Root Intrusion in Sewer Lines: How to Identify It on Camera
Roots follow moisture and nutrients. They enter a sewer line through gaps: joints that have separated, cracks, and poorly sealed lateral connections. Once inside, they grow into the flow and catch paper and grease.
The fix almost always has two parts: clear the roots, then deal with the opening they came through.
What you’ll see on camera
- Fine roots. Thin hair-like strands at a joint, often moving in the flow. Early stage.
- Tap root. A single thicker root entering through one point.
- Medium roots. More growth than fine roots, but not filling the pipe.
- Root ball / mass. Dense growth filling a large part of the pipe. The camera may not pass.
Always note the footage and the clock position where roots enter. That tells the repair crew exactly where the joint or crack is.
How PACP codes roots
NASSCO’s PACP puts roots in their own family. The first letters describe the amount of growth (fine, tap, medium, ball); the last letter says where they enter: barrel (B), lateral (L), connection (C) or joint (J). These codes come from the PACP 7 color-coded chart.
| Root type | Barrel | Lateral | Connection | Joint |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fine | RFB | RFL | RFC | RFJ |
| Tap | RTB | RTL | RTC | RTJ |
| Medium | RMB | RML | RMC | RMJ |
| Ball | RBB | RBL | RBC | RBJ |
Even if you don’t code to PACP, the same two questions make a report clear: how much root growth, and where it enters.
Pipe materials where roots show up most
Clay tile with mortar or gasket joints and Orangeburg (bituminized fiber) pipe are the classic cases in older US homes. Cast iron gets roots at failed joints and cracks. Glued PVC with intact joints resists roots much better.
If you see roots in a dark, ovaled lateral in a mid-century house, check whether the pipe is Orangeburg; see Orangeburg pipe. Roots at a joint that is also out of line point to an offset joint, and the offset may be what let the roots in.
Scoping a root-bound line
- Scope, cut, scope again. A root mass often hides the joint behind it. The second pass shows the actual entry point and the condition of the pipe.
- Mind the cutter. In soft or failing pipe like Orangeburg, or where the obstruction is unexplained, go easy with cutting heads. An unexplained obstruction outside the building can also be a utility line bored through the sewer; see cross bore.
- Stop at each entry point. Hold the head still, record the footage and clock position, and let the customer see the gap after cutting.
Why roots come back
Cutting removes the growth inside the pipe but leaves the root system outside it alive. The same gap still leaks water and nutrients, so new growth follows the same path. How fast it returns depends on the tree, the season and the size of the opening. A dated video of the same joints, cut and then re-scoped later, is the clearest way to show a customer the pattern.
What to tell the customer
Cutting roots clears the line, but they grow back through the same opening. The recording should show the entry points so the customer understands why a permanent fix (lining or spot repair at the joint) is recommended.
| Finding | Typical recommendation |
|---|---|
| Fine roots at one or two joints, pipe otherwise sound | Cut, re-scope on a schedule, or spot repair the joints |
| Roots at many joints along the run | Cut, then line the run |
| Root mass with cracked, broken or deformed pipe behind it | Cut, then spot repair or replace |
| Roots in Orangeburg | Replace the line |
FAQ
Will cutting roots fix the problem?
It clears the line, but roots grow back through the same opening. Cutting is maintenance. Sealing the entry point with a liner or a spot repair, or replacing the pipe, is what stops the regrowth.
Should I scope before or after cutting roots?
Both, if you can. A scope before shows how much of the pipe is blocked. A scope after cutting shows the joints and cracks where roots got in, which is what the repair quote is based on.
Do roots get into PVC pipe?
Much less often. Glued PVC with intact joints resists roots well. Roots can still get in where PVC was damaged, where joints were not sealed properly, or at transitions to older pipe.
How do I record roots so a repair crew can use the video?
Stop at each entry point and note the footage, the clock position, and whether roots enter at a joint, a crack, the barrel or a lateral connection. Locate the worst spots on the surface with a sonde if you have one.