# Root Intrusion Removal

Roots do not break into sound pipe. They follow moisture to a joint or crack that is already open, then expand until they fill the line. Cutting restores flow. Closing the entry point is what keeps them out.

- Roots enter at joints and cracks.
- Cutting alone is temporary.
- Camera finds every entry point.
- Lining seals the opening for good.
- Common under mature Denver trees.

## What Root Intrusion Is

Root intrusion is tree or shrub root growth inside the sewer line. Roots sense moisture and vapor escaping from a defect, grow toward it, and enter through the smallest available opening.

Inside the pipe, roots find constant water and nutrients and grow into dense mats. Those mats catch paper, grease, and solids, which is what turns a small intrusion into a full blockage.

Root intrusion is a symptom. The underlying defect is an open joint, a crack, or a failing pipe wall.

- Blockages that return every few months at the same distance.
- Gurgling drains and slow flow across multiple fixtures.
- Camera shows white or tan root hairs entering at a joint.
- Mature trees or large shrubs along the sewer path.
- Prior cleanings that pulled back root material on the cable.

## Why Roots Keep Coming Back

Mechanical cutting removes what is inside the pipe but leaves the opening. The root system outside is untouched and regrows through the same defect, usually within one or two growing seasons.

Chemical treatments slow regrowth at the entry point but do not restore the pipe. They are a maintenance tool, not a repair.

The permanent solution is removing the entry point: seal the joint with a liner, replace the section, or replace the line.

- Mechanical root cutting to restore flow immediately.
- Hydro jetting with root cutting heads to strip the pipe wall clean.
- Camera inspection after cleaning to find every entry point.
- Sectional spot repair to seal an isolated joint.
- CIPP lining to seal every joint along the run at once.
- Pipe bursting or open cut where the pipe wall itself is compromised.

## How Root Work Runs

1. **Restore Flow** Cutting and jetting clear the blockage so the property is usable again.
2. **Inspect the Clean Pipe** Only a cleaned line shows the true defect. We camera after clearing, not before.
3. **Map Entry Points** Each intrusion is located by distance and depth so the repair scope is exact.
4. **Seal or Replace** We seal isolated joints, line whole runs, or replace pipe depending on what the footage shows.

## What Drives Root Work Cost

Clearing cost depends on root density and line length. A heavily rooted run takes multiple passes.

The permanent repair drives the larger number, and that depends on how many entry points exist and whether the pipe wall is still sound.

Repeat cleaning has a cost too. Several service calls per year often exceeds the cost of sealing the defect once.

## Frequently asked questions

**Do I have to remove the tree?**

Usually not. Sealing the pipe removes the water source, which is what the roots were following.

**How often will roots come back after cutting?**

Commonly within six to eighteen months while the entry point stays open.

**Do root killer chemicals work?**

They slow regrowth at the entry point. They do not repair the pipe or stop the underlying defect from worsening.

## Applicable Methods and Related Diagnosis Pages

- [Hydro Jetting and Descaling](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/methods/hydro-jetting-descaling) High pressure water and cutting heads that strip grease, roots, and scale.
- [Sewer Camera Inspection](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/methods/sewer-camera-inspection) Video inspection that identifies the defect, its depth, and its location.
- [CIPP Cured-In-Place Lining](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/methods/cipp-lining) A resin liner cured inside the host pipe to form a new jointless pipe wall.
- [Sectional Spot Repair](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/methods/sectional-spot-repair) A short liner or replacement section targeting one isolated defect.
- [Clay Tile Sewer Line Repair](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/materials/clay-tile-sewer-line-repair) Vitrified clay tile, its joint problem, and what repair options it accepts.
- [Cracked Sewer Line](https://www.denversewerandwater.com/materials/cracked-sewer-line) Crack types, what causes each, and which are repairable in place.

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Denver Sewer and Water is a privately owned, licensed and insured plumbing contractor. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Denver Water, the municipal water utility, or any government entity. To pay a municipal water bill or reach the public utility, visit denverwater.org.

Source: https://www.denversewerandwater.com/materials/root-intrusion-removal