Tree Root Removal From Sewer Lines in Sacramento

Can tree roots really break my sewer line?

Yes. Roots don't usually crack a sound pipe on their own, but once they find a crack or loose joint, they grow inside, widen the gap and can block the line completely.

The Insurance Information Institute says small roots seeking moisture work into sewer line cracks and joints and can cause extensive damage or blockages as they grow (Triple-I). Roseville adds that trees and shrubs planted right over a line can twist it and open new gaps, and that even small roots cause clogs by catching wipes and grease (City of Roseville). SacSewer says recurring root intrusion is one reason it replaces its own lower laterals rather than just cleaning them (SacSewer).

Why are roots such a problem in Sacramento?

Lots of trees and many older homes. Sacramento is known as the City of Trees, and the city's Urban Forest Plan, adopted in 2025, aims to raise tree canopy to 35 percent by 2045 (City of Sacramento). Today's citywide average is 19 percent, ranging from 10 to 40 percent by neighborhood (City of Sacramento).

Most of that forest is private. The city says only about 20 percent of its urban forest is public trees; the rest are in front and back yards (City of Sacramento). Pair mature trees with laterals from before 1970, which Santa Barbara's program says are likely clay, cast iron or Orangeburg, and roots have plenty of joints to find.

How do plumbers remove roots from a sewer line?

They cut them, flush them, then look. SacSewer's crews do the same on the pipes they own: rodding machines turn a cable with a cutter to slice roots, jetting and hydrovac trucks flush debris, and a TV inspection confirms the line is clear (SacSewer).

• Cable with a root-cutting head: the standard first step for a root-blocked main line.
• Hydro jetting: clears fine roots and the grease caught in them; check the pipe with a camera first if it's old.
• Camera inspection: shows where roots are entering, so you can decide between repeat cleaning and repair.

How do I kill roots in a sewer line?

Cutting them out is the reliable first step; chemical root killers are pesticides, and they don't repair the crack that let roots in. If you buy one, follow the label exactly.

The U.S. EPA lists mechanical removal, including high-pressure water jets, a snake and a steel cutter, as alternatives to homeowner root-killer products. It notes California's Department of Pesticide Regulation banned copper sulfate root killers in nine Bay Area counties over water quality concerns, and that professionals may use other products such as metam sodium and dichlobenil (EPA). Never mix a root killer with drain cleaners or other chemicals.

How do I stop roots from coming back?

Fix the openings. Santa Barbara lists the options for roots at joints: clean every 6 to 12 months, repair the defective joints, line the pipe, or replace the lateral by trenching or pipe bursting (City of Santa Barbara). Triple-I suggests replacing an old line with new plastic pipe to keep roots out.

Plan landscaping around the lateral, too. Roseville asks residents to check with its wastewater division before planting over a sewer line.

Who pays when roots come from a street tree?

Usually the property owner pays for roots in the private lateral, wherever the tree stands. Rules vary, so ask your agency.

Davis says owners are responsible for the upper lateral even if roots come partly or entirely from trees on public property (City of Davis). South Placer MUD says that if roots damaging the pipe cause a blockage in its facilities, it will clear the stoppage but treat the costs as the owner's (SPMUD). SacSewer repairs the lower lateral it owns, which covers roots there. Triple-I notes that in some places costs are split when city and private trees are both involved.

Does insurance cover tree roots in a sewer line?

A standard policy usually won't pay to fix the pipe. The California Department of Insurance lists wear and tear among the perils usually excluded (CDI). Some insurers sell a service line endorsement, and Policygenius lists tree or root damage among the causes it typically covers (Policygenius). Read your own policy, since terms vary.

Frequently asked questions

Available across the Sacramento area

• Sacramento
• Elk Grove
• Roseville
• Folsom
• Citrus Heights
• Rancho Cordova
• Rocklin
• Lincoln
• Davis
• West Sacramento
• Woodland
• El Dorado Hills
• Carmichael
• Fair Oaks
• Orangevale
• Arden-Arcade
• Antelope
• North Highlands
• Granite Bay
• Gold River
• Rio Linda
• Galt
• Auburn
• Cameron Park
• Placerville
• Loomis