Every situation is entirely unique, but there is no need to panic. We never immediately jump to solutions that involve tearing up a lawn.  Initially, we’ll run a drain camera through a pipe to determine the extent of the damage. We look for cracks, bows, deviations and roots. And we shouldn’t really see any water in that pipe at all. If we do, that’s cause for concern; the flow is clearly restricted. Surprisingly, most of the roots we see aren’t tangled up balls; they’re long and skinny, about a millimetre wide. They grow along the length of the pipe, which is often broken and damaged in several spots. In most cases, we solve the problem by introducing a drain cleaning product to control the spread of roots. (If needed, we use cutters to break up and clear root systems from the pipes as well.) Homeowners love the product because, depending on the width of the pipe, it effectively keeps roots at bay for a year or more. The product only kills the roots within the pipe that gets treated, so it’s great for the tree; it continues to thrive. Over time, though, roots always grow back. Always. Once a pipe is vulnerable to root invasion, you’ll need to repeat the treatment regularly. If that’s not deemed an option, you still might be able to avoid a lot of digging in your yard. We might recommend pipe relining, which is “trenchless.” After cleaning your pipe, a resin liner is fed through the pipe to form a new smooth wall that will seal off cracks. Or, pipe bursting involves pulling a big plug through a damaged pipe to break it up. Then another new pipe is dragged in right behind it. These options have their limitations, though. Sometimes, replacing your pipes is the way to go. It’ll solve big plumbing problems long term, but, yes, it means digging up the yard or removing landscaping.