Finally won the battle against invading tree roots

I’ve been wondering about the same thing with water flow—did you notice any gurgling or slower drains after the liner went in? I’ve read mixed stuff online, but it’s hard to tell what’s just internet noise. Also, did you get any camera inspection done before or after? I’m debating if that’s worth the extra cost, especially since my pipes are probably full of surprises...

“did you notice any gurgling or slower drains after the liner went in? I’ve read mixed stuff online, but it’s hard to tell what’s just internet noise.”

- Had the same concerns after my liner install last year. For me, no gurgling or slow drains—if anything, water flow seemed a bit smoother. Could be pipe shape or maybe just luck.
- Did a camera inspection both before and after. Before is a must, in my opinion, especially if you suspect “surprises” lurking. Found a couple of cracked joints and some root balls I never would’ve known about otherwise.
- After the liner went in, I had them run the camera again. It was reassuring to see everything sealed up tight—no more roots poking through.
- The inspection wasn’t cheap, but honestly, it saved me from guessing and gave some peace of mind. If your pipes are old (mine are 60+ years), it’s probably worth it.
- Only thing I’d say is don’t expect miracles if your slope is already bad. The liner won’t fix that.

I’d trust what you see on camera more than what you read online... too many variables in every house.

If your pipes are old (mine are 60+ years), it’s probably worth it. - Only thing I’d say is don’t expect miracles if your slope is already bad.

I get the camera thing, but honestly, I skipped it and just went with the liner install. Maybe I got lucky, but no issues after a year—no slow drains or weird noises. Sometimes overthinking it just adds to the bill, you know?

Skipped the camera, huh? Bold move. I get it though—sometimes you just want to get the job done and not nickel-and-dime yourself into oblivion.

- I usually recommend a camera just to see what kind of “surprises” are lurking down there. You’d be amazed at what I’ve seen—one time, a guy had a toy dinosaur causing a backup. Not even kidding.
- That said, if your liner install went smooth and you’re not hearing the dreaded gurgle or getting slow drains, you probably dodged a bullet.
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Sometimes overthinking it just adds to the bill, you know?

Only thing I’d watch for is if you start getting those weird smells or the drains slow down again. Sometimes roots are like bad in-laws—they come back when you least expect it. But hey, if it’s been a year and all’s quiet, maybe you’re in the clear.

Just don’t ask me about the time I found a squirrel skeleton in a main line...

I get wanting to skip the camera and just get it done, but isn’t it kinda risky? I mean, what if there’s a crack or something weird going on that you can’t see? I’ve heard stories about liners going in over broken pipes and then it’s a whole mess later. Maybe I’m just paranoid, but I’d rather spend a bit more up front than deal with a surprise dig-up job down the road. Then again, if everything’s flowing smooth after a year, maybe you’re right and it’s just overthinking. Still, those roots are sneaky...