Original sewer piping in Rhode Island and Massachusetts is typically cast iron inside the foundation. To spare expensive raw materials and, in the case of this particular era, the cast iron usually transitions to clay 3 – 5 feet outside the foundation. The cast iron is married to clay gasket pipe. It is at this transition that the probability of root intrusion begins.

Roots find their way into a sewer line through broken or unsealed joints, cracks in the pipe, or transition points between two dissimilar materials, which are often difficult to create a perfect seal at the point of transition.

In the following YouTube video, you will see the vitrified clay pipe broken and off-set in many places. It appears the pipe has been cleaned via hydro-jetting. However, the viewer will still be able to see the roots as they have been cut, growing into the pipe. This video is a perfect illustration of what a broken pipe with off-sets and entry points for roots looks like.

For the sake of understanding how restrictive root intrusion can be, the following video(s) have been added.

This is not as bad as it gets. However, what the viewer can see here, is how solid the blockage is by not allowing the camera to pass. Restriction stops airflow while also creating a damning effect to which the sewage has to rise above.

To treat sewer lines and prevent root intrusion, Anchor Sewer and Drain Cleaning recommend ROOT-X. “The Root Intrusion Solution”