Plumbing, Cleanout pipes

[Delmas Edwards]

Hey guys, I have a Detroit rental property that has tree roots in the storm and sanitary and both are trapped. Besides tearing the backyard up what other options do I have to remove these root so my tenant will not have a backed up basement?

[Jon Holdman]

You should get a camera in there as far as you can so you can get a real evaluation of the problem.  Sounds like this was built in 1938 so its likely the sewer line is clay.  Over time the individual sections shift , develop gaps and leaks and that encourages root growth.  Sounds like it does not have proper cleanouts, either, making it difficult to get a cutter in there.  The right answer is you need to replace this line.  Get multiple bids, as prices for this can vary widely.  Do you have a way to take out a loan or otherwise come up with the cash?  Having cash reserves is essential to owning rentals.