How quick do tree roots re-clog the sewer drain after snaking?

Question

My sewer drain got clogged around September last year. I called in a plumber, he ran a snake through the main sewer out. No more clog. He said it was the roots of the 30ft Maple tree or the 30ft Spruce tree in my front lawn.

It's mid-July now and the trees are active again, and I started to hear some gurgling/bubbling in my basement floor drain again. I'm worried that by August or September, it's gonna be fully clogged again and the basement drain will start to overflow.

Do tree roots grow that quickly in my sewer drain pipes? If so, that means I have to snake it once every year?

Answer 1

I can tell you that in my area (we have full blown winters) the snaking is required once a year. You may be able to stretch in in a dry spell to two years, but is it worth the risk?

Your alternative is to pull up the tree, or to change your drains to PVC, both of which are expensive vs snaking every year.

Answer 2

I stumbled across this question, looking for an answer to a related question about sewer snakes. So, I know this is an old question, but it is also a common problem. Hope you don't mind me offering advice on what worked for me to anyone else who may be asking.

There is an alternative to snaking which has worked well for me the last 12 years at a home where tree roots had been growing into the drain and backing up the sewer. I had to snake it twice before discovering Copper Sulfate. Buy a bottle of blue crystals from the hardware store for a little under $20 and follow the instructions on the bottle, flushing the contents down a toilet. Copper sulfate kills roots and prevents them from growing. In my area, I do this twice a year and have not had to snake out roots any more. There is also a liquid product but I can't speak to its efficacy.