What Is A Rooter? (And Why Is A Drain Rooter Service Important?)

Rootering — also called a drain rooter service — describes the removal of tree roots from pipes and sewer lines with a rooter machine. Here’s everything you need to know before you purchase this service.

What is a Rooter?

A rooter machine cuts through the blockage and clears the sewer line to prevent a much larger issue. The term originated from clogged drains due to tree roots – hence the name ROOTer service.

Invasive tree roots are a serious threat to the health of your plumbing lines. As a result, clogs and blockages from roots cause pressure, eventually cracking or even breaking your main sewer line.

These days, a drain rooter service can be put to use to address all kinds of stubborn sewer line and drainpipe clogs — not just tree roots — that affect the long-term function of your plumbing.

Rooter Machine
Example of a rooter machine, also known as a drain snake or an auger. A professional will have an industrial-grade rooter with a camera, monitor, and locator (to see the problem and know exactly where to dig if excavation is required to fix the pipe).

How Does A Drain Rooter Service Work?

Now that we’ve answered, “What is a rooter?”, let’s find out how a drain rooter service works. Let’s use tree roots as an example.

Tree roots find their way into nutrient-rich sewer pipes through small cracks and holes. Most of the time, roots won’t damage your pipes, but homes with a history of root invasion — or trees on the lot close to a sewer line or home foundation — will need servicing by a rooter about once a year.

Otherwise, normal situations can use a rooter service about once every 2-3 years.

hydro jetting - diagram
It’s not uncommon to have a severe, stubborn problem with tree roots. In these cases, an auger is replaced by a hydro-jet machine which is much more powerful.

1. Determine if You Have a Root Issue

To first determine that there are roots in your sewer, call a professional plumber to inspect the sewer line using a camera probe.

A camera inspection will transmit a signal to a video screen so you and the technician will be able to see into your pipes. Doing this now will save you hundreds of dollars as opposed to waiting until you experience signs of an actual break-in your line.

sewer lines - clay roots
This camera image shows tree roots blocking a clay pipe.

2. Get Rid of the Root Problem

The drain rooter service involves the insertion of sharp, powerful blades (on the end of a long snake-like cable) into the sewer pipe. They cut through obstructive tree roots, clearing the blockage.

The drain technician will also run water through the lines to ensure they cut through the blockage. For more mature, stronger roots, a hydro-jetting service may be required.

Sewer lines - camera line inspection of residential home through roof vent
A drain technician inserts the auger snake (with a camera attached at the front-end of the cable) into a cleanout (the access point for a sewer pipe).

Why Is a Drain Rooter Service Important?

Without proper maintenance, a clogged drain due to roots can begin to affect your whole house. A rooter service is the best way to combat the multiple commonplace problems of slow and clogged drains that you may experience in your home. 

  • A clog inside one of your home’s drains will only affect the appliance or fixture nearest its location. These clogs are generally a creation of “sticky” debris, such as food scraps, hair, and soap scum.
  • A larger clog blocking your home’s sewer line may show different symptoms (e.g. widespread drainage issues in several areas of your home or minor backups in tubs and showers when you flush the toilet or your washing machine runs).
  • Sewer clogs can also be due to debris buildup and non-flushable items in the pipes. They can also be a cause of tree roots growing into your sewer line, which will require a professional drain rooter service.
roots in sewer before and after jetter
This image is perhaps the best visual display of why a drain rooter service is important. It will save a lot of frustration and money in the long run.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I hope the answer to your question (what is a rooter?) is clearer after you read this article. Especially important is the information on why a drain rooter service is important. It can literally save you from flooding and water damage expenses and thousands of dollars in restoration.

Call 1-Tom-Plumber

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need a drain rooter service to remove tree roots in a sewer line.

1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays.

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