Tree root intrusion is the single most common cause of sewer line failure in older Burnaby homes. The pattern is consistent: clay or older cast iron sewer lateral with hairline cracks at the joints, a mature deciduous tree on or near the property line, and roots that grow microscopically toward water until they find the leak and colonize the pipe.
We diagnose root intrusion with color camera inspection — you see the same video footage we do, with measurements showing exactly where the roots are entering the pipe and how much of the cross-section they're obstructing. From there we recommend the right next step: hydro-jet removal alone (if the pipe is otherwise structurally sound), spot repair (if there's one specific damaged section), or trenchless lining or full replacement (if the pipe is widely deteriorated).
Burnaby's heritage tree canopy is one of the city's great features, and we work hard to preserve trees while solving the sewer problem. Trenchless lining and pipe-bursting techniques avoid trenching across yards and root zones — usually keeping the tree healthy and the yard intact.
What's Included
Color camera diagnosis
We push a color camera through your sewer line and locate exactly where roots are entering. You see the footage too.
Hydro-jet root removal
Specialty cutting nozzles slice through invasive roots without damaging the pipe. Restores full flow.
Spot repair
When one section of pipe is damaged at a root entry point, a targeted excavation and section replacement is sometimes the most cost-effective answer.
Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP)
Cured-in-place pipe lining slides a new pipe inside the existing line. No yard excavation, preserves trees and landscaping.
Pipe bursting
Trenchless full replacement: a bursting head pulls a new pipe through while breaking up the old one. Useful when lining isn't suitable.
Annual maintenance for tree-prone properties
Yearly hydro-jetting on tree-lined Burnaby streets keeps lines clear without ever reaching emergency status.
Burnaby's Root-Prone Streets
Deer Lake, Buckingham, and mature parts of Burnaby Heights have some of the most established tree canopies in Metro Vancouver — heritage chestnuts, maples, elms, and oaks with root systems that extend 20+ metres from the trunk. These streets have the highest root intrusion rate in our service area. We typically respond to several Burnaby Heights and Deer Lake root cases every month.
Capitol Hill and East Burnaby pre-1970 homes commonly have original clay sewer laterals from the property line to the street. Clay was the standard material for residential sewer until the 1970s, and it ages predictably — joints separate slightly, roots find the moisture, and 50–70 years later the homeowner has a partial or full blockage. The pattern is so consistent we know what to expect just from the build year.
Newer Brentwood, Lougheed, and Sullivan Heights builds use PVC or ABS sewer laterals. These don't crack at joints, don't leak microscopic moisture, and don't attract roots. Root intrusion calls in these neighborhoods are rare and almost always involve a specific construction defect rather than the systemic issue we see in older areas.
Burnaby Root Intrusion — What It Costs
Pricing varies sharply by what the camera reveals. We always quote after diagnosis, never before.
- Camera diagnosis (standalone)$280–$420
- Hydro-jet root removal (with camera)$580–$950
- Spot excavation & section replacement$2,800–$5,500
- Trenchless CIPP lining (typical lateral)$8,500–$16,000
- Pipe bursting full replacement$11,500–$22,000
- Traditional excavation + replacement$8,000–$18,000
What Burnaby Homeowners Say
“Sewer backed up the week of a family dinner. Cleared the line same day with hydro-jetting, then ran a camera to find the root intrusion at the property line. Booked the repair within 48 hours.”
“Basement flooded twice last fall on Capitol Hill. They installed a primary sump plus a battery backup and re-routed the perimeter discharge. Dry through the worst week of November rain.”
“We bought a 1999 build and the inspection flagged Kitec. They re-piped the whole house with PEX in three days, fixed the manifold, and only opened drywall where they had to. Clean job.”
Other Burnaby Drains & Sewer Services
We handle the full drains & sewer silo for Burnaby homes — every service below is from the same in-house team, dispatched from Coquitlam.
Burnaby Drains & Sewer FAQs
The questions Burnaby homeowners ask us most about this service.
How do I know if my sewer line has root intrusion?
Will hydro-jetting alone fix my root problem?
What's the difference between trenchless lining and pipe bursting?
Will I have to dig up my Burnaby yard?
Will my insurance cover sewer root repair?
Can I prevent root intrusion?
Roots in Your Burnaby Sewer Line? Diagnose Before You Dig.
Camera diagnosis, trenchless repair options, heritage tree preservation.
- Response within 1 hour — a real human answers, not a call center.
- Same rates 24/7 — no overtime, weekend, or holiday surcharges.
- Licensed, insured, permitted — Red Seal gas fitters, FSR electricians, $5M coverage.
- Workmanship warranty — 1-year labor warranty plus full manufacturer parts coverage.