs
- Slow drains everywhere at once, not just one fixture.
- Gurgling from the tub when the toilet flushes.
- A patch of lawn that is greener than the rest.
What we do
We cut the roots with a mechanical auger, then run a camera to see what the pipe looks like once it is clear. If the joints are offset or the pipe has bellied, we talk about lining or replacing. If they are intact, an annual cut keeps the line open for a fraction of the cost.