Remove the Roots from Your Sewer Drains

Removing roots in sewer drains in your basement floor is actually one of the best ways to prevent flooding and waterproof your foundation, and it's potentially much less expensive than other, more expansive projects like excavation and cleaning out footer tiles. Your floor drain exists to allow excess water an escape route out of your basement, and when it gets clogged with tree roots, then the you're much more vulnerable for a catastrophic flood. Remember, no waterproofing system is perfect, and you can experience flooding no matter how modern and up-to-date your home is.

When most homeowners think of basement waterproofing, they tend to focus first on the foundation and basement walls, which is fine but can be very expensive. Waterproofing your foundation usually involves excavation and repair or replacement of the external footer drains that move excess water away from your home. While this is often necessary, it's also very costly, and professional contractors are often needed to get the job done.

Removing roots from your basement floor drain, while it doesn't have anything to do with your foundation, is a sort of backup plan in case of emergencies. Remember, if your waterproofing system does fail, then you are going to end up with a lot of water in your basement, and having a functional floor drain that is free from obstructions like tree roots will guarantee that the water damage doesn't get too bad.

Your floor drain usually leads to the main sewer pipe, which moves waste, sewage and excess water out to the city storm sewer that runs along your neighborhood street. In areas that have a lot of vegetation, these can easily become completely blocked by tree roots over the years. In some cases, the roots can even grow to sizes that eventually break or crack the pipes.